II. HLS FERPA Policy Regarding Students and Student Files

Privacy and Directory Information

Harvard Law School policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, provide students with certain protections concerning the confidentiality of their educational records. No information about Harvard Law School students, except that which is defined below as directory information, will be released outside the Law School without the student’s prior written consent, unless otherwise authorized or required by law.

Harvard Law School defines the following student information as directory information:

Name
Photo I.D. Card Image
Dates of Attendance
Date of Graduation
Degrees Earned

Students have the right to withhold the disclosure of this information by completing and submitting a “Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information” form to the Registrar’s Office during the first week of the fall term. See law.harvard.edu/academics/registrar/FERPA/request.php. Such requests will remain in force for continuing students and alumni until a written release has been sent to the Registrar’s Office. Under FERPA, Harvard Law School is allowed to disclose, without the student’s prior written consent, student information that is not considered directory information to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by Harvard University in an administrative, teaching, research, law enforcement, or health services position; or a person with whom, or a company with which, the University has contracted.

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B. Right to File a Complaint with the U.S. Department of Education

Complaints regarding alleged violation of rights of students under FERPA may be submitted in writing within 180 days to the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-4605.

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C. Types of Educational Records Maintained at the Law School

The student’s educational file is kept in the Registrar’s Office (Pound Hall 300) and is the responsibility of the Registrar. This file contains the following:

1. Application for admission and undergraduate transcript(s);
2. Certification from undergraduate institution of student’s eligibility to attend law school;
3. Any undergraduate disciplinary actions;
4. LSDAS report;
5. Correspondence and degree audit information.

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D. Student Inspection of Files

Students who wish to inspect their educational records may file a written request to the Registrar. Inspection will take place within 45 days from receipt of the request.

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