Recordkeeping and Confidentiality

The Family Education Records Privacy Act (FERPA) governs the release of information pertaining to a student’s disability. Information about a student's accommodation is released only to those university employees with an educational need to know in order to perform the duties of their jobs, including:

• disability specialist
• director of Accessibility Resources and Services
• mentors and/or tutors with whom the student is working
• other university employees as determined by the student’s particular situation.

The university does not need the student’s permission to release information about his or her need for accommodations to those university employees with an educational need to know the information in order to perform essential elements of his or her job. Generally, information regarding a student’s approved accommodations is released to the mentors or tutors the student is studying with each term.

The student will need to complete a Release of Information if he or she would like the center disability representative or the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services to discuss his or her disability and need for accommodations with an individual who does not work for the university.

Recordkeeping and a Student's Disability File

Information regarding a declared disability is maintained separately from the student’s official university record. At Empire State University, the student’s official disability record is maintained in the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services. 

Return to Student Handbook or continue to Grievance and Appeals: How Do I Appeal a Disability Action?