** 2024 Commencement Updates **

** 2024 Commencement Updates **

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

What is FERPA?

FERPA is a Federal law administered by the Family Policy Compliance Office (Office) in the U.S. Department of Education (Department). FERPA applies to all educational agencies and institutions that receive funding under any program administered by the Department. FERPA governs the release of student records (known as educational records) maintained by an educational institution. Once a student reaches 18 years of age or attends a postsecondary institution, he or she becomes an “eligible student,” and all rights formerly given to parents under FERPA transfer to the student.

STUDENT RIGHT TO KNOW

New Mexico Highlands University Student Educational Records-Access and Privacy

Notice to Students:

Under the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) New Mexico Highlands University students have the following rights in regards to their educational records:

    1. The right to inspect and review their education records within a reasonable time, not to exceed 45 working days, upon making an official written request and obtaining an appointment to do so.
    2. The student may challenge inaccurate or misleading information contained in their educational records. Challenges must be made in writing and forwarded to the Office of the Registrar.
    3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education record, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes exceptions without consent. Exception include school official’s with a legitimate educational interest, compliance with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena, officials for audit or evaluation purposes, in an emergency involving the health or safety of a student or other person and directory information.
    4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Family Compliance Office concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Complaints may be forwarded to:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave SW
Washington, DC  20202-4605

Directory information at New Mexico Highlands University includes the student’s name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, degrees, honors, and awards received, the most recent educational agency or institution attended and graduation lists.

Directory information may be published or released unless the student has requested in writing that directory information be withheld and forwarded to the Registrar’s Office by the last day of registration and will be maintained for the remainder of the academic year.

Helpful links

Accessibility Services

Accreditation

Articulation & Transfer Agreements

Campus Police Crime Statistics

Career Services

Cost of Attendance

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Graduate Degree Programs

FERPA Act

Graduation/Retention Rates

Refund Policies (see Page 32 of the College Catalog) Return of Title IV Funds (see Page 29 of the College Catalog)

Student Athlete Graduation Rates