Texas A&M University is classified as a top tier research university. As such, faculty, administrators, and staff conduct research on a variety of subjects. When research includes student education records, compliance with FERPA must be maintained. A student education record is defined as: any records that are directly related to a student and that are maintained by an educational agency, institution, or by a party acting for or on behalf of the agency or institution.
 
If researchers intend to utilize information designated as directory information in their research, FERPA does not limit the disclosure of those items, provided the individual student has not placed a directory hold on their information. 
 
For research utilizing protected student education record information (non-directory information), researchers must obtain appropriate student consent (or conduct research confirmed as falling under a FERPA exception). Personnel within the Office of the Registrar review IRB requests when there is a FERPA component involved. During this process, information is obtained regarding the data (what is being gathered; how will the researcher obtain it; who will have access to it; and how it will be used), the recruitment methods, and documents used for participant informed consent.
 
This FERPA review is only one component of the human research aspect in Institutional Review Board approval process. An Investigator Manual  and a FERPA Compliance worksheet are provided for guidance by the Division of Research for researcher use.
 
Prior to submission of an IRB application, researchers may submit FERPA compliance reviews to ferpa@tamu.edu .  For additional FERPA information, be sure to review the Office of the Registrar site for FERPA for Faculty, Staff, and Administrators.
 
If you have a topic that you are interested in being explored in a future Friday Fun with FERPA, please email ferpa@tamu.edu. Alternatively, you can submit an anonymous form with topic ideas HERE.