FERPA FAQs

1. What is FERPA?

FERPA is the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment. The Act is designed to protect the rights of students and to safeguard the privacy and accuracy of education records. The Act applies to all institutions that are recipients of federal aid administrated by the United States Secretary of Education. More information on FERPA may be found at https://registrar.web.baylor.edu/records-services/ferpa

2. Is there a consent form that students can complete in order to allow their parents to view their grades and progress in courses? If so, how may this be submitted?

Students may enter a consent to release information using the FERPA Consent to Release Information form in BearWeb. The Academic Affairs category consent, among other things outlined in the form, allows instructors, at their discretion, to speak to the student's parents regarding information from the student's educational record.

There is not an option at Baylor, such as a parent portal, that allows parents to see current grades or progress for their students in a particular class. Students can view their grades and progress via their BearWeb or Canvas accounts. Grades will NOT be discussed over the telephone with either the student or a parent by the Office of the Registrar, even if a consent has been submitted.