Consumer Information: Directory Information
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) defines "directory information" as the information contained in students' education records that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed to third parties without the students' written consent. Directory information can never include the following: social security number, birth date, gender, citizenship, race/ethnicity, grades or grade-point-average (GPA), or class schedule. The law requires institutions to give public notice to students of the categories of information it has designated as directory information.
Golden Gate University does not typically disclose students' directory information to outside organizations or persons. However, the university has designated the following categories of student records as "directory information" and at its discretion may release this information to third parties without students' written consent:
- Full legal names
- Chosen names
- Preferred pronouns
- Address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Dates of attendance
- Enrollment status
- Program of study and concentration(s)
- Anticipated completion date
- Participation in officially recognized activities
- Awards
- Honors (including dean’s list)
- Degree(s) earned and date(s) conferred
- ID card photograph
As required by Section 99.37 of the FERPA regulations, this serves as annual public notice of which student records Golden Gate University classifies as “directory information.” Students have the right to withhold all “directory information,” but must notify the registrar in writing by completion and submission of the Request to Withhold Directory Information form. Once a withhold request is placed on a student’s record, it will remain in effect until and unless the student removes it by submission of a written request to the registrar.