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Student Education Records (FERPA - Directory Information)

Directory/public information is information contained in a student record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. 

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is any information that is maintained about an individual, including (1) any information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual‘s identity, such as name, social security number, date and place of birth, mother‘s maiden name, or biometric records; and (2) any other information that is linked or linkable to an individual, such as medical, educational, financial, and employment information.

University policies, contractual obligations, and federal and state laws and regulations require appropriate protection of PII that is not publicly available. PII varies in level of sensitivity, therefore, risks associated with the impact of disclosure or compromise differ. While not a comprehensive list by any means, below are examples of PII and low levels of sensitivity.

U.S. Department of Education

Examples

Public Directory Information for Employees, includes the following:

  • Name
  • Date of hire or separation
  • Current position title
  • Current rate of pay
  • Organizational unit, office address and phone number
  • Current job description
  • Full-time or part-time, or other appointment type
Directory Information for Students, unless a student has requested that information about them not be released as public information, includes the following:
  • Name
  • Address (local and permanent), telephone, e-mail 
  • Dates of attendance
  • Enrollment status (i.e., undergraduate, graduate, or professional student)
  • Number of course units in which enrolled
  • Class level
  • Major field of study
  • Last school attended
  • Degrees and honors received
  • Participation in official student activities
  • Name/weight/height (intercollegiate athletic team members only)

Additional Resources

UCSC Policy on Privacy of Student Records: A Quick Reference

Educational Records and Research (FERPA)

Protection Level

P3