FERPA

Policy and Privacy Rights of Students

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment, grants students certain rights of access to their educational records, protects the privacy of these records, and requires that all students be informed of all rights and safeguards.

The University is responsible for protecting the privacy of student records in accordance with FERPA.

Frequently Asked Questions

How may a student authorize a third party to have access to educational records?

Students have the right to consent to the review of their accessible records by others. A Release of Information request for such review must be submitted in writing with the written signature of the student to the Office of the Registrar.

It is the policy of NDNU to release official records only upon the written and signed consent of the student and upon payment of a fee for each official transcript.

To protect each student, a record is kept of transcripts issued and any persons or institutions (other than NDNU officials) that have, upon student consent, been granted access to the student’s records. Records of access will be available upon student request.

What is defined as Directory Information?

Student’s name, address (campus, local and/or permanent), NDNU student email address, telephone numbers, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study and classification, dates of attendance, degrees, and honors received, most recent previous educational institution attended, weight and heigh of members of intercollegiate athletic teams.

A student has the right of nondisclosure for directory information; please contact the Office of the Registrar.

What are a student’s right of non-disclosure under FERPA?

A student may have any or all such information withheld by written request to the Office of the Registrar; the submission must be made while in attendance at NDNU.
Students who have left the institution do not have the right of non-disclosure, but the institution may honor that request if it wishes.
The non-disclosure remains in effect until the student directs the institution to remove it. This is true after the student has ceased attendance at the institution.

Which records may not be inspected?

Financial records of parents;
Confidential letters and recommendations written prior to January 1, 1975;
Confidential letters and recommendations concerning admission, employment, and honors for which the student has signed a waiver of right to access. The student will be given the name of those persons writing such letters;
Records created or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, and psychologist acting in a professional capacity. A physician, psychiatrist, and psychologist of the student’s choice may review such records;
Records of NDNU personnel who are the sole possession of the maker are not made available to other persons.

What access do people have who are serving in official capacities?

In addition to the student, the following persons, serving in official capacities, have the right to access students’ records:

University officials who have a legitimate educational interest in a student’s records;
Officials of other universities who have a legitimate educational interest in a student’s records; universities in which a student seeks to enroll;
Certain government officials acting in their legitimate functions;
Those persons and agencies seeking records in connection with a student’s application for or receipt of financial aid;
Certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, the Comptroller General, U.S. Attorney General, and state and local educational authorities, in connection with certain state or federally supported educational programs;

Authorities acting in compliance with a judicial order or pursuant to any lawfully issued subpoena;

Caseworkers, state or local child welfare representatives, and tribal organizations.
Accrediting agencies, and certain government officials acting in their official capacities;
In an emergency, appropriate persons if knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons. (According to 34 C.F.R. 99.36, the wording of this section “shall be strictly construed”)

What is a Notre Dame de Namur University official?

A person employed by the institution in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, public safety, health staff personnel, or support staff position;
A person serving on an institutional governing body;
A person employed by or under contract to the institution to perform a special task, such as an attorney or an auditor;
A person or organization acting as an official agent of the institution and performing a business function or service on behalf of the institution;
A student serving on Undergraduate or Graduate Academic Standards, Judicial Committee, Leader-ship Committee; or
A student assisting another school official in fulfilling his or her professional responsibilities (work study, student labor, tutors)
A volunteer or contractor from outside NDNU who performs an institutional service for which the institution would otherwise use its own employees.

What is a Legitimate Educational Interest/Need to Know?

A Notre Dame de Namur official has a legitimate educational interest (a demonstrated need to know) if the official is:

Performing a task that is specified in his or her position description or by a contract agreement;
Performing a task related to a student’s education;
Providing a service or benefit relating to the student or student’s family, such as health care, counseling, job placement, or financial aid.
Performing a task related to disciplinary action regarding the student.

How does FERPA address the impact of new technologies?

The use of computerized record-keeping systems is increasing at a fast pace. The distribution of electronic data will eventually replace most paper documents and provide much information about students to school officials through desktop terminals. It is the responsibility of each school official to understand their legal responsibilities under FERPA. The same principles of confidentiality that apply to paper records also apply to electronic data.

I am an NDNU faculty or staff member: how do I make sure I am protecting students’ information?

All faculty and staff at Notre Dame de Namur University are expected to comply fully with FERPA guidelines in the handling of student records. NDNU may implement additional records-handling procedures at the Institutional level, beyond those protections afforded by FERPA, in accordance with emerging best practices. The quick guide for faculty and staff outlines essential guidelines and expectations – all other questions should be directed to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@ndnu.edu.

FERPA Annual Notice to Reflect Possible Federal and State Data Collection and Use

As of January 3, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education’s FERPA regulations expand the circumstances under which your education records and personally identifiable information (PII) contained in such records — including your Social Security Number, grades, or other private

First, the U.S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or state and local education authorities (“Federal and State Authorities”) may allow access to your records and PII without your consent to any third party designated by a Federal or State Authority to evaluate a federal- or state-supported education program. The evaluation may relate to any program that is “principally engaged in the provision of education,” such as early childhood education and job training, as well as any program that is administered by an education agency or institution.

Second, Federal and State Authorities may allow access to your education records and PII with-out your consent to researchers performing certain types of studies, in certain cases even when we object to or do not request such research. Federal and State Authorities must obtain certain use-restriction and data security promises from the entities that they authorize to receive your PII, but the Authorities need not maintain direct control over such entities.

In addition, in connection with Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems, State Authorities may collect, compile, permanently retain, and share without your consent PII from your education records, and they may track your participation in education and other programs by linking such PII to other personal information about you that they obtain from other Federal or State data sources, including workforce development, unemployment insurance, child welfare, juvenile justice, military service, and migrant student records systems.

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

Notre Dame de Namur University is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, NDNU will make employment decisions irrespective of the staff member’s race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (a cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. When necessary, the NDNU will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities if they are otherwise qualified to perform all essential functions safely and do it without undue hardship to the NDNU. Inquiries regarding the College’s equal opportunity policies should be directed to the Human Resources Department via email at hr@ndnu.edu. NDNU admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

Mark Dee

Magellan Solutions USA launched under the visionary leadership of Mark A. K. Dee, Chief Executive Officer – a consultant and service provider for healthcare administrative support, IT development, energy, call center, and business process outsourcing. Mark has served in various multi-level management positions in his 21 years of service in the United States Air Force (USAF). He performed as Immunology and Microbiology department manager, Medical Laboratory Assistant Director, Facility and Security Manager, and finally retiring in the military in 2008 as Superintendent/Assistant Chief of Operations of 330 personnel Medical Group. Mark has experiences in the services industries since he retired, including running a restaurant chain as the CEO. He has also developed other businesses in the Martials Arts studio and 3d-printing industries. He has a BS in Health Sciences and Hospital Administration, Board Certified in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Graduated in the Senior Executive Leadership School from the USAF, Master’s in Business Administration, and a Master’s of Science in Systems Management at Notre Dame De Namur University.

Chosen Cheng

Chosen Cheng is owner of CMC Group, a privately held engineering and marketing consultancy for small business startup ventures. He currently works with project teams developing patented award-winning solar roofing systems and patent pending drone-based augmented reality geological and thermal mapping solutions. He was formerly a Silicon Valley marketing and innovative corporate training manager. As an avocation and a way to “pay it forward” he enjoys teaching and career coaching college and graduate MBA students many of whom are pioneering first generation college students from underserved communities. He and his wife, a Notre Dame alum, celebrated their wedding reception at the Ralston Mansion in the 70’s and have two stupendously successful, married adult children who between them have four stupendously adorable grandchildren.

Arthur Chait

Entrepreneur, Executive, Engineer, Investor, Professor, Mentor. Founder & CEO EoPlex Inc. ($31 million VC funded startup acquired by ASTI Singapore). President Stanford Research Institute (SRI) Consulting Division (800 staff worldwide). SVP Flextronics (responsible for $8 Billion in global accounts). President Zitel Software. Principal Booz Allen. R&D Director Halliburton. Adjunct Professor Menlo College, Visiting Professor Universidad Francisco Marroquin (Guatemala), Mentor Draper University, Judge Startup Chile. BS Engineering Rutgers, MBA Strategy University Pittsburgh.

Kelly Cansler

Kelly completed both her BS (Finance/Economics) and MBA from NDNU. She utilized her business education to launch an insurance agency in 2008 with Farmers Insurance. It’s grown into multi-million-dollar agency, organically and through acquisition. She has been recognized by Farmers Insurance being ranked within the top 10% of agents nationwide, but also as a speaker, trainer, and mentor within the Farmers Insurance Community. Kelly is extremely connected with local businessowners through several networking channels.

Cliff Burnette

Cliff is the senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Rambus, a global chip and IP provider that advances data center connectivity and solves the bottleneck between memory and processing. Cliff has over 20 years of experience leading global human resources operations for publicly traded companies with expertise in employee relations, organizational development, and compensation strategy. Prior to Rambus, Cliff worked for several other high-tech companies in the semiconductor and medical device space and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing from Texas State University and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Organization Development from the University of Texas at Austin.

Memo Morantes

Memo Morantes has been a San Mateo County resident for more than 45 years. He has been a three-term San Mateo County Board of Education incumbent, a Redwood City/San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce board member, a Sequoia Hospital Foundation member, a co-chair of the Latino Leadership Council of San Mateo, and a civic/community activist.

Sheryl Young

Sheryl serves as a director for Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, which provides $10M each year for innovative teachers and social entrepreneurs throughout the Bay Area. Prior Sheryl served as CEO of Community Gatepath and AbilityPath.org. She has over 30 years of managerial experience in operations, finance, and marketing. Young is a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders, earned an M.A. of Public Health from UC Berkeley, an M.A. in Special Education from Ball State University and a B.A. in Political Science from Purdue University.

Brian Schumacker

Brian manages South San Francisco-San Bruno’s wastewater treatment plant and with a dedicated staff of over 40 professionals who safeguard community health and protect the fragile San Francisco Bay ecosystem. Brian holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration, both from Notre Dame de Namur University. Brian has also earned the highest levels of professional certifications in wastewater treatment.

Mario Rendon

Mario Rendon serves as District Director for State Assemblymember Kevin Mullin. He develops the communications, public relations and constituent service strategy for the office and supervises a small team that represents Mr. Mullin in the 22nd Assembly District within San Mateo County. He has over twenty year’s experience working with elected officials at the local, state and federal level developing public policy.

Jerry Hill

Jerry’s public service started with his local neighborhood association that progressed to the California State Assembly and Senate where he authored legislation resulting in laws on issues related to consumer protection, utility safety, coastal protection, public health, education and the environment. Jerry was born and raised in San Francisco, receiving his BA from the University of California, Berkeley and a Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University.

Magda Gonzalez

Magda was most recently the City Manager for the City of Half Moon Bay, California. Prior she was the City Manager of East Palo Alto, California and Assistant City Manager, Redwood City. Magda was President of Cal-ICMA, representing the Local Government Hispanic Network and serves on the Board of Directors for the San Mateo Credit Union and the Latino Leadership Council of San Mateo County. Magda is also a member of ICMA and the State Bar of California and received several awards and recognitions, including Career Excellence Award (WLG) and the Ethical Hero Award from Cal-ICMA.

Jeremy Dennis

Jeremy currently serves as Portola Valley Town Manager. Previously, he’s worked for elected officials at all governance levels, including twice as District Director for local assemblymembers. He worked as the Palo Alto Long Range Planning Director, and for San Mateo County in management roles. Jeremy has a Masters in Urban Planning from the London School of Economics, and graduated from UC Davis studying US History/Political Science.

Kate Comfort-Harr

Kate is Executive Director of HIP Housing, a nonprofit specializing in creative affordable housing solutions throughout San Mateo County. Kate is a frequent speaker on a wide array of affordable housing topics and is passionate about the cultivation of collaborations between the private, public and social sectors. She serves on the Board of Directors for the San Mateo Credit Union and was awarded the Chamber San Mateo County’s 2020 Business Woman of the Year Award.

Jeff Cox

Program Director for Master of Public Administration

Jerome Nadel

Jerome Nadel is Internationally experienced design-led marketing executive (CMO and GM) with a track record of improved market position, revenue growth, and M&A. He is an advance degreed psychologist and user experience product/service design expert, board member and advisor. Jerome recently retired from Rambus as where he was CMO and GM of the security software division that he led the sale to Visa. He has had a variety of chief marketing officer and chief user experience officer roles at companies including Human Factors International, SLP InfoWare, Gemplus, and Sagem. He started his career in the IBM Human Factors Labs. He is also an avid cyclist with National and multiple California State Champion titles.