Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), more commonly referred to as the Buckley Amendment, is the federal regulation that protects the privacy of student records and reference files. FERPA ensures that:

• Students have the right to see the letters in their files unless they have waived access to the letters; they also have the right to a list of their file’s contents upon request.
• Students have the opportunity to voluntarily waive access to individual letters, knowing that most recipients (and especially admissions committees) attribute more credibility to confidential references as they are perceived to be more candid and genuine.
• Students must provide written consent prior to any release of their files to parties outside the university to ensure that they control the dissemination of information in their file. Note, however, that once the file is created it becomes the property of the University of Michigan.