Student Privacy

The University has a legal obligation to protect the privacy of students and the confidentiality of student records. No information about a student’s academic performance can be released without the student’s written permission. It is equally important to respect students’ privacy when distributing their grades. Instructors should not leave papers, projects, or examinations in unattended public areas. Similarly, grades should never be posted with the students’ names, and/or Harvard University Identification (HUID) numbers. Such practices are a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Details regarding student privacy and the Family may be reviewed on the Office of the Registrar's website. (See Posting of Grades.)