FAQ Details

If a student provides a release to speak with a third party, am I obligated to share the data or speak with them?

No. While the College is permitted to provide data under FERPA, the College is generally not obligated to provide information or speak with third parties. Cortland's policies state:

Disclosure of directory information is discretionary rather than mandatory. SUNY Cortland has the right to disclose Directory Information to some persons/entities but not others. Requests for student directory information that meet a legitimate College interest, and which are in compliance with Information Resources security policies, must be addressed to the Registrar's Office for approval.

Please contact the Registrar's Office to confirm if a student has a FERPA release for disclosure to a third party. We can help you determine if you can share the information, and the specifics of what data you can share.

There are some specific conditions where the College may be required to release data to officials under the law. Please refer any questions/inquiries to the Registrar's Office.

If you are ever unsure about sharing information, you may refer the party to the Registrar's Office. Virtually all calls related to FERPA requests and third party inquiries can be fielded.