What is FERPA and how does it affect my financial aid?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records, both financial and academic. For the student's protection, FERPA limits release of student record information without the student's explicit consent; however, it also gives the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) the right to review those records if the parent(s)/ guardian(s) claim the student as a dependent on their Federal Income Tax Return.

If a student wants to authorize various administrative offices at Miami University, including the Office of Student Financial Assistance, to give information to other people (including parents), the student will need to grant access under “Sharing Access to your Personal Records” on myMiami’s student tab specifying the person(s) who are allowed student information. Granting access to a student’s personal records also allows these person(s) access to myMiami for Families. The access will be valid for a student’s entire length of study unless modified by the student.

Instructions to grant access to your personal records:

1. The student should login to myMiami with their unique ID and password.

2. Once logged in, select the "Student" tab at the top of myMiami.

3. Within the "Student" tab, locate the section "Sharing Access to your Personal Records".

4. Click on "Add additional people and/or modify access" to authorize users to access your personal records.

5. Choose "Add additional people" or modify current user information.

The FERPA also gives a student’s parents the right to review those records if the student is claimed as a dependent on the parent's Federal Income Tax Return. If a student does not grant access via myMiami, the parent may submit a signed copy of their most recent Federal Income Tax Return verifying that they claim the student as a dependent for IRS purposes.

When students visit our office, they will be asked to provide a picture ID to confirm their identity. When they call our office, they will be required to provide personal information that confirms their identity.

Anyone who calls on a student’s behalf must have been granted access to personal records by the student through myMiami and will also be asked to provide the student’s personal information. Students should only share their personal information with the person(s) they have listed on the myMiami authorization.