FERPA
Confidentiality of Student Records

The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 regulates a wide range of privacy related activities including:

• Management of student records maintained by the School
• Regulations regarding who has access to student records
• For which purposes access to student records is granted

School officials will release educational information upon receipt of a signed, dated, written consent of the student which must specify the records that may be disclosed and identify the party to whom the disclosure may be made, including:

• Parents of a dependent student, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, Section 152 and who supply supporting documentation, may be granted access to a student's educational record under some circumstances.
• In connection with Financial Aid, to organizations who are conducting studies that are on behalf of educational agencies;
• To Federal or State educational authorities;
• To accrediting organizations;
• In compliance with a lawfully issued subpoena;
• In connection with a health or safety emergency.

Non-College individuals (including parents except as described above) may not have access to educational records other than Directory Information unless authorization from the student is obtained or a lawful subpoena/court order is issued to the school. Examples of records not released are grades; grade point average; the specific number of hours/credits enrolled, passed, or failed; Social Security Number; student ID number; name of parents or next of kin; and/or residency status.

Students may complete a form authorizing the Registrar's Office to permit non-SMFA individuals to view the student's academic record.

Confidentiality Statement

The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, maintains various student records to document academic progress as well as to record interactions with school staff and officials. To protect the student's rights to privacy, and to conform to Federal and State laws the school has an established policy for handling students' records. Notice of this policy and of students' rights under federal law is given annually to the campus community.

The school is authorized to provide access to student records to campus officials and employees who have legitimate educational interest in such access, without the student's written consent. These persons are those who have responsibilities in connection with campus academic, administrative or service functions and who have reason for using student records connected with their campus or other related academic/administrative responsibilities as opposed to a personal or private interest. Such determination will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Access to student records databases is available on a need-to-know basis to appropriate campus officials only after required authorization is received by the Registrar's Office.

Information from student educational records, including grades, grade point averages, and letters of recommendation will not be shared by phone or correspondence with parents or other parties outside the institution, without written permission from the student or pursuant to a lawfully subpoena/order, coordinated by the Registrar’s Office.

The campus community must remain vigilant about any intentional or unintentional abuse of the existing privacy laws, including the misuse of any student identifier, including the student's Social Security Number. To report any concerns or violations, please contact the Registrar's Office, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 230 the Fenway, Boston MA 02115.