Definitions
Annual Notification of Rights is the yearly notification to students informing them of their rights under FERPA.
Custodian means the person responsible in each college or department for the educational records within that college or department.
Directory Information includes:
- Student Name
- Email**
- Address**
- Phone Number**
- *Student ID (G Number)
- *Date of Birth
- Major Field of Study
- Dates of Attendance
- Enrollment Status
- Previous Institutions
- Class Level
- Degrees and Awards Received
- Photographs
- Participation in Officially Recognized Sports and Activities
- Weight and Height of Athletes
*Denotes Limited Directory Information. This information will only be used for verification purposes and to school officials who have access, consistent with FERPA, to such information and only in conjunction with a legitimate educational interest.
**Denotes Directory Information that may be released pursuant to Virginia Code § 23.1-405(C).
Note: Mason does not disclose non-directory information unless the student has signed a consent form, the disclosure meets a qualified exception under FERPA, or the release is to the parent of a dependent student, as required by § 23.1-1303.B.5 of the Code of Virginia.
Eligible Student means a student who is currently, or was formerly, enrolled in credit or non-credit classes at George Mason University. This does not include records of applicants for admission who were denied acceptance or, if accepted, did not enroll in courses at George Mason University. FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student when a student turns 18, or attends a post-secondary school at any age.
Education Records are records and documents containing information directly related to the student, which are maintained by Mason or a party acting on behalf of Mason.
Education records exclude (1) sole possession notes, (2) campus police records available only to police and maintained within that department, (3) medical records available only to medical personnel and not shared elsewhere on campus, (4) alumni records, (5) employment records when employment is not contingent upon the employees status as a students, and (6) peer grading.
Legitimate Educational Interest is when a Mason school official is acting within the scope of his or her’s employment and/or job description, it is part of their job role to have access to that information, or it is necessary to access the information in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities to Mason.
Mason School Official is any person employed by or otherwise affiliated with Mason who is performing institutional services or doing work for the university. Mason School Officials include, but are not limited to, faculty, staff, consultants, contractors, any person serving on an official committee, student workers, and volunteers.
