Who we are
The Office of the Registrar recommends
academic policy to the faculty, implements academic policy
guidelines determined by faculty, maintains accurate student
academic records, and preserves the confidentiality, security
and ethical handling of those records. We are a client centered
service oriented unit, performing duties for students, alumni,
faculty and staff in compliance with the needs of these
constituencies and consistent with the goals of the
Institute.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute complies with the Family
Educational Rights Privacy Act of 1974. This act provides that
students attending any postsecondary educational institution
that receives federal funds are entitled to access their
education records kept by the institution in order to inspect
and review these records.
In accordance with this act, the Institute intends to make
certain directory information" available for public use,
particularly in connection with publicity of athletic events,
honors, etc. The following constitutes directory information:
the student's name, address, photograph, telephone number, date
and place of birth, major field of study, academic load,
participation in officially recognized activities and sports,
weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of
attendance, degrees, honors, and awards received, class year in
school, and most previous educational agency or institution
attended.
A student who does not wish any of this information to be
released for a given semester should notify the Registrar in
writing by the end of the second week of classes. Directory
information is published in various forms during the year and
Rensselaer can withhold information only in those cases where
written requests are received in accordance with the guidelines
stated here. Students must fill out a request to prevent
disclosure of directory information for each semester they wish
to withhold such information.
