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.