The University of Tulsa maintains a statement of rights, freedoms, and responsibilities, which sets forth general guidelines suggested for members of the University community.
The document outlines University policy in the following areas: freedom of academic inquiry, freedom of expression, freedom of association, right to privacy, off-campus freedom, student self-government, right of students to participate in University government and the decision-making process, and standards in disciplinary proceedings. More detailed information concerning any of these areas may be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs and the current Student Handbook.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”
Eligible students have the right to inspect and review their education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
Eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.
Generally, schools must have written permission from the eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):
- School officials with legitimate educational interest;
- Other schools to which a student is transferring;
- Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
- Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
- Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
- Accrediting organizations;
- To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
- Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
- State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.
Schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell eligible students about directory information and allow eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.
For additional information or to get a Release of Information Form, contact the Office of Student Affairs at 918-631-2327. Additional information is also available at the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-8520.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
This act includes provisions to protect the privacy of individually identifiable health information. For more information about the HIPAA and related University policies, contact the Office of Human Resources.
General Standard of Conduct
In keeping with the ideals and standards of higher education and the mission of The University of Tulsa, students are expected to treat one another and other members of the University community with mutual respect, dignity, honor, and trust.
Specifically, students are expected to respect order, fairness, morality, and the rights of others; obey the laws of the land and the regulations, rules, and policies of the University; and conduct their activities with high regard for the ideals of higher education, which include personal honor, academic honesty, and intellectual freedom. Behavior that runs contrary to these expectations provides sufficient cause for the University to initiate disciplinary proceedings, as specified in the current Student Handbook. The full text of the General Standard of Conduct as well as the rules and regulations governing student life and policies governing such issues as drug and alcohol use, sexual harassment, sexual violence, and harassment may be found in the Student Handbook.
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