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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act


The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law (also known as the Buckley Amendment) that protects the privacy of a student's educational records. FERPA applies to all educational agencies or institutions that receive funds under any program administered by the Secretary of Education.

FERPA entitles students to withhold release of directory information. Directory information is defined as "information contained in an education record of a student which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed" (1998 Final Regulations).

Our Lady of the Lake University public or directory information includes the student's:

  • Full name
  • Address (local, permanent)
  • Email address
  • Telephone listings (local, permanent)
  • Major field of study
  • Degrees and awards received
  • Dates of attendance
  • Most recent school attended
  • Photographs
  • Weight and height of members of athletic teams 
  • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of directory information under FERPA, as amended. To withhold disclosure of directory information, written notification must be received in the Registrar's Office, 411 S.W. 24th Street, San Antonio, Texas, 78207-4689, within the first 12 days of the fall or spring semester, the first four days of the summer semester or the first weekend of class (for students in the nontraditional scheduling format). The restriction will remain in place until the student authorizes removal. Forms requesting the withholding of directory information is available in the Registrar's Office on the San Antonio campus, or online through the myOLLU Portal (Registrar's Office Portal Site). Our Lady of the Lake University assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically request the withholding of directory information indicates individual approval for disclosure. 


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