Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The School of Nursing follows the PLU FERPA policy regarding access to educational records. According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all students must sign consent to release records in order for educational materials to be placed in student mail folders, be shared with clinical agencies, or used in letters of recommendation.

During new student orientation, all students must sign a FERPA Release form in order to participate in clinical practicums that allow the School of Nursing to share information with clinical agencies, including results of criminal background checks and drug screenings. Students often request faculty to write letters of recommendations for scholarships, residencies, employment, and graduate school. Students requesting letters of recommendation must sign consent to FERPA Reference-Recommendation Release form specifying what agencies may receive the information.