Adler University complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) by maintaining and protecting the confidentiality of student records. This applies to the release of personal identifiable information and records for currently enrolled and former students. In accordance with FERPA, a student’s financial aid information will only be disclosed to the student him/herself.
FERPA Consent to Share Information
The Office of Financial Aid must have express written consent from a student in order to share financial aid information with others. The consent should include a statement that gives the Office of Financial Aid permission to share financial aid information with a third-party, the name of the individual(s), the relationship between the student and the individual(s), and if there are any limitations to what can be discussed. The written statement may be mailed or emailed, if the message is sent from an official Adler email account.
Certain Information Sharing Exceptions: FAFSA Information
Information from a submitted FAFSA, including the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation, can only be shared with third parties under certain circumstances per federal statute.
Under Section 483(a)(3)(E) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, [20 USC 1090], FAFSA data, which includes information related to expected family contributions (EFCs) and awards, “shall be used only for the application, award, and administration of aid awarded under federal student aid programs, state aid, or aid awarded by eligible institutions….” The Consolidated Appropriation’s Act, 2018 (FY 2018 spending bill) allows schools to share FAFSA data with scholarship providers and tribal organizations, also with the student’s written consent. The Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (FY 2019 spending bill) expands that language to also allow an institution to share FAFSA data—with the student’s written consent—with an organization “assisting the applicant in applying for and receiving Federal, State, local, or tribal assistance that is designated by the applicant to assist the applicant in applying for and receiving financial assistance for any component of the applicant’s cost of attendance.”
If FAFSA information is needed for any purpose other than the exceptions outlined above, Adler University will be unable to provide FAFSA information, even if a student signs a FERPA release. The decision on what FAFSA data can be shared by Adler University is left to the Office of Financial Aid. In these cases, the student must provide the data directly to the individual or organization requesting the information. Students may obtain a copy of their Student Aid Report at fafsa.gov to locate the necessary data.