What can be disclosed to the student?
Almost every part of his or her own student record including, but not limited to: transcripts (grades), exam papers, test scores, evaluations, financial aid records and loan collection records.

Are students prohibited from accessing certain of their own student records?
Yes. Students are not allowed access to:

• Financial statements of parents/guardians
• Confidential statements to which the student has waived access rights
• Records containing information about another student

What can be disclosed to third parties (including parents and spouses)?
Student records information falls into two general categories:

1. Public information, to which parents have access, and
2. Confidential information, to which third parties may have access only if the student signs an appropriate written authorization.

What information is considered to be public information at UC Berkeley?
Directory (public) information may be obtained without prior authorization. Each department, school, college, office, program, or entity which maintains records is required to give public notice of the categories of information designated as directory information. These units are not required to include all of the following, but may not designate as directory information anything more than:

• student's name
• addresses (local/permanent/e-mail)
• telephone numbers
• date and place of birth
• dates of attendance
• number of units in which enrolled
• major field of study
• last school attended
• degrees and honors received
• participation in official student activities
• name, weight, and height of intercollegiate athletic team members

What information is considered to be confidential information at UC Berkeley?
Everything that is not included in the list of "directory information" is considered confidential.

Policies also permit students to have the University treat directory information as confidential, so third parties' access to the above information may be limited if a student so requests.

Frequently Asked Questions: Parents and Spouses

When does my son/daughter/spouse officially become a student?
Once an admitted applicant submits a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to the University, s/he is considered a student whose records are subject to privacy protections governed by the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Berkeley campus' policies implementing these regulations. Prior to submitting the SIR, a student's records are subject to different privacy protections under the Information Privacy Act.

My son/daughter is a minor and I pay all of his/her bills. Does this give me a right to access the student records of my child?
No. The University considers your son/daughter as an adult, regardless of age or financial dependence.

Which student records can a parent or spouse obtain without prior authorization?
Public information may be obtained by a parent or spouse without prior authorization.

What constitutes an appropriate written authorization/waiver of confidentiality?
Your son, daughter or spouse must provide a signed letter to the campus office which maintains the sought-after record, expressly permitting your review of his or her student record and specifying the length of time for which access is granted.

What if a parent or spouse needs access to a student's record as a result of a health or safety emergency?
Requests should be directed to the UC Police Department, 510-642-6760, with a description of the nature of the emergency need to contact the student. At the discretion of the police and the Office of the Registrar, disclosure of a limited amount of imformation may be made to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency when the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other persons.

Information Release Chart

Download this PDF version of the Student Infomation Release Matrix for viewing and printing.

Student Information Release Matrix

Policy and Law Resources

The full text of the campus policy can be found on the UCB web site at:

http://uga.berkeley.edu/uga/disclosure.stm

University-wide policies can be found at the UC systemwide web site at:

http://www.ucop.edu/ucophome/uwnews/aospol/toc130.html

Paper copies of these policies may be requested by mail to:

Office of the Registrar
120 Sproul Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-5404

Paper copies of these policies also may be obtained from the Student Services counter at:

U.C. Berkeley
Office of the Registrar
120 Sproul Hall

Please direct your telephone inquiries to: