FERPA Privacy Waiver

If you would like to have access to your student’s financial aid information your student will need to complete a FERPA Privacy Waiver.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a federal law protecting the confidentiality of your student’s records. In compliance with FERPA, UMass Amherst must have your student’s written permission to release information from his or her records to any third party. Your student can provide their permission by filling out a FERPA Privacy Waiver online. Completing the waiver will allow whomever the student designates to communicate with the university about the bill, financial aid, housing, and UCard funds. Students may also edit the FERPA Waiver at any time to change or eliminate designees.

The FERPA Privacy Waiver is limited to three categories of information: financial, housing, and UCard. It does not allow designees access to academic information (such as grades).

Your student should fill out the FERPA Privacy Waiver through SPIRE as soon as he or she has a SPIRE log in ID and password. The FERPA Privacy Waiver section of the Information Technology website provides complete information and will guide your student through the process.