FERPA EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
A student's degree can be confirmed to some external (outside of your college) source without
first obtaining the permission of the student so long as the institution identifies "degree" as
directory information. (T/F) - ANSWERSTRUE: Directory information may be disclosed to outside
parties, unless the student has submitted his/her request through my.SMU Self Service to the
University Registrar office that it be withheld.
o It is permissible for a professor to post student grades on an office door if only a student's
social security (ID) number (or portion) is used. (T/F) - ANSWERSFALSE: The public posting of
grades either by the student's name, SMU ID number or social security number (or portion),
without the student's written permission, is a violation of FERPA. Even with names obscured,
numeric student identifiers are considered personally identifiable information.
Randomly assigned numbers or code words that only the instructor and student know can be
used to post grades and are not a violation of FERPA. However, the posting order should NOT be
in alphabetical order.
Your college must annually notify students of their rights under FERPA. (T/F) - ANSWERSTrue
Faculty have a right to inspect education records of any student attending their college without
giving a reason. (T/F) - ANSWERSFalse
Student representatives on committees (e.g., honors, curriculum, etc.) have the right to see
other students' education records during the deliberations of that committee. (T/F) -
ANSWERSTrue
It is permissible to distribute graded examinations by placing them on a table for students to
pick up after class. (T/F) - ANSWERSFalse
A student's degree can be confirmed to some external (outside of your college) source without
first obtaining the permission of the student so long as the institution identifies "degree" as
directory information. (T/F) - ANSWERSTRUE: Directory information may be disclosed to outside
parties, unless the student has submitted his/her request through my.SMU Self Service to the
University Registrar office that it be withheld.
o It is permissible for a professor to post student grades on an office door if only a student's
social security (ID) number (or portion) is used. (T/F) - ANSWERSFALSE: The public posting of
grades either by the student's name, SMU ID number or social security number (or portion),
without the student's written permission, is a violation of FERPA. Even with names obscured,
numeric student identifiers are considered personally identifiable information.
Randomly assigned numbers or code words that only the instructor and student know can be
used to post grades and are not a violation of FERPA. However, the posting order should NOT be
in alphabetical order.
Your college must annually notify students of their rights under FERPA. (T/F) - ANSWERSTrue
Faculty have a right to inspect education records of any student attending their college without
giving a reason. (T/F) - ANSWERSFalse
Student representatives on committees (e.g., honors, curriculum, etc.) have the right to see
other students' education records during the deliberations of that committee. (T/F) -
ANSWERSTrue
It is permissible to distribute graded examinations by placing them on a table for students to
pick up after class. (T/F) - ANSWERSFalse
