Guardian/Family-Delegated Access

Once the student attains the age of 18 or attends an institution of higher education, regardless of age, FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student. Under FERPA, parents have no inherent rights of access to their students' education records.

Starting in September 2020, students can give permission for their parents to access their education records by granting guest access.

For students that currently have a FERPA release on file. the release will remain active through December 2020. After December 2020, guest access will need to be granted.

Please use the Guest Access Instructional Information for direction on how to grant guest access.

Records may be released to parents without a signed consent from the student under certain exceptions. These include:

• In a health or safety emergency.
• Where the student has violated a law or the school’s policies governing alcohol or substance abuse if the student is under 21 years old.
• By submission of evidence that the parents declare the student as a dependent on their most recent Federal Income Tax form.

Parents who wish to access their student's education records without the express written permission of the student may provide a copy of the previous year's tax form demonstrating that the student is a dependent for tax purposes to the Office of the Registrar, University of Texas at Arlington, Room 129 University Administration Building. Income data on the tax record can be redacted.

In a legal separation or divorce situation, biological parents have equal standing as custodial parents to gain access to the student’s education records.