Privacy and Release of Student Record Information

The Ohio State University has designated the following information about students as public (directory) information, which may be released without the student’s consent:

• Name
• Permanent address (does not include home/local, physical, or dorm address)
• Official university email address
• Home telephone (does not include dorm or cell phone)
• Program of study (including college of enrollment, major, and campus)
• Enrollment status (e.g., full-time, part-time, withdrawn)
• Dates of attendance
• Names of honors awarded (e.g., Latin honors, dean’s list, scholarships-with the amount excluded)
• Previous educational agencies or institutions attended
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of intercollegiate athletic teams

Students have the right to withhold the release of Directory Information, visible in Ohio State's search result. To do so, a student must designate “I wish to withhold the release of my Directory Information” in his or her Buckeye Link. It should be noted that if a student asks for directory information to be withheld, it will be withheld from a variety of sources, including: the student, friends, relatives, prospective employers, honor societies, and the news media. Each student is advised to carefully consider the consequences of a decision to withhold directory information. Information regarding email address, previous dates of attendance, degrees and awards received (to include honors, majors, minors and specializations), previous educational agencies or institutions attended is always considered releasable.

Students desiring to withhold release of directory information will be asked to acknowledge an agreement with the understanding regarding the implications of a "no release."

To withhold release of directory information:

1. Log in, My Buckeye Link
2. Under Personal Information, select Student Information Release. 
3. Select Withhold Directory Information tab.
4. Follow the prompt, and select Save. 

The right to review records is effective once a student is enrolled. They have the right to review their educational records, except for those excluded by law, such as: Records kept by a campus health professional, parent financial records and confidential letters of reference.

Educational records are not maintained at The Ohio State University in any one central office, but are kept in the respective colleges and schools, the Graduate School, graduate departments, extended campus offices, the University Registrar, Student Financial Aid, Admissions, Student Affairs, etc. For a complete list of offices that maintain education records, please contact your college/extended campus office or the University Registrar.

Questions regarding the review of individual student records should be directed to the specific location and custodian of the records for that unit. If a student encounters any difficulty in reviewing the appropriate educational record, the questions should be referred to the University Registrar or to the Student Advocacy Center.

A student may challenge the content or the right to review a student record by notifying the Registrar in writing. The Registrar will promptly review such allegations.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects student confidentiality by placing certain restrictions on the disclosure of information contained in a student’s education records. By completing this online form, you agree that university personnel may provide information from your education records as indicated.

Complete a Student Information Release

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects student confidentiality by placing certain restrictions on the disclosure of information contained in a student’s education records. By completing this online form, you agree that university personnel may provide information from your education records as indicated:

Alumni/former student Information Release request (pdf)