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Student Right to Know

Any educational institution or agency that receives funds under any program administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education must comply with requirements outlined in the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. These guidelines are specific to managing the privacy of student records. 

  • NSU Compliance
    All Norfolk State University Enrollment Management departments follow the standard requirements defined in the FERPA when managing the privacy of student personal and financial data.
  • Student Right to Non-disclosure & Consent to View Educational Records
    Non-disclosure is the requirement that an educational institution must provide the opportunity for a student to refuse to let the institution release information designated as "Directory Information."  Educational Records are those records directly related to a student and maintained by the institution or by a third-party acting for the institution.

Did you know?

As of July 1, 2018 HB1 Scholastic records; prohibited access to directory information Scholastic records; disclosure of directory information. Clarifies that student directory information may be publicly disclosed by a school if the school has given notice to the parent or eligible student of (i) the types of information that the school has designated as directory information; (ii) the right of the parent or eligible student to refuse the designation of any or all of the types of information about the student as directory information; and (iii) the period of time within which a parent or eligible student must notify the school in writing that he does not want any or all of the types of information about the student designated as directory information.

The bill also provides, however, that no school shall disclose the address, phone number, or email address of a student pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 99.31(a)(11) or the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) unless the parent or eligible student has affirmatively consented in writing to such disclosure. - Virginia House Bill 1

  • FERPA
    Information from an Educational Record can only be disclosed with a signed consent from the student, unless it meets one of the exceptions to signed consent in section 99.31(a)(1) of the FERPA which states that the scholastic record may be available to school officials, including teachers within the educational institution, local and state educational agencies who have legitimate educational interest in the student, and officials of the other schools which the student intends to enroll.

    A student has the right to request Non-disclosure of "Directory Information." The following information has been declared "Directory Information" and may be released by the University without prior consent of the student: name, address, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in official activities, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of attendance, enrollment status, degree, honors and awards received, and previous educational agency or institution attended. "Directory Information" will not be released for commercial purposes, and a student may request in writing to the Registrar that "Directory Information" not be released. 

  • The Student Right-To-Know Act of 1990
    The Student Right-To-Know Act of 1990 is a federal law that requires colleges and universities receiving Title IV funding to collect and report student and athletic graduation and retention rates to prospective and current students. Click on the links below to view specific statistics for Norfolk State University’s compliance to Section 104 (A)-(F) of the Student-Right-To-Know Act.

  • Campus Crime and Awareness Information
    Norfolk State University Police Department prepares, publishes and distributes an annual Campus Security Report in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Institutions that participate in student financial aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 must comply with the conditions of this Act. The report includes information about campus security policies and procedures and crime statistics for the previous three years. These statistics focus on reported crimes that occurred on and off campus, as well as certain off-campus buildings owned or controlled by Norfolk State University. Public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from Norfolk State University is also included. The report is available by October 1st, of each year, and contains important tips to help every member of the community remain safe and avoid becoming a victim of crime. A copy of this report can be located on the NSU Police Department’s website.

  • Available Financial Assistance
    Financial Aid is typically a payment of funds to an individual, which is conditioned on the individual's attendance at an educational institution. The Norfolk State University Office of Student Financial Aid offers a wide variety of financial assistance programs that include: scholarships, grants, loans and student employment opportunities. The management and disbursement of funds is based on adherence to federal law as it relates to a student’s eligibility for federal, state, institutional and external funding sources. For more information on the guidelines for financial aid as it relates to higher education, please visit the U.S. Department of Education web page on Financial Aid.

  • Dispute or Question Regarding Student Loans
    If a student has a dispute or question about the balance of an educational loan, the student can request that a Federal Student Aid Ombudsman (FSAO) conduct informal impartial fact-finding research about the issue. The FSAO may recommend solutions, but does not have the authority to reverse decisions. The FSAO may also work to bring about changes that will help prevent future problems for other student loan borrowers. This is a free service provided by the US Department of Education.

  • Financial Aid Criteria
    If you want to keep receiving your federal student aid, make sure you continue to meet the basic eligibility criteria, make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. The satisfactory academic progress standards apply to all students in degree seeking programs of study who wish to be considered for financial assistance. To lean more about SAP requirements, visit the Norfolk State University Financial Aid Office SAP requirements web page.

  • Access Your Title IV Loans and/or Grant Data
    Recipients of Title IV Aid can create a login to access the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data. NSLDS is the U.S. Department of Education's (ED's) central database for student aid. Data from schools, guaranty agencies, the Direct Loan program, and other Department of ED programs, such as the Pell Grant Program, are stored its central repository.

  • Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program
    The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession. Under this program, if you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools and educational service agencies that serve low-income families, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $17,500 on your Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and your Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. If you have PLUS loans only, you are not eligible for this type of forgiveness.

Contact Us

If you have additional questions, please contact the NSU Enrollment Management Office at em@nsu.edu.