Student Privacy—General Information

Students have specific privacy rights under applicable laws that vary depending on the global jurisdictions in which they reside. Please see Northeastern University's Policy on Privacy for Students, Applicants, and Alumni (Student Privacy Policy) for further details.  

As a general matter, students have the right to:

  • Expect Northeastern to handle student personal information in accordance with the Student Privacy Policy
  • Be provided access to their education records
  • Seek to have their records amended by opening a general support case through the Registrar Service Portal
  • Exercise control over the disclosure of information from their records, including to parents and guardians 

Please note that these rights are subject to some exceptions under applicable laws. 

Family Disclosure

A student's right to privacy in their education records extends to preventing access by family members. While this right is subject to some exceptions under applicable laws, unless you indicate otherwise, Northeastern will inform parents or guardians, if asked, that access to your records is restricted and they should consult with you if they would like to see your records.

Directory Information

During the annual registration process, students are asked whether Northeastern may release limited student data (called directory information) for certain specific administrative purposes (such as confirming your attendance at Northeastern to employers and loan agencies or publicizing information about you if you are on an athletic team).  Directory information is defined in the university's Policy on Student Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  Students may change their selection at any time on the university Student Hub or by notifying the university in writing at registrar@northeastern.edu.

How to Exercise Privacy Rights

Subject to certain exceptions, privacy laws afford students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights are:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access (or fewer days if provided by applicable law). Students should submit to the registrar, dean, or head of the academic department (or appropriate official) written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the university official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
  2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education record that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the university to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the university decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the university will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
  3. The right to provide written consent before the university discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records. There are a number of exceptions to this right; these include disclosure to school officials (including university employees and persons or companies whom the university has put under contract, such as an outside attorney or auditor) who have a legitimate educational interest in the information contained in the records and who seek access for the purpose of performing their job functions, and disclosures to entities involved in financial aid responsibility. 
  4. The right to file a complaint with the applicable regulatory agency for alleged failures by the university to comply with privacy law. In the United States, that is the U.S. Department of Education, Student Privacy Policy Office, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202; in Canada, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, or Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (as applicable); and in the United Kingdom,the Information Commissioner’s Office. At Northeastern, you may write to the Office of the University Registrar, 271 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, or contact privacy@northeastern.edu.

Additional Information

Additional information can be obtained from the university's chief privacy officer at privacy@northeastern.edu.