What It Is
The FERPA Student Consent to Release Education Records form allows an authorized third party (e.g., parent, grandparent, guardian, support person) to contact the Office of Financial Aid on your behalf and discuss your education records.
- All Education Records: Includes, but is not limited to, all academic, financial, residency, and personal information
- Financial Aid Records: Includes, but is not limited to, status of file, offers and disbursement of funds information, Satisfactory Academic Progress status, and any other information contained in the financial aid application or file
- Billing Records: Includes, but is not limited to, amounts due for tuition and fees, sources of payment for tuition and fees, refund information, holds as it relates to parking citations, library fines, financial aid repayments, payment plans, and any other information contained in student account records
Students can provide or revoke permission for education records to be released by using the Student Consent to Release Education Records form available on the Financial Aid section of RAMweb.
What It Isn’t
It does not provide access to your medical, student conduct or housing records. For more information on accessing those records, see:
In addition, this form does not provide FAMweb access.
Submitting a Consent to Release Form
Authorize a Third Party
To authorize a third party:
Authorization must be completed by the student.
- Log in to RAMweb
- Open the Menu at the top right
- Select “Financial Aid”
- Once on the Financial Aid page, select “FERPA Consent to Release Education Records”
- In the form, select that you are providing permission to release education records the University maintains to a third party
- Identify which records(s) this person may access and/or discuss with the Office of Financial Aid
- Enter the person’s identifying information in the corresponding fields
- Determine a Security Passphrase
- Sign the form
- Click “Submit”
Revoke Authorization
To revoke previously authorized consent to release education records:
Revocation must be completed by the student.
- Log in to RAMweb
- Open the Menu at the top right
- Select “Financial Aid”
- Once on the Financial Aid page, select “FERPA Consent to Release Education Records”
- In the form, select that you are revoking previously authorized consent to release of education records to a third party
- Enter the person’s identifying information in the corresponding fields
- Sign the form
- Click “Submit”
Contacting the Office of Financial Aid
Phones
When calling the Office of Financial Aid, authorized individuals will be asked to state their name and the security passphrase. Staff can only discuss a student’s account if their name and security phrase both match what the student entered for them on the consent to release form.
When emailing the Office of Financial Aid, authorized individuals should use the email address entered for them on the consent to release form. Their name, and security passphrase should be included in the message. Staff can only discuss a student’s account if the email and security passphrase both match what the student entered for them on the consent to release form.
In-Person
When visiting the Office of Financial Aid in-person, authorized individuals will be asked to provide a photo ID. Staff can only discuss a student’s account if the name and date of birth on the photo ID matches what the student entered for them on the consent to release form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can I authorize the Office of Financial Aid release education records to?
Anyone!
When do FERPA rights begin?
Once a student reaches 18 years of age or attends a postsecondary institution, they become an “eligible student,” and all rights formerly given to parents under FERPA transfer to the student.
At CSU, a student is considered to be “in attendance” on the first day of the first term in which a student is registered.
How often do I need to complete this form?
The consent to release form only needs to be submitted once per authorized individual. If at anytime you wish to revoke previously provided access, you can submit a new form requesting this.
Does this form work for other departments?
No, this consent to release form only authorizes the Office of Financial Aid to release education records to an authorized third party. It is not used by other campus departments. Please review the Office of the Registrar’s Student Privacy page for information on granting permission to the Office of the Registrar, Graduate School, Vice Provost, and/or an Academic Department to release your academically related education records.
Can I provide multiple people access to my education records?
Yes, you can authorize an unlimited number of individuals.
Why do I need a security passphrase?
The security passphrase is intended to protect your privacy. A third party authorized to access your financial aid account information will be asked to confirm their security passphrase when calling or emailing the Office of Financial Aid.
What happens if I forget the security passphrase?
Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid directly for assistance with retrieving their security passphrase. We are unable to share forgotten or misplaced security passphrases with an authorized third party.
Can I complete the consent to release form for the student?
No, this form must be completed by the student.
When do FERPA rights begin?
Once a student reaches 18 years of age or attends a postsecondary institution, they become an “eligible student,” and all rights formerly given to parents under FERPA transfer to the student.
At CSU, a student is considered to be “in attendance” on the first day of the first term in which a student is registered.
If the student hasn't submitted a consent to release form, can I still contact the Office of Financial Aid to ask questions about their account?
Unless a consent to release form is submitted, the Office of Financial Aid will only be able to discuss general financial aid, billing, or residency related questions with you.
Why do I need a security passphrase?
The security passphrase is intended to protect the student’s privacy. A third party authorized to access a student’s financial aid account information will be asked to confirm the security passphrase when calling or emailing the Office of Financial Aid.
What happens if I forget the security passphrase?
Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid directly for assistance with retrieving their security passphrase. We are unable to share forgotten or misplaced security passphrases with an authorized third party.
What's the difference between this consent to release form and FAMweb?
The FERPA Student Consent to Release Education Records form allows Office of Financial Aid staff to answer questions about specific aspects of a student’s financial aid account and discuss their financial aid with individuals other than the student. FAMweb is an online, read-only way for parents, families, and friends to see certain components of a student’s record. It doesn’t allow these individuals to ask questions about or discuss a student’s record with a university representative.