Student Records

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

 New England Conservatory complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974.  FERPA (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under any applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”

  • Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school. NEC is not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records in person. NEC may charge a fee for copies.
  • Parents or eligible students have the right to request that NEC correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If NEC decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if NEC still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.
  • New England Conservatory must have written permission from the parent or eligible student to release any information from a student’s education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):
    • School officials with legitimate educational interest;
    • Other schools to which a student is transferring;
    • Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
    • Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
    • Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
    • Accrediting organizations;
    • To the parent or parents of a student who claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.  NEC may require a copy of that portion of a parent’s income tax return that shows the student to be a dependent.
    • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
    • Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
    • State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Directory Information

NEC designates the following items as Directory Information.  NEC may disclose any of these items without the student’s prior written consent, unless notified in writing to the contrary by October 1st of each year.  (Students may notify NEC after October 1st, however NEC can not guarantee that the Directory Information will be excluded from the Student Directory.)

List of Directory Information

  • Name
  • Local address
  • Local telephone number
  • Permanent address
  • NEC e-mail address
  • Month and date of birth
  • Program and degree
  • Major(s)
  • Class year
  • Minor(s)
  • Concentration(s)
  • Participation in officially recognized activities including concerts, TOS, etc.
  • Awards, prizes and honors earned in connection with officially recognized activities
  • Dates of attendance
  • Enrollment status
  • Degree(s) earned and degree dates
  • Graduation honors
  • Anticipated degrees and anticipated degree dates
  • Studio instructor’s name(s)
  • Awards, honors, and prizes received outside NEC that are related to a student’s musical career
  • Information provided by the student to the Office of Public Relations
  • Most recent previous school attended

A complete copy of the FERPA Policy is available on the NEC Website and in the Registrar’s Office.

Preferred Name and Pronoun Policy

Students at NEC may choose to use a first name other than their legal name to identify themselves as long as the chosen (sometimes called preferred) name is not used for the purposes of misrepresentation. Students may also opt to use chosen pronouns.

The NEC community will have access to chosen names and pronouns via the NEC Directory. Students also have the option to change their NEC email address and identification card to reflect their chosen name. Students will be charged the regular replacement fee for reprinting of an identification card. If students do not indicate a chosen name then the name reflected in NEC records will be used. If students do not indicate a chosen pronoun then the pronoun associated with their sex assigned at birth will be used.

Legal names will be used whenever it is required. Students wishing to pursue a legal name change should consult with the Registrar’s Office. Changes will be made in as timely a manner as possible.