What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a "Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.” Housing and Residential Education encourages you to read the information and familiarize yourself with the University Policy and Procedures For Students Record Administration.
FERPA exists to protect your right to confidentiality and limit our ability to release information about financial records. In compliance with the Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, CSU, San Bernardino is prohibited from providing certain information from your student record to a third party, such as grades, billing, tuition and fee assessments, financial aid and other student record information. This restriction applies, but is not limited, to your parents, your spouse, or a sponsor.
What does this mean for a Student?
As a student, you can rest assured that your private information, such as grades, class schedule, academic file, housing information, financial aid and scholarship information, tuition bill, and much more is kept confidential. No information will be released without your specific permission, unless CSUSB considers it to be directory information (see below).
What type of information is public?
Unless a student specifies, there is certain information that is considered public. This information is called directory information. This includes any data that can be found in Cal State University San Bernardino’s directory. Per FERPA, the University is not required to release or publish any directory information, but may choose to do so. Directory information typically consists of a student's name, e-mail address, mailing address, phone number, and major/degree program.
What does this mean for Parents/Guardians?
Please be aware that FERPA has nothing to do with legal age. FERPA takes effect the moment a student seeks admission to the university, whether under or over 18 years of age. Please talk to your student in regards to being granted access to their information. Please keep in mind that CSUSB’s primary business is with the student. We encourage parents/guardians to be involved with their student's education, but arrangements need to be made by the student for release of information.
I'm paying the bill, shouldn’t I have access to student information?
This is a common question we receive from parents/guardians. We greatly appreciate your involvement in your student's finances and assisting in the furthering of their education, but we must stress that it is the student's responsibility to pay their housing fees.
Emergency Information
Emergency Preparedness
The safety of students living in the residence halls is our most important responsibility. In an emergency, Housing and Residential Life staff have been provided with the training, equipment and other resources that enable them to carry out their assigned responsibilities under the University’s and our Department’s emergency procedures. Residence hall students have important responsibilities, too – to make plans as recommended for communicating with family, friends and roommates in an emergency, to know and be prepared to respond to the University’s emergency procedures, and to keep a fresh supply of certain provisions and supplies on hand.
Questions about information at this site may be addressed to housing@csusb.edu or by phone to 909.537.4155.
Emergency Notification System
CSUSB maintains an emergency messaging system that can simultaneously send safety alerts to phones, e-mail addresses, text/SMS and TTY/TDD devices. It will be used only for emergency communication purposes and for occasional announcements that could be of interest to all or specific parts of the campus community. For more information visit the Emergency Communications website.