Student Rights

As a current or former university student, The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords you certain rights regarding your education records. They are:

  1. The right to inspect and review your records.
    You may request to review your records by submitting a written request to the University Registrar or other school official having custody of such records
    (see: Procedure for Reviewing Student Education Records);
  2. The right to seek amendment of your records which you believe are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of your privacy rights.
    Requests for amendment of records must be in writing and must describe the specific portions of specific records that you wish to have amended, text or instructions as to the change desired, and the reasons why the change is justified;
  3. The right to restrict the disclosure of Directory Information; and
  4. The right to file a complaint with the Department of Education's Family Policy Compliance Office concerning alleged failures by the university to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

UO ID Number

The UO ID number is a nine-digit number randomly generated and assigned at the time of first admission. Your UO ID number will be imprinted on your student ID card when it is issued by the Card Office.

UO ID numbers are releasable only to you when you come in person to the Office of the Registrar with some type of photo identification. You may also mail or fax a written request for release to the Office of the Registrar containing the four elements listed in the section of this policy headed Release of Education Records.

Assigning a new ID number

In the past, the university has used other methods of assigning ID numbers including using Social Security numbers as ID numbers. Such numbers are no longer used. For this reason, former students who contact the university for information or service may be reassigned a new, randomly generated ID number.

Social Security Number

You are not required to provide, disclose, or consent to use of your Social Security Number (SSN) by the University of Oregon.

Under law a student will not be denied any right, benefit, or privilege if they wish to not disclose their SSN. A student may revoke consent for the use of their SSN at any time by contacting the Office of the Registrar, 234 Oregon Hall.

University Use

Students are requested to voluntarily provide their Social Security Numbers to assist the Oregon University System (OUS) (and organizations conducting studies on behalf of OUS) in

  • developing, validating, or administering predictive tests and assessments;
  • administering student aid programs; improving instruction;
  • internal identification of students;
  • collection of student debts; or
  • comparing student educational experiences with subsequent workforce experiences.

When conducting studies, OUS will disclose a Social Security Number only in a manner that does not permit personal identification of a student by individuals other than representatives of OUS (or the organization conducting the study for OUS) and only if the information is destroyed when no longer needed for the purposes for which the study was conducted.

By providing their Social Security Number, students are consenting to the uses identified above. This request is made pursuant to ORS 351.070 and 351.085.