Student Consumer Information

The Student Consumer Information regulations of the United States Department of Education require universities to provide students access to certain information to which they are entitled as consumers. It is Butler's intention to provide complete and easy access to any information students need.

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education. The privacy protection FERPA gives to students is very broad. With limited exceptions discussed below, Part 99.3 of the FERPA regulations gives privacy protection to all student "education records." Education records are defined as "[t]hose records that are directly related to a student and [are] maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution." Examples of student records entitled to FERPA privacy protection are grade reports, transcripts and most disciplinary files.

Source: Student Affairs; Atherton Union Room 200; 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (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 an 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. Schools are 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. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school 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.

Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order 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 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.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.

Source: US Department of Education

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

At Butler University Health Services we are committed to treating and using protected health information about you responsibly. This Notice of Health Information Practices describes the personal information we collect, and how and when we use or disclose that information. It also describes your rights as they relate to your protected health information. This Notice is effective April 14, 2003, and applies to all protected health information as defined by federal regulations.

Source: Health Services, HRC Room 110, 530 W 49^th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208; 317.940.9385

Financial Aid

Descriptions of all financial aid available in the form of Federal, State and University aid programs, cost of attendance, eligibility criteria and application process are available in various publications by the Office of Financial Aid.

Conviction for Possession or Sale of Illegal Drugs

Butler University is required to remind students who receive federal financial aid that the Higher Education Act includes a student eligibility provision related to drug possession and selling. A student who is convicted of a state or federal offense involving the possession or sale of an illegal drug that occurs during a period of enrollment in which federal student aid was received is not eligible for federal funds. Federal aid is comprised of grants, student loans, and college work study.

Timeframe for Ineligibility

The timeframe for ineligibility begins on the date of conviction and lasts until the end of a specified period as outlined below.

	Possession of Illegal Drugs	Sale of Illegal Drugs
1st Offense	One year from date of conviction	Two years from date of conviction
2nd Offense	Two years from date of conviction	Indefinite period of time
3 + Offense	Indefinite period of time

Regaining Eligibility

Students may regain eligibility for federal aid early by completing an acceptable drug rehabilitation program, passing two unannounced drug tests administered by an acceptable drug rehabilitation program or if the conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record.

Qualified Drug Rehabilitation Program Standards

A drug rehabilitation program is considered approved for these purposes if it includes at least two unannounced drug tests and meets at least one of the following criteria:

Qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a federal, state, or local government program.
Qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally or state-licensed insurance company.
Administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court.
Administered or recognized by a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor.

Other General Institutional Information

Information on admission procedures and processes for prospective freshman, transfer students, international students, graduate students admitted students, parents and guidance counselors. Additional information on cost of attendance and academic programs. All information can be found at:

Voter Registration

Butler students not registered to vote may obtain an Indiana Mail-in Voter Registration Application (VRG-7) online.

Services and Facilities for Disabled Students

It is the policy and practice of Butler University to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Under these laws, no qualified individual with a disability will be denied access to or participation in services, programs and activities of Butler University. In compliance with the above federal laws and applicable regulations, appropriate academic adjustments and/or reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with properly documented disabilities. A qualified individual with a disability is a person who with or without reasonable accommodations can perform the essential requirements of a program or a course of study. The essential elements of an academic course or program need not be fundamentally altered in order to accommodate an individual with a disability. Any student with a documented physical or mental impairment that limits one or more of life's major activities may qualify.