Directory Info FAQ

Directory information is information contained in a student's education record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. At WSU directory information includes the following: name (including any former name), local and permanent addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, major and minor fields of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate, graduate; full-time or part-time), grade level, status as graduate assistant and assignment, degrees, certificates, and awards received, including the President's Honor Roll, and the most recent previous educational institution attended by the student. Students may request that WSU not release directory information by indicating "restrict address" on WSU's myWSU Portal's address update screen, or for those who do not have access to myWSU by filing a written request with the Registrar's Office by the tenth day of the academic semester.

No. The only required disclosure of education records is to the student. All other disclosures, including those with student consent and disclosures of directory information, are at the discretion of the institution.

FERPA requires each institution to allow students to block disclosure of their directory information. At WSU, we refer to this action as "restrict directory information”. The following are consequences of a student restricting directory information:

  • Student name/address is excluded from the WSU online directory.

  • Student name will not appear in the commencement program.

  • Verification of enrollment, graduation, or degrees awarded will not be provided to third parties, including potential employers and insurance companies.

  • No information will be released to any person on the telephone or via email.

Requests for confidentiality are permanent until removed in writing by the student.

Instructions for restricting directory information.

In myWSU > Campus Community or Student Center. To the right of the student's WSU ID number the symbol below indicates that a student has restricted the release of their directory information.

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Instructions for releasing directory information.

Can a student who restricted the release of directory information be anonymous in an online course?

No. Under FERPA, a student may not use his or her right to opt out of directory information disclosures to prevent school officials from identifying the student by name or disclosing the student’s electronic identifier or institutional e-mail address in class.