Do students qualify for access when taking only distance courses?

Access to student records under FERPA is granted to students who are enrolled in their courses, regardless of whether those courses are offered in-person or through distance learning. This means that as long as a student is officially registered for a distance course, they have the right to access their educational records related to that course.

This approach reflects the intention of FERPA to protect student rights and ensure their ability to view and understand their own educational information, fostering a transparent educational environment. It clearly signals that the mode of delivery—whether physical classroom attendance or online interaction—does not diminish a student's rights under the law. Students taking distance courses are afforded the same access as their peers in traditional classroom settings, emphasizing the equal treatment of all students in terms of educational records regardless of course format.