What should a student be advised of if their records are not changed after a request?

If a student's records are not changed after they submit a request for modification, it is important for them to be advised that they may request a hearing. Under FERPA, students have the right to challenge the content of their education records if they believe that the information is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights.

The process typically involves the institution conducting a hearing where both the student and the school may present their arguments regarding the requested changes. This ensures that the student's voice is heard and allows for an objective review of the records in question. Should the hearing result in the decision that the records do not need to be changed, the student may still retain the right to append a statement to their records indicating that they believe the information is inaccurate or misleading, which contributes to transparency and supports the student's interests.

Advising the student of this right to a hearing is a crucial part of ensuring their rights under FERPA are respected and upheld. Other alternatives like having an attorney or filing a lawsuit, while they may be options in different legal contexts, are not the immediate steps through the FERPA process for addressing record disputes. Similarly, simply moving forward does not appropriately address the student's right to contest inaccuracies.