The Honors Program staff is committed to protecting your privacy. As a UW-Madison student and Honors candidate, there are a couple of things you need to know.
Advising Space
Each of our Honors academic advisors has his/her own office space in Washburn. Peer advisors, however, share an office; therefore, there may be times when multiple advising sessions are held simultaneously in the peer room. If you would like to speak to a peer advisor in a more quiet or private space — to talk about anything from major or career uncertainties, to parental pressures, to financial concerns or health issues — just let us know, and we will find such a space. Otherwise, you should always feel free to request an appointment with an academic advisor.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
At UW-Madison, access to student records is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). In short, this law states that your student record belongs to you, and you alone. Under FERPA, parents and guardians have no right to inspect or review your record without your express written consent. This means that the Honors Program staff will not provide any information about you to anyone but you. If family or friends call to see if you have submitted your application or grant proposal or wish to check on your degree progress, we will kindly encourage them to contact you directly. However, if you ever wish for a loved one to be able to discuss an aspect of your record with an Honors advisor, we can certainly arrange that. We ask that you meet with an advisor first and, together, work out the details on a Release of Information form.
Know Your Rights
Some information is considered public (e.g., your name, address, major and dates of university attendance) and can be disclosed to third parties, unless you request that this information be withheld from the public. You may grant permission for third parties to review certain aspects of your student record.
For More Information
For more information on FERPA, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.