Protecting Student Privacy

Sometimes school officials have a legitimate educational interest in students’ protected educational records. School officials with a legitimate educational interest are allowed access to the student educational records relevant to the official's job. If a school official does not have a legitimate educational interest, he or she should not be given access to educational records. A legitimate educational interest includes tasks related to:

• the student's education
• the discipline of a student
• program improvement
• providing a service or benefit relating to the student, such as health care, counseling, job placement, or financial aid
• maintaining the safety and security of the campus

Legitimate Educational Interest does NOT include academic research. Researchers interested in including UNM students as subjects in their research programs must contact the Office of Research Services or the HSC Human Research Review Committee.