Federal Notices

Family Educational Rights of Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights of Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of education records of all students enrolled in schools beyond the high school level. Students are entitled by FERPA and by FST policy to examine their academic records.

FERPA allows institutions to identify certain types of information called ‘directory information’ that may be disclosed without student consent. FST has designated the following information as directory information and can release this information at its discretion unless the student has submitted a Request to Restrict Directory Information form to the Registrar: Student’s name; Student’s FST e-mail address; dates of attendance; participation in officially recognized activities; degrees, honors, and awards received; photograph.

Students who wish to place a privacy hold on directory information must complete a Request to Restrict Directory Information form obtainable online and from the registrar’s office. All other student information–for example, grades or financial aid information–is confidential and can not be released to a third party without explicit student consent.

Students wishing to give a third-party access to their student information, for example, a spouse, parent, or sponsor,  must complete and sign a FERPA student release consent form authorizing FST to release this information to the individual/s you designate.

Discrimination and Harassment: Title IX of the Education Amendments

FST complies with the provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (45 CRF 86) regarding discrimination and allegations of sexual harassment.

As a Catholic and Franciscan institution of higher education, The Franciscan School of Theology stands with the Catholic Church in seeing “in men and women, in every person, the living image of God himself.” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church # 105). The Franciscan School of Theology is committed to providing a learning, working, and living environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination, discriminatory or sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other forms of sexual abuse. Unlawful discrimination, harassment, and sexual abuse subvert the mission of our School, strike against the School’s Catholic and Franciscan values, and threaten the careers, educational experience, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.

Find FST’s complete Title IX Policy and Procedures here.

Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act

FST complies with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (Public Law 101-226) requiring the following notification to students:

“The Franciscan School of Theology requires the campus be drug-free. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of a controlled substance while on FST premises is prohibited. Abuse of alcohol on the FST campus is also not allowed. Violation of this policy will be considered cause for dismissal from school. Further information about sanctions, health risks, and drug counseling is found in the Student Handbook 

Veterans’ Administration Benefits

Policies related to students eligible for Veterans’ Administration (VA) educational benefits may be found at the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs website.

Crime and Safety Report

The Franciscan School of Theology highly values the individual and collective security of its students, faculty, and staff.  This is so not only because we care about individual safety, but also because safety is a prerequisite for the creation of an academic community devoted to research, learning, and teaching.

The Congress and Department of Education have established many requirements for campus crime policies and reporting. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), codified at 20 U.S.C. 1092(f) as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 require that the Franciscan School of Theology disclose policy information and crime statistics as part of a campus security report published annually.