Students can authorize the release of their information to a third party on a one-time or ongoing basis. Ongoing authorizations remain valid until one year following the student’s last date of enrollment or until the student cancels the authorization in writing.
To prevent the University from sharing a student’s directory information, the student can place a directory hold by filling out the Directory Hold Form online. The directory hold will prevent the release of information of any kind about the student, including whether they ever attended the University and their graduation status, without direct written consent from the student to release their information. If the student elects to place a directory hold, any requests for information from non-institutional persons or organizations will be refused. As a result, the student’s name will not appear in the commencement program and the University will not be able to confirm the student’s degree to a prospective employer, among other effects.
Students can remove a directory hold by submitting the Directory Hold Release Form.
Students may ask employees of the University to write letters of recommendation for various reasons, including furthering their education or obtaining employment. Before providing such a letter, the student must have a Letter of Recommendation authorization (PDF) on file with the Office of the Registrar. To confirm whether the authorization is on file, contact records@ou.edu.
Parents or legal guardians of dependent students may access their records by completing the Parental Access to Student Education Records Form. This form must be completed every year that the student remains a dependent, and access will only be granted if the parent or guardian provides documentation that they claimed the student as a dependent on their federal income tax return.
