Student Conduct Verification and FERPA

Prior Conduct Information
Students and alumni who are applying to academic institutions or for employment which requires a disclosure of prior conduct information are encouraged to answer the question that was asked truthfully for that individual’s circumstances. As different institutions and employers phrase their questions differently, there is not one set answer that our staff can provide regarding completing your form accurately other than the previous statement.

The Office of the Dean of Students does not release prior conduct information over the phone. If you are unsure of your prior conduct history, please contact our office emailing your inquiry to studis@bgsu.edu, calling us at 419-372-2843, or stopping by 303 Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

Any document requiring academic and conduct verification can be dropped off or mailed to the Office of Registration and Records located in the Administration Building.

Office of Registration and Records
1851 North Research Drive
Bowling Green, OH 43403
419-372-8441

Any document requiring conduct verification only can be dropped off or mailed directly to the Office of the Dean of Students located in 303 University Hall.

Office of the Dean of Students
303 University Hall
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403
419-372-2843

Please make sure you have:

• Signed and dated your certification(s).
• Enclosed a stamped and addressed envelope for each certification for mail.
• Left a phone number so that we may call and let you know your document has completed and ready for you to pick up from the Office of the Dean of Students.
• Left a fax number for the institution requesting the certification. If the institution requesting the certification accepts faxes, you may indicate that on the form and we will fax the completed certification.
• Taken any document requiring a character evaluation to a professor, TA, or Dean of your College and ask them to fill out the evaluation portion of the document only.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that prohibits educational institutions from releasing information about a student’s educational record to third parties, including parents, without the consent of the student. Records related to student conduct or student discipline are classified as “educational records”. Some exceptions in the law do exist. Students are generally notified when parents will be contacted.

Bowling Green State University reserves the right to notify the parents/guardians of dependent student regarding any conduct situation, particularly alcohol or other drug violations. The University may also notify parents/guardians of non-dependent students who are under the age of 21 of alcohol or other drug violations. Parental notification may also be utilized discretionarily by administrators when permitted by FERPA or the consent of the student.

If a student wants a staff member in the Office of the Dean of Students staff to be able to discuss their student conduct or discipline records with a parent or parents, the student can send the Office of the Dean of Students a written statement granting such permission.