Student Directory Information and Privacy
Classification of Students
Students are classified according to the number of hours of college credit they have earned. Classifications are as follows:
| Freshmen | 0 - 29 earned hours |
| Sophomores | 30 - 59 earned hours |
| Juniors | 60 - 89 earned hours |
| Seniors | 90 or more earned hours |
| Special Students | Undergraduate students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. |
| Graduate Students | Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree and have been accepted to UT Rio Grande Valley for graduate study. |
| Special Graduates | Students who have earned a graduate degree and are continuing in another graduate program. |
| Doctoral Students | Students who have been accepted to a doctoral program. |
Student Confidentiality (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records whereby parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records, and the right to request that a school correct records, and that schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record.
FERPA - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. §1232g, and the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code §552.001 et seq., are respectively a federal and a state law that provide for the review and disclosure of student educational records.
Directory Information
At its discretion, the University may release directory information which includes:
- Name, Address, Telephone Number
- Date and Place of Birth
- Major Field of Study
- Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
- Dates of Attendance
- Most recent previous educational institution attended
- Classification
- Degrees, Honors and Awards Received
- Date of Graduation
- Physical Factors (height and weight) of athletes
- Photographs
- University Email Address
Students may have any or all directory information withheld by notifying the University in writing. Request for nondisclosure will be honored by the University until such time that the student grants permission, in writing, to release the information. A Directory Information Release Form is available online.
Name Change Information
To change your name in the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley student system, you must submit a Change of Information Form to U Central. A copy of a legal document with your new name must be provided with the form. Examples of accepted legal documents include your birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree, social security card, driver's license, etc.
Student employees should also update their name change with the Human Resources office. Federal regulations require employers to validate that each employee's name on file exactly matches the name which appears on the individual's Social Security Card to ensure proper tax reporting. If you have not requested a change of name with the Social Security Administration, please apply for a new Social Security Card with the nearest Social Security Office.
For additional information on how to apply for, replace, correct, or change your name on your Social Security Card, select here: Social Security Online
Social Security Number Change Information
To change your Social Security Number with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, you must submit a Change of Information Form to U Central. A copy of your social security card must be provided with the form.
For additional information on how to apply for, replace, correct, or change your name on your Social Security Card, select here: Social Security Online
Proof of Meningitis Vaccination
In accordance with Texas law, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley requires all entering students, including transfer, and returning students (out of school for one long semester), to submit evidence of having taking the vaccine against bacterial meningitis prior to enrolling or to provide other documentation establishing why such a vaccination is not required.
All first-time students under the age of 22, including transfer and returning students, must provide one of the following documents to U Central:
- A “Bacterial Meningitis Immunization Record” signed by a health practitioner evidencing that the student has been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis or any other official state or local immunization record. Confirmation of the MCV4 (Menactra) vaccine will satisfy as the requirement. The MPSV4 (Menomune) vaccination may not be accepted unless administered or boosted within the past 5 years. Vaccinations must be administered no fewer than 10 days prior to the student's first day of class.
- A "Refusal of Immunization for Medical Reasons" signed by a physician who is licensed and registered to practice medicine in the United States which states the physician's opinion that the required vaccination would be injurious to the health and well-being of the student.
An exemption approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Exemption requests are available on the DSHS website.