Academic Records: Security & Third Party User Access

Privacy, Access and Storage of Student Academic Records

Wake Forest University complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) with respect to security of and access to student records.

Student academic records maintained in electronic form by the Office of the University Registrar are password protected with access restricted to individuals who have a legitimate “need to know” based on the responsibilities and duties expected to be performed by the individual. Individuals in positions that need to change records have a higher level of access than those who need “view only” access to the records. The registrar reviews requests for levels of records access and access is denied in cases where the “need to know” cannot be supported.

How to Access a Student’s Academic Record?

In order to access a student’s academic record, the student must release his or her record through “Friends and Family” in Workday, a system that grants access to view certain academic records.

For instruction on how to set up third party user authorization, click here.
For instruction on how to access Workday account as third party user, click here.

What is Third Party User Access?

Wake Forest students can grant others access to view certain pieces of information that is normally available in their Workday account. This is termed granting “third party user access,” and the other person is referred to as the “third party user.”  The most common Wake Forest students can grant others access to view certain pieces of their information. The most common scenario is for a student to grant a parent or partner access to their information; however, the student can choose anyone who has an e-mail address. By granting third party user access the student is giving Wake Forest permission to share the selected information with that individual. This permission is necessary to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The third party user/student relationship is controlled by the student. The student can create third party user accounts and assign access to specific information. Third party users can potentially view items such as a student’s current classes and grades. The student can choose to stop third party user access to their information. If the third party user forgets their password, they will need to contact IS Help Desk. Requests to access student academic information and to become a third party user should be made directly to the student.