Northern Illinois University
Student Conduct
Division of Student Affairs

Student Conduct Records as Education Records

Student Conduct is responsible for maintaining individual and organizational student conduct records. Records which fall under this purview are considered education records and are subject to the restrictions outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (FERPA).

Under the provisions of FERPA, students have the right to inspect and review their education records. Students also have the right to have information included in their student record.

Freedom of Information Act

Northern Illinois University is subject to the United States and the State of Illinois Freedom of Information Act laws. (Public Act 096-0542) and (5 U.S.C. 552) Records held by state agencies may be requested under these statutes, by the general public. Information requested under these statues are subject to redaction and the statute governs the release of these records.

Intra-agency Release of Information

Under the provisions of FERPA, Student Conduct has established a procedure whereby departments on the NIU campus with an “educational need-to-know” and who have obtained a signed release from appropriate students, are able to have conduct records about appropriate students shared between Student Conduct and the appropriate office. To view information on this procedure, please visit the procedure for the sharing of student conduct records. 

Request Records

The release of student conduct records is governed by multiple laws. The relationship between the requestor and the requested records determines what form needs to be completed. Please select the most appropriate statement from the table below, to be guided to the appropriate form.

If you have any questions about which option to select, please contact Student Conduct at 815-753-1571.

Record Retention

To view information on the record retention procedures for student conduct records, visit the appropriate section of the Student Code of Conduct.

Audio Recordings

Aspects of the preliminary conference and all conduct hearings are audio recorded. These recordings are the sole, official, verbatim record of the meeting or hearing. Audio recordings are considered part of the student’s education record and are governed accordingly by FERPA and FOIA. Any student or student organization who wants to review an audio recording, to which they are entitled, should contact Student Conduct via telephone at 815-753-1571 or via email at conduct@niu.edu.