Campus Safety and Student Privacy

San Jose State University is committed to the safety and well-being of all students regardless of their immigration status. In this page you will find information related to your privacy and the campus resources that are available to protect your safety. 

Protecting your privacy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 

• What is FERPA?

  • It’s a Federal law that protects the privacy of student records. It gives students certain rights with respect to their education records: 

    • the right to view and inspect their records

    • the right to request for an amendment to their records

    • the right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s information records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent 

    Learn more through the Office of the Registrar website

• Does SJSU share my admissions/ financial aid information with outside agencies? 

  • NO. San Jose State University does not release information from student records without a written consent from the student, except for student information that the university has deemed as directory information. Directory Information includes: 1) Dates of Enrollment, 2) Degree Earned. 

• Does SJSU share my or my parents’ immigration status  and information with outside agencies/ people?

  • NO. SJSU does not release immigration information to any agency or department without the student’s consent. 

• Can I update my FERPA/ Directory restrictions?

  • YES! You can edit your directory restrictions through your student portal. 

    Go to: Student Center > Personal Information > User Preference > FERPA Restrictions 

• How can I grant consent to a designated person (parent or guardian) so university officials can disclose student record information?

  • Students can grant consent to a designated person through their MySJSU student portal. Below are the departments included in the "Authorize to Release" list that students can select from:

    • Admissions

    • Bursar’s Office

    • Financial Aid & Scholarship Office

    • Office of the Registrar

    • University Housing Services

    See the guide on how you can complete an Authorization to Release form [pdf].

Campus Safety

The University Police Department (UPD) offers a number of safety services to assist students, staff, and faculty. Safety services include

• SJSU Safe Ride 
• Safety Escort Program
• Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Training
• Run, Hide, Fight Training
• Safety Presentations

Reporting

Discrimination/ Bias

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) provides support to SJSU community members that may have experienced bias and/or discrimination while participating in CSU programs and activities. 

Students can report discrimination incidents through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by submitting a Bias/Discrimination Incident form. 

Title IX

If you or someone you know has experienced sex discrimination or sexual violence, we encourage you to file a report or contact the Title IX Office for resources and assistance. 

Visit the Title IX Office for more information and resources or to report an incident.

Reporting a Crime

To report an emergency contact UPD at 408-924-2222, or dial 911. Additional ways of reporting a crime to UPD:

• Bluelight Phones
• Confidential Crime Reporting
• CrimeStoppers
• TipNow Anonymous Crime Reporting

Immigration Enforcement

SJSU is committed to the safety of our communities. Any inquiries from ICE or any other federal, state or local agency requesting information about a student's immigration status should be directed to the University Police Department at 408-924-2222. SJSU will not assist agencies with such requests.

For more information on the CSU policies around immigration enforcement, visit: FAQ's for California State University Employees About Federal Immigration Enforcement Actions on University Property [pdf]

Immigration Enforcement Outside of SJSU

California Rapid Response Networks (RRN) provide holistic support for communities impacted by immigration enforcement. If you see ICE in your community or if you know anyone that was detained 24hrs, reach out to your local Rapid Response Network. RRNs have hotlines that dispatch legal observers and immigration attorneys to assist individuals and their families who have been impacted by immigration enforcement. 

• Rapid Response Network in Santa Clara County Hotline: 408-290-1144
• List of Rapid Response Network hotlines across California.