Confidentiality

The University of Houston-Victoria recognizes that student disability records contain highly confidential information and are to be treated as such. Therefore, all information pertaining to students who register with Disability Services is maintained in a confidential file and is considered part of the student’s education record. This information may only be disclosed to a third party with the written permission of the student, or as is permitted by federal and/or state law and university policy.

University of Houston System Policy stipulates:

Records and/or information provided by or on behalf of students in the accommodation request process that reflect diagnoses, evaluation or treatment of a student’s medical or mental health condition are confidential student records and shall be maintained by the university’s Student Disability Services Office. Such records or information shall only be disclosed in accordance with university policy, federal and state law, and, generally, only to those System or University officials who the university’s Student Disability Services Office and/or the System’s General Counsel or their designee determines have an “educational need to know” such information and/or the content of such records.

University of Houston System Administrative Policy –
SAM No. 01.D.09 Student Academic Accommodations Policy
Revised August 23, 2021

Information concerning a student’s disability should be disclosed only to those with a legitimate “need to know.” The U. S. Department of Justice has indicated that faculty and staff generally do not need to know what the disability is, only that it has been verified by the individual assigned this responsibility by the university. Students may choose to sign release of confidential information forms so that DS Staff can communicate with parents, faculty, or others as specified.

Student files will be maintained in the Disability Services Office for a period of three years from "date of last contact" according to State of Texas Records Retention Schedule and UH System Policy SAM 03.H.01.