How UAF protects your identity

We're committed to protecting your identity and personally identifiable information. The best way to protect your credit card and personal information from being compromised is for you to access your account and pay your bill at UAOnline. But we realize this isn't always possible, so we do accept cash, check and money order payments in person.

To verify your identity, we may ask you a series of questions (if over the phone) or ask that you present a valid ID (if in person). A valid ID type is PolarExpress card, driver’s license or state-issued ID, passport or military ID. If you do not have a valid ID when visiting our office, we will verify your identity through a series of questions.

If a third party (parent, spouse, significant other, friend, etc.) wishes to make a payment on your account, we will gladly accept payment on your behalf but we will not release any information to them unless you have specifically authorized us to do so by completing a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) form. The payer will receive a receipt that payment has been made to the Bursar's Office but will not receive information about your account. If you wish to share your protected information with any individual, please complete the FERPA form and submit it to our office.

If you have any questions or concerns about the processes we use to protect your identity, please feel free to contact our office.

More information:

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) deals with the privacy of education students records that are 1) directly related to a student and 2) maintained by an institution or a party acting on behalf of the institution. UA strives to protect student records as per FERPA guidelines. All faculty and staff who have access to student records are required to complete an annual FERPA training.

GLBA

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act is a financial privacy guideline to protect consumer information held by institutions. Under GLBA, institutions are required to protect student and employee financial information. UA maintains the financial information in strict confidence. UAF Financial Aid has protocols to ensure financial protections are in place. Click here for more information.

GDPR

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is new data privacy law applicable to the European Union subjects and business operations that involve EU subjects. The new law results from the need to protect data and privacy rights of students, faculty, exchange students, researchers, employees, donors and alumni. UA has a steering team to advise on the implementation of GDPR.