ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how the federal laws applies to institutions of higher education. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) was enacted by Congress and signed into law in 1974 to serve the dual purpose of protecting rights and preserving privacy. Institutions must notify eligible students about FERPA rights on an annual basis. Many of the changes contained in Higher Education Opportunity Act Of 2008 (HEOA) are intended to assist students and parents in determining the costs of college by increasing the availability of information. The Copyright Act of 1976 protects original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression including literary works, musical works, dramatic works, motion pictures, and sound recordings. In 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, covering several types of employers in its prohibition of unlawful discrimination. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was a landmark, including for the first time a large segment of private-sector employers.
