The Department of Education may limit the amount of information universities are allowed to release through student directories, after the agency proposed new policies to increase student privacy.

Potential new specifications to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act – the act that protects student academic records – include a provision allowing schools to restrict access to information available in online directories.

All schools that receive federal funding must adhere to FERPA.

“We are proposing that schools may be given the option to limit their directory information policies for only specific purposes and given to specific entities,” Department of Education spokesman Jim Bradshaw said.

University spokeswoman Jill Sankey declined to comment on how the proposed rules would affect GW’s online directory, saying the University’s Office of General Counsel will comment when changes are finalized.

“A limited directory information policy would provide educational agencies and institutions the flexibility to designate directory information for more common uses without exposing their students to the risks of having their information released far more broadly,” according to the proposed changes.

A restricted directory would shield student information from marketers, news media and criminals.