Solomon Amendment

The Solomon Amendment is a federal law that requires institutions receiving certain federal agency funding to fulfill military recruitment requests for access to campus and for lists containing student recruiting information. It provides branches of the military access to certain student information which would have been denied them under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

For additional information or questions regarding the topics below, please contact AACRAO Government Relations.

Regulations and Recent Guidance

National Defense Authorization Act Sec. 521 Increased Access to Potential Recruits (January 2021)

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, effective January 1, 2021, included language that updates the student recruitment information entitled to military recruiters under the Solomon Amendment. The legislation added "electronic mail addresses (which shall be the electronic mail addresses provided by the institution, if available)."

The Solomon Amendment - A Summary and Update (February 2005)

The Solomon Amendment Brochure

The Solomon Amendment (April 2001)

Interim Rule - Department of Defense (January 13, 2000)

Final Regulations (October 23, 1998)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What student information are military recruiters entitled to under the Solomon Amendment?

   

  Recruiters may receive "student recruiting information" for either the immediately previous, current or future term for all students, aged 17 and older, who are/were registered for at least 1 credit hour in the requested semester/term. If a request is received between terms, the recruiter and registrar should determine from which term the information is preferred.
  
  Student recruitment information includes:
  
  Names, addresses, electronic mail addresses (which shall be the electronic mail addresses provided by the institution, if available), and telephone listings.
  
  Date and place of birth, levels of education, academic majors, degrees received, and the most recent educational institution enrolled in by the student.

   

• How does Solomon Amendment information relate to FERPA directory information?

   

  Military recruiters are entitled to student recruitment information even if your institution has not designated it as directory information under FERPA. In other words, Solomon information is, or can be, broader than what you may have designated as directory information under FERPA.

   

• What is not considered student recruitment information under the Solomon Amendment?

   

  Race/Ethnicity/Nationality
  Gender
  Social Security Numbers (or part of an SSN)
  Grades
  GPA
  Religion
  Students with loans in default
  Veteran status
  Students no longer enrolled (drop-out or stop-out [i.e., not permanently dropped out] students)