SUNY Potsdam is committed to the free exchange of ideas between people of different social and political systems. It is the policy of the College to encourage such interaction. The College neither requires its employees to answer questions posed by representatives of government agencies nor forbids its staff from responding to such inquiries. The College also believes that its employees should cooperate with and assist officials of government agencies when appropriate and in when compliance with The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) commonly known as the Buckley Amendment which forbids staff members from providing certain information such as personal details related to individuals not available through the public online directory. Faculty and staff can obtain information on FERPA from the Office of College Communication and can obtain assistance from this office in case of uncertainty about whether to respond to government officials.