Even an off campus sexual assult or rape learned about second hand trhough social media should be reported and investigation initiated.  

Reply to Judy Whitehill's post:  So true, in fact it, it seems in some ways more relevant in an online setting where the assumption is often that online makes all processes easier when not all students are equal in their technicalogiacal saavy or they may be psychologically removed from peers.   A person online could easliy feel vunerable and unsupported and avoid reporting incidents of discrimination.  It is crittical for instrutors providing online material to be familiar with how Title IX works so that they can be effective for their insitution and a resource to students.  

Defineing the disctinctions between emotional support and a service animals and where they are provided access in public spaces is informative.  

I learned that there are agencies that supersede FERPA regulations. An example would be “the Solomon Amendment” which is a federal law that allows military recruiters to access some address, biographical, and academic program information on students aged 17 and older. Institutions are obliged to provide the information once per term to each branch of the armed services upon request by military recruiters.  Tis was new information for me. As was the  “Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act” which requires financial institutions to explain their information-sharing practices to their customers and to protect sensitive data. With online learning students I was glad to learn… >>>

In regard to student access to records I was updated on restricted information that requires redaction such as parental financial information, privacy rights of other parties that may be included in a record, a students’ right to contest information in their record, their right to a hearing, and their right to appeal and include documentation of a challenge in their record.  I learned that FERPA is not applicable to students that have applied but are not yet attending classes.  I learned FERPA protocols for former students, deceased students, and alumni.  Additionally, I was reminded that faced with a student… >>>

I was reminded of how institutions must determine educational interests’ legitimacy or obtain written student consent before allowing faculty members to access previously completed student coursework.  Parental records assess when a student is deemed a dependent by the IRS or when a student is under 21 and alcohol and illegal drug use is involved.  Understanding exceptions is as important as understanding best prctices when it comes to student information.  

It was a good refresher on how FERPA protects student records, including access to them and requesting they be amended.  It was helpful to be reminded that each institution defines employees who have access.  It was new information for me to discover that information obtained once a student is goe (alumni records) is not considered art of the student record.  

It is intersting, it seems like it might be along the same lines as a counselors private notes.