Regular training for faculty and staff as well as detailed training for new employees is a must.
I have learned that protocols pertaining to student privacy and rights have to be maintained at all times.
I never considered what happened to records of the deceased prior to this module. I found that helpful
I learnt practical approaches of FERPA in action - when FERPA starts to hold and when it no longer holds.
The importance of protecting personal information of students. To implement this, any student information should not be left out where it can be viewed or accessed by other individuals.
Sometimes it happens where students are also employees at the institution. There are policies that protect students from accessing their own record. They need to use the resources all other students utilize to view grades and such.
One of the best things we can do to ensure that our students, past, present, and future, have the proper channels to access their information as well as have protected. Past student information has bit more leniency in some cases due to the nature of the situation. By keeping best practice policies in tact we can adequately ensure that we are providing and protecting the correct information.
FERPA can impact students if faculty make the choice to be non-compliant. Importance to keep in the lane of being a faculty member.
Institutions may only release information to a public figure if the request is for someone who is deceased. Even though FERPA rights can still continue after a student is no longer enrolled, it does end upon the student's death.
Comment on Daniel Falk's post:
Since FERPA contains so many different components, it is crucial that everyone who works with students understands exactly what information may and cannot be disclosed.
Students who also double as employees should not be allowed to use their employee privileges to access their records except their day to day activities as employees allows them access to such records
FERPA covers students not alumni
I honestly did not know that once a student graduates that FERPA does not apply anymore to their academic records.
Comment on Elizabeth Scott's post:
Elizabeth FERPA rights are detailed in Family Education Rights and Privacy Ace. I think it is great that we have training on this because the laws change each year.
I our society things change often.
FERPA has so many angles to define that there needs to be defined policies to ensure rules are not inadvertently crossed. Empolyee education and training is necessary for to comply.
Educational records should be protected with locked rooms and locked files, password and virus protection for digital files, and employees only permitted access to information in their particular area, such as financial aid. New employees should be trained and expected to abide by high ethical standards.
Comment on Judy Whitehill's post: Agreed! Periodic refreshers as well.
The records obtained while the student is enrolled remain protected for the individual's life and are only released upon proper request for future endeavors.
I learned that there are differences in compliance that are nuanced by the words "must" or "may".
There are steps that are needed for anyone wanting to access information that they normally would not need to access. These steps are there to insure individuals privacy. FERPA is there to govern the proper way to access such information.
Employee should be trained on proper handling of student record and what is approved for either viewing or copies. This should be annually with changes that could occur
