Students should know more about what kinds of notes they canmake to their record that would benfit them in their academic career.
I was suprised to learn we should restrict access to employee's who are also students to their own student records.
FERPA makes records for students obtainable, but with that comes guidelines you have to follow with it. I think its really nice to see that student privacy is protected, in most circumstances.
Understanding FERPA guidelines is a challenge. Training is necessary to prevent violations and broken relationships from a lack of trust.
I learned that FERPA has to more than protecting the privacy of the student's information. Employees should received extensive training before hiring.
It is interesting to read that employees that also are students at an instution, should not access their educaitonal record while at work as an employee. In the healthcare industry, this is the same policy, as nurses shouldn't be looking up their lab/diagnostic results online while at work.
I learned that FERPA coverage ends when a student/former student passes away. I f an alumni no longer attends the institution, then their information may be released with proper permission. There are also certain guidelines for when there may be possible conflicts of interest.
Reply to Karen Greene's post: Yes I totally agree with you here Karen, plus institutions really don't have choices but to comply with FERPA laws if they want to avoid any potential liabilities and possible penalties.
FERPA is definitely a complex issue to handle for anyone with so many elements of laws (both implied and written). We all have to use our best judgment when dealing with FERPA and take action based on the laws and without taking any pressure from anyone. Institutions must train every employye on a regular basis (periodically) on FERPA either first time and onging for new employees and periodic training for current employees just to make sure that they are in full compliant with the FERPA laws.
FERPA is not just about student's privacy it is also about the student's rights to his/ her educational records. Institutions need to observe the necessary and important protocols to protect students' records and the employees who get hired after proper screening should receive the necessary training. Students current and former have the same rights and procedures to protect their educational records and access them, although former students/ alumni may not receive the same considerations in some cases.
FERPA makes records obtainable, but you must follow procedures to gain access. After you graduate, your documents are not protected to an extent, and even if you die. It amazes me that a staff member as a student would try to look at their grades. They need to use the proper channels to access that data.
Students have a right to add a note to their records AND it has to be passed a long, when dealing with grades.
Interesting that FERPA rights are no longer in effect when student or former student dies.
I had an "a Ha" moment, I have a couple of Instructors, that are futhering their education, their access to grades, makes a difference, when it comes to their acces to their grades. Very good point.
I agree that Ferpa and hippo are essentially the same protection for the individual.training is also necessary for employees.
Reply to Sheila Heinert's post:
Excellent comparison! FERPA and HIPPA are essentially the same protection for the individual.
One's education record is protected for life. However, once that person dies, someone can request those education records. I also found it interesting that an employee who is also a student at the school cannot look up his/her grades as an employee. This is different from healthcare records, which ultimately belong to the individual whether he/she looks up the records as a patient or as an employee.
One thing I learned in this module is that students have the right to add a note to their permanent file if they feel the need to dis[pute a certain item, like attendance or a grade recieved. Where this may not change the schoolsdecision, it gives the student a chance to defend the action and is to e released with all permanent file release requests.
I learned in this section that a student may refute something on their record with a permanent comment. This statement will be transferred on their permanent record upon any documentation request.
I have learned that a graduate of a school that becomes an employee is also protected under FERPA.
