FERPA policies and procedures can be complicated and confusing, it would be helpful to have in-house meetings per campus to discuss regulations and policies.
Just about any information released about the student should be recorded.
I learned if a student chooses to opt out of releasing Directory Information. They are not allowed to have their name published in the Commencement Program or Honor's List. Also you should be careful with online board discussions if the student has signed the same form. You are not allowed to reference their name in online discussion. I would think this would be hard to obtain participation points at times!
student info is protected
I learned that the institution during an audit must note for each record that is provided the agency name and date that the information was shared, and if it was electronic or physically provided.
Having an annual disclosure signed by the student's is important. This reminds them of who can and cannot see their records.
FERPA policies need to be known to both students and administration. Best practices / policies that are set in place can be set by the university as long as the students are aware. Written documentation of student release is also crucial.
- I learned about the 5 W's
- Who
- What
- Where
- When
- Why
I have learned that in order to comply with the regulations given by FERPA, it is mandatory to follow each instruction exactly as it is given. Understanding that this leads us to provide the best service for our educational community.
It is so important to know FERPA compliance. It not only protects the institution and its' employees, but the students as well. In addtion, certain procedues and policies must be in place for protection of the students' privacy.
This section had important information on FERPA on Annual disclosure to the students and what students can choose to disclose or not disclose about their information. It was also interesting to learn what can be disclosed without a students consent (14 conditions) for example when a student has been found to be a perpertrator of a crime. The important role of a Parent and the guidelines stipulated of when a consent is required and not required for a student's educational records. This information was very specific and useful to understand FERPA guidelines.
I learned about what is allowed in a Directory and what is not. The course went over how a student should be notified and have an opportunity to opt information out of the directory. I learned about the rules for sharing student information with third parties. It must be documented and only certain types of information can be shared for legitimate purposes. Sometimes a student's consent needs to be obtained.
Students need to understand that they can opt-out of directory listings and if they do than their name should be removed.
I apprecaite the rules of FERPA. At times, when following the appropriate guidelines, it is beneficial to share student information though the rules should be followed to do so. These policies ensure safety for the learner while also holding teachers to a standard ensuring best intent is followed.
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.
I learned that students should be provided an annual FERPA notification.
FERPA Compliance has a lot of moving parts and can be very confusing. What ever institution needs is a clear, user-friendly policy for record, as well as solid training for school officials.
With this section, I learned that being too careful is better than just feeling like you are being careful and not putting a lot of caution into how you release the information of a student. I do think that guidelines are made clear, however, it seems like it can be easier to do what you feel lis right versus what is actually right. If we take extra caution in the protection of our own privacy, we should do the same for students and their privacy rights. It can (and does feel) like a lot of information but it is all in place to help us.
When in doubt alway and I mean always check the FERPA regs to make sure you are following the correct action taken.
A student's written consent is very important. As an institutional officer, it is better to err on the side of caution and not release info about a student without their consent, and even with the consent, always document the details of the release of the docs.
