I believe FERPA is a important part of any educations system.
FERPA protects both parties involved, the student and the institution. FERPA outlines specific procedures for obtaining and disclosing student information. Students have the right to access their educational records and challenge information they deem is inaccurate during a hearing and even if they are denied the challenge they can still add a statement to their permanent record.
There are still things that can be redacted and not disclosed to a student who requests their file. I also learned how FERPA relates to former students, alumni, and deceased students in a completely different way than active students.
I learned that FERPA protects the students personal information from being displayed to the public. It creates a safety barrier for the students information and limits who has access.
I don't mean to be naive, but as a nursing instructor I just assumed it was just nurses that needed to know about FERPA. However, just like HIPAA on the medical side of things, everyone who is an employee at a medical facility need to know and understand the HIPAA guidelines, not just nurses and doctors.
No wonder, when we have mock surveys and audits that the college's admissions offices are thoroughly looked at for violations! I guess as a nurse I never realized that employees who do not necessarily have direct client care (or student), everyone is responsible to assure that our clients' privacy is protected.
FERPA is very important to students rights to there educational records.
It is essential to adhere to the established policies and procedures, as they are designed to safeguard both the students and the institution. Compliance ensures a smooth and secure experience for all parties involved.
The protections under FERPA extend beyond the academic time or calendar, thus giving individuals rights.
I agree that this is very similar to HIPPA. Interesting that the student is no longer protected after death. An employee cannot access files if also a student. Any requested amendment to a record can be noted in files.
Interestingly, FERPA rights do not extend beyond a student’s death, so the records of deceased students may be released. However, living former students must provide written consent for their records to be disclosed. Additionally, employees who are also students do not automatically have access to their own records; they must follow the same FERPA procedures as other students to gain access.
I currently work with students in different schools around the country and am also working with an institution in its infancy with a goal of accreditation. It's interesting that FERPA does not define record retention aside from not destroying records of there is an outstanding review requirement.
I agree that there should be extensive training for both new and existing institution staff. It's also interesting to learn that state law can oppose FERPA requirements, and I would be interested to know what happens then?
FERPA teaches the importance of keeping student records private while allowing some sharing in certain cases, like emergencies. I will follow the rules to protect student info and only share it when allowed.
To me it appears FERPA and HIPPA are cut from the same cloth
In the module FERPA in Action, I learned some interesting topics, for example that the FERPA still applies to educational records of graduated students, only if they are alive, but if a student is deceased, the record can be disclosed.
Comment on Katherine Hillerich's post: I've worked at a couple places, where looking at your own health records using your hospital/office credentials is actually illegal under the HIPAA law, unless you have signed the release of records form. I guess, in that instance it depends on where you work, but under FERPA this is not allowed regardless.
FERPA's scope vary between current students and former students/almuni.
Security protocols for staff with access to educational records; nuances of release of information and record dispute process.
If an employee is also a student at the same school, they should follow the same protocols for accessing their educational record and not allowed to access it outside of following the normal procedure to maintain the integrity of the student record.
Again, FERPA is something extremely important for providing the protection to our students. This was a refresher on this topic as I do FERPA trainings annually!
Smatt
A student has a right to dispute a grade or record even if the information is not changed in which a note of dispute would be included. Alumni records are not protected under FERPA? Student records cannot be destroyed if they are the process of an inspection or review. I found that if a student has not paid their fees that they can be denied a copy of transcripts but may view them only. Sadly, due to tragic events in the past laws like FERPA were created to protect students from violence, stalking or other risk factors to the student.
