This section was helpful to define the student lifecycle and how FERPA applies to those situations.
Making sure good security measures are active is just as important and making sure files personal information is behind locked doors.
Learning about the challenges faced with protecting student's private information while also trying to comply with regulations for releasing records for legal or health reasons.
Even though a student has rights to his/her educational records each institution should establish guidelines for accessing. There are specific guidelines for an active student that may not apply to an alumni, former student or a deceased student. Knowing the procedures for release of information, will allow me to maintain the integrity of the student's educational records.
FERPA has many benefits from students privacy to student's rights.
I found it interesting that school records can be released with consent of next of kin after death.
I agree with Joyce and Lisa that employees should have regular trainings for new as well as veteran employees. The rules and regulations of FERPA are extensive. It is important that institutions and their employees maintain the confidentiality of student records.
I thought that FERPA only referred to when the student was enrolled. I learned that students who have left an institution are still protected under FERPA.
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.
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
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.
Security protocols for staff with access to educational records; nuances of release of information and record dispute process.
FERPA's scope vary between current students and former students/almuni.
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.
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.
To me it appears FERPA and HIPPA are cut from the same cloth
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.
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?
