FERPA

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FERPA

• What it Means to You,
• The Instructor

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What is FERPA?

• 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
• Buckley Amendment
• Protects the Privacy of Education Records
• Right to Inspect and Review Records

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What is FERPA?

• Right to Seek to Amend Records
• Right to Limit Disclosure
• Ensure Accuracy of Education Records

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Who is protected under FERPA?

• Current Students
• Former Students
• Applicants
• HS students taking WWCC courses

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What are Education Records?

• Records Which Personally Identify Students
• And Maintained by Western Wyoming Community
  College

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Education Record Examples

• Registrars Office
• Grade Sheets
• Transcripts
• Student Schedules
• Class Lists
• Probation/Suspension Appeals
• Handwritten Note from Advisement Session
• Grade Change

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Education Record Examples

• Instructors Desk
• Grade Book
• Class List
• Handwritten Student Complaint Seeking Action
• Test Scores

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Posting Grades

• Cannot Post Grades by
• Students Name
• Student ID Number
• Students Social Security Number
• Any or All of the Number
• UNLESS the students give permission in WRITING.

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Grade Book on the WebCampus Cruiser and
WebAdvisor

• Unique Identifying Student Login
• Student Requests Information
• High Level of Security

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What ISNT an Education Record?

• Records/Notes in Sole Possession of Maker
• Records Created and Maintained by Law Enforcement
• Employment Records When Employment is not
  Contingent on Being a Student
• Information on a Person that was Obtained When no
  Longer a Student (i.e., alumni records)

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What ISNT an Education Record?

• Records as Reminders
• Intended for Personal Use Only
• Never Shared With Other Personnel
• Directory Information

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Directory InformationSee page 23 of the WWCC
Catalog

• Name
• Address
• Telephone Number
• Degree Sought
• Degrees/Awards Received
• Full Time/Part Time Status
• Email address

• Photographs
• Weight Height of Athletes
• Participation in officially recognized activities
  or sports
• Class lists used within on-line courses
• Honors and Awards

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Directory Information

• WWCC Does Not Produce a Directory
• Information May be Given Freely, if the student
  has not requested otherwise.
• Student May Request Non-Disclosure
• Remains as Such Until Written Request to Remove
  the Non-Disclosure
• Contact R R regarding non-disclosure

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Letters of Recommendation

• Personal Knowledge or Observation
• No Written Permission is Needed
• Including Grades, GPA, or other Non-Directory
  Information
• Must have Written Permission on File

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Parental Access

• No Inherent Right
• May be Released
• Written Consent of Student
• Compliance with a Subpoena
• Producing a Copy of Federal Income Tax Form
• Student Must be a Dependent

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What Does it All Mean??

• DO refer education record requests to the
  Registrar
• Do keep only necessary records for the
  fulfillment of your teaching/advising role
• DO keep personal records separate

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What Does it All Mean??

• DONT display student scores or grades publicly
  with personal identifiers
• DONT put papers, grade books, or lab reports in
  publicly accessible places
• DONT request education record information
  without legitimate reasons
• DONT share student information with other
  faculty or staff unless legitimate reasons

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What Does it All Mean??

• DONT share educational information with parents
  or others without written permission
• When in Doubt..Dont give it out!
• Call the Registrars Office

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Penalties for Violating FERPA

• Lawsuit
• Loss of Federal Funding
• Grants
• Financial Aid

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FERPA

• Questions?
• Contact Kay Leum
• Registrar
• 307-382-1618
• kleum_at_wwcc.wy.edu