FERPA

FERPA concerns...

• Mandatory reporting obligations

• Students' right to privacy

• Students' right to fair housing

• Internal M Housing policies

What does FERPA stand for?

• Family Environmental Rights and Privacy Act

• First Edition Rights and Privacy Act

• Foundational Education Rights and Privacy Act

• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

What is FERPA?

• A federal law that protects the privacy of students' educational records.

• A state law that protects the privacy of students' educational records.

• A UM policy that protects the privacy of student's educational records.

• A suggested best practice that is used to protect the privacy of students' educational records.

Why do I need to comply with FERPA as a ResStaff member?

• It's the moral thing to do.

• It's a law I need to follow.

• It's part of my job.

• I actually don't need to comply with FERPA.

In what instance should I be viewing FERPA-protected data?

• A student from another hall wants me to tell them where their friend lives.

• A parent asks what room their child lives in.

• I want to look up a resident's phone number so I can text them.

• I need the information to do my job.

Scenario: A parent calls the duty phone and says they want to send a care package to their student that lives in West Quad. They want it to be a surprise, but they forgot their student's room number and want you to tell them what it is. You would...

• Provide them with the room number.

• Tell them that you cannot confirm nor deny if that student lives here, and that they would need to obtain that information from their student.

• Ask them to confirm identifying information about the student, so that you know they really are the student's parent.

• Direct them to DPSS.

Scenario: Someone you know has friends that are roommates in West Quad. You recently mediated a roommate conflict between these residents and your friend asks you how it went? You should...

• Tell them the details after you have them sign a form.

• Tell them vaguely how it went, but don't go into details.

• Tell them you can't discuss it, as it is up to the residents if they want to share.

• Tell them the details of the roommate conflict and mediation.