Week 1 Aug 28-Sept 3: FERPA and Title IX Flashcards
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, establishes requirements regarding the privacy of student records. FERPA governs:
The release of student records maintained by the university
Access to student records
Continued: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The university must notify students annually of their rights to:
Inspect and review their student records
Request to amend their student records
Limit disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in student records
File a complaint with the Department of Education concerning an alleged failure by the university to comply with FERPA
Parental Access to Student’s Records
When a student reaches the age of 18 OR is attending a postsecondary institution, regardless of age, FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student. Parents of Angelo State University students may not receive non-directory information unless the student creates a FERPA/Proxy Authorized User from their secure RamPort account.
Student Records
Except as provided by the law, the university will not release student records without the student’s prior written consent. Under FERPA, student records are defined as records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational institution or by a party acting for the institution. Student records can exist in any medium, including: typed, computer generated, videotape, audiotape, film, microfilm, microfiche and email, among others. Examples include personal (non-directory) information, Social Security number, grades and GPA, and class rosters/semester schedules.
Personally Identifiable Information
Personally identifiable information includes, but is not limited to: the student’s name; the name of the student’s parents or other family members; the address of the student or student’s family; a personal identifier, such as the student’s Social Security number or student ID; a list of personal characteristics that would make the student’s identity easily traceable; or other information that would make the student’s identity easily traceable.
Directory Information
The following is considered public “directory information” at Angelo State University, unless the student fills out a Directory Restriction Form in the Registrar’s Office.
Student name
Local and permanent mailing address
Photograph
Major and minor fields of study
Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
Weight and height of members of athletic teams
Team photographs
Dates of attendance
Classification
Enrollment status
Degree candidate
Degrees
Awards and honors received, type of award/honor
Previous educational agency or institutions
Hometown
Required Faculty & Staff FERPA Training
The FERPA Training module in Blackboard is intended to acquaint faculty, staff, and student workers with the federal law regarding student records as it affects faculty and staff duties, and to clarify some of the questions that arise in connection with any access (electronic or paper documents) associated with student records. Training is required every two years.
Title IX (dept of education)
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities. All public and private elementary and secondary schools, school districts, colleges, and universities (hereinafter “schools”) receiving any Federal funds must comply with Title IX. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment or sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.
Below is additional information regarding the specific requirements of Title IX as they pertain to sexual harassment and sexual violence.
Continued: Title IX 1
What are a school’s responsibilities to address sexual harassment and sexual violence?
A school has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively. If a school knows or reasonably should know about sexual harassment or sexual violence that creates a hostile environment, the school must take immediate action to eliminate the sexual harassment or sexual violence, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.
Even if a student or his or her parent does not want to file a complaint or does not request that the school take any action on the student’s behalf, if a school knows or reasonably should know about possible sexual harassment or sexual violence, it must promptly investigate to determine what occurred and then take appropriate steps to resolve the situation.
A criminal investigation into allegations of sexual harassment or sexual violence does not relieve the school of its duty under Title IX to resolve complaints promptly and equitably.
Continued: Title IX 2
What procedures must a school have in place to prevent sexual harassment and sexual violence and resolve complaints?
Every School Must Have And Distribute A Policy Against Sex Discrimination
Title IX requires that each school publish a policy that it does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities. This notice must be widely distributed and available on an on-going basis.
The policy must state that inquiries concerning Title IX may be referred to the school’s Title IX coordinator or to OCR.
Continued: Title IX 3
Every School Must Have A Title IX Coordinator
Every school must designate at least one employee who is responsible for coordinating the school’s compliance with Title IX. This person is sometimes referred to as the Title IX coordinator. Schools must notify all students and employees of the name or title and contact information of the Title IX coordinator.
The coordinator’s responsibilities include overseeing all complaints of sex discrimination and identifying and addressing any patterns or systemic problems that arise during the review of such complaints.
Continued: Title IX 4
Every School Must Have And Make Known Procedures For Students To File Complaints Of Sex Discrimination.
Title IX requires schools to adopt and publish grievance procedures for students to file complaints of sex discrimination, including complaints of sexual harassment or sexual violence. Schools can use general disciplinary procedures to address complaints of sex discrimination. But all procedures must provide for prompt and equitable resolution of sex discrimination complaints.
Every complainant has the right to present his or her case. This includes the right to adequate, reliable, and impartial investigation of complaints, the right to have an equal opportunity to present witnesses and other evidence, and the right to the same appeal processes, for both parties.
Every complainant has the right to be notified of the time frame within which: (a) the school will conduct a full investigation of the complaint; (b) the parties will be notified of the outcome of the complaint; and (c) the parties may file an appeal, if applicable.
Continued: Title IX 5
Every complainant has the right for the complaint to be decided using a preponderance of the evidence standard (i.e., it is more likely than not that sexual harassment or violence occurred).
Every complainant has the right to be notified, in writing, of the outcome of the complaint. Even though federal privacy laws limit disclosure of certain information in disciplinary proceedings:
Schools must disclose to the complainant information about the sanction imposed on the perpetrator when the sanction directly relates to the harassed student. This includes an order that the harasser stay away from the harassed student, or that the harasser is prohibited from attending school for a period of time, or transferred to other classes or another residence hall.
Additionally, the Clery Act (20 U.S.C. §1092(f)), which only applies to postsecondary institutions, requires that both parties be informed of the outcome, including sanction information, of any institutional proceeding alleging a sex offense. Therefore, colleges and universities may not require a complainant to abide by a non-disclosure agreement, in writing or otherwise.
Continued: Title IX 6
The grievance procedures may include voluntary informal methods (e.g., mediation) for resolving some types of sexual harassment complaints. However, the complainant must be notified of the right to end the informal process at any time and begin the formal stage of the complaint process. In cases involving allegations of sexual assault, mediation is not appropriate.
