Privacy of Grades and Identifiable Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects the privacy of student education records. The following procedures are consistent with the legal rights of the students.

1. The password-protected, web-based Blackboard System is the most secure method for posting student grades. Grades must not be posted by social security number (in whole or in part) or name.  Instructors may post grades (e.g., on a web site or on walls) ONLY IF these are associated with a randomly generated numeric identifier known and available only to the instructor and the student; this list must not be arranged by alphabetic order. Whenever grades are posted, the important element is that the identity of the students must not be discernible to the general public.

2. Grades or other personally identifiable information should not be provided to students via telephone or email.

3. Do not leave exams, papers, or any documents containing a student’s social security number or grade or grade point average outside your office door or in any area that is open-access.