Sharing Grades
Sharing grades is done privately to allow for questions.
David,
The most significant federal law is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. Here is a government website that provides some of the facts relating to FERPA: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/students.html. Related to your question, FERPA has to do with what constitutes "permissable disclosure" of personal (private) information that is protected for the benefit of the student. Information such as grades, email addresses, phone and addresses, SSN, birthdates, and similar kinds of information cannot be legally shared or made "public" without the students express written authorization. Each institution has the responsibility to determine how FERPA pertains to their operations and develop policies that govern how and when protected information can be shared.
Barry Westling
Just a brief question here:
As a fairly new-ish instructor, I have seen in this on-line class where there are "privacy laws" that forbid the posting of exam results, etc etc.
Can anyone point me to the EXACT statute that says this?
I have had my grades "posted" in public for a majority of my academic life, and I'd love to see when/how this changed.
Life is so full of "urban legends", I'd love to see which Federal law is involved.
Thanks
Kristell,
Yes, and I believe the more eraly on and frequently it's done will yield better student comformance to our advice and supportive comments.
Barry Westling
