Do you ever wonder how companies receive your student information? Are you aware of the laws protecting your student information from these companies?
Otterbein University complies with FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. According to the Otterbein Campus Life Handbook, this act protects student information and educational records maintained at Otterbein.
Student information is released to companies two or three times a year, for which students do not have to give consent.
“If it’s an outside company, it is typically a company that Otterbein has a relationship with,” said Robert Gatti, vice president and dean for Student Affairs. “Usually these companies want to market to the parents of students for yearbook or class ring inquiries.”
If a company inquires about student information, they are given an external data request form which the company must sign and return to Otterbein before any student information is released. “On the form the company must state what they will use the information for and sign that they will not re-sell (Otterbein’s) mailing list,” Gatti said. The mailing list Gatti referred to is the postal mailing list with student’s personal addresses.
The only way a business or company can directly receive student information is for a student to give consent and release information to the public. “There are no releases of student information to credit card companies or banks,” Gatti said.
“I do not mind if Otterbein releases my information if I have given them my consent,” said Tyla Rowen, a freshman design and technology theater major. “It makes me feel safe that Otterbein complies with FERPA laws and does not release my information to companies that do not pertain to me and my educational path.”
“The directory information is protected and it is only released with student consent,” Gatti said. Student information may be released, with consent, to companies outside Otterbein such as yearbook companies.
Other information, such as the height and weight of athletes or student ID numbers, to allow for the print of ID cards, does not require student consent and is released to companies.
Students can learn more about FERPA in the Otterbein Campus Life Handbook located on the Otterbein website under the student life tab.
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