What is an educational record?
Just about any information directly related to a student and maintained by Bates College or by a person acting for the College is considered a student educational record. Any record related directly to a student should be held in confidence.
Examples of educational records include:
- grades / transcripts
- student schedules
- names of students’ advisors
- papers / student thesis / tests
- records of student discipline
- personal information such as social security number, age, parent’s name
Educational records are not:
- sole possession records (not accessible or revealed to any other person)
- law enforcement records, as defined in FERPA
- employment records
- medical records
- post-attendance records
The storage media in which you find this information does not matter. A student educational record may be:
- a document in the Office of the Registrar and Student Financial Services
- a computer printout in your office
- a class list on your desktop
- a computer display screen
- notes you have taken during an advising session
Next: What are the basic rules?