CR80News | Student privacy rules tackle changes in technology

Thursday, December 18, 2008

New student privacy regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Education enable universities to use ID numbers, but not Social Security numbers, in student directories as long as they can’t be used to access education records without another form of authentication, such as a password.

In one proposal, regulators wanted to treat ID numbers like SSNs, but that would have meant expensive retrofitting by many universities and that idea was later scrapped. The Chronicle of Higher Education notes that campus officials still need to make sure that student records, such as grades, aren’t posted just by student ID number.

The new regulations also give schools room to figure out how they can best protect a student’s information.

High schools in Jefferson County, W.V. will be implementing biometric finger scanning in an effort to provide security for the students’ cafeteria accounts. Purpose of the program, according to school officials, is to eliminate clerical errors and to provide students with an easy way to identify themselves when using the cafeteria.

Fox News calls university prepaid cards 'latest twist'

Fox News Business has taken a look at university IDs that also double as prepaid cards. Fox dubs the prepaid aspect as “the latest twist on a long tradition of college campus ID cards serving a dual financial purpose.”

University of Maryland student information stored on publicly accessible computer

A state audit found that personal and financial information for students considering attending the University of Maryland were stored on publicly accessible servers that could make students easy prey to ID thieves.

Bear Pass rolls out at Missouri universitiy

Missouri State University in Springfield is rolling out its new Bear Pass, a student ID card that also provides door access and debit card functionality. The purpose behind the new card is to make the campus safer while keeping a student’s information secure, according to school officials.

Fake Harvard student discovered by campus police

A 27-year-old man posing as a Harvard undergraduate student stayed in the dorms, ate in the school cafeteria and chatted with many Harvard students via Facebook before being found out by campus police. He was cited for trespassing and using a false identification card.

High school cracks down on student attendance

Nicolet High School located in Glendale, Wis. has installed new technology that give administrators a new and more efficient way of dealing with students who arrive late to class.

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Student privacy rules tackle changes in technology