FERPA training required to protect students’ educational information

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, student training sessions have begun at Pacific. All students with a Pacific-affiliated job whether work-study or not should ask their supervisors if they need to attend the sessions.

The FERPA training sessions are put on by the career center and give students an idea about what is okay and what is not acceptable in regards to giving out information about students that are on campus.

It is required for students who handle any records or answer telephones to report to the sessions.

“It’s a good program because not only is it professional development training for the real world, but it ensures the privacy of students on campus,” said Internship Coordinator in the Career Development Center Melissa Vieira.

She said it was required for all institutions and at Pacific it is presented by the registrar’s office.

The training session lasts one hour and involves a PowerPoint presentation that goes over examples of different situations that may involve FERPA regulations and what follows the law and what doesn’t.

Vieira said there are several examples of when FERPA training comes into play.

“I remember during orientation a woman came and asked if her son had picked up her job fair packet and we couldn’t tell her if he even came to Pacific,” she said.

She said there are several instances where students are working and might not even know they are breaking FERPA by giving information out about other students which is why it’s important for them to attend the training sessions to ensure no one makes a mistake.

According to Vieira, this is also a good opportunity for students to get development training that they can apply to the real world.

At the end of the sessions a certificate is presented to those that successfully completed it.

“We want to treat this as something professional,” said Vieira.

Examples of some jobs that may require training are positions held in the mailroom, admissions, Career Development Center, library, registrar’s office, financial aid office, business office, CLIC, PIC and the TIC.

There are two more sessions available to students. One will be held today from 4 to 5 p.m. in Taylor Auditorium and the other on Oct. 11 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the same place. To RSVP, contact careerdc@pacificu.edu.