Professors play a crucial role in the academic success of students, but there is some confusion about what information they can access. Here is what we know:
What professors can see
- Transcript: Professors can see a student’s transcript, which includes their grades and GPA.
- Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Professors can access any personally identifiable information (PII) that the school determines to be genuinely necessary for academic purposes.
- Previous classes: Professors can see previous classes that a student has taken if they are relevant to the current course.
What professors cannot see
- Medical information: Professors cannot access a student’s medical information, including mental health records.
- Financial information: Professors cannot access a student’s financial information, such as their financial aid status or tuition payments.
- Personal information: Professors cannot access a student’s personal information, such as their social security number or home address.
Legality of professors accessing information
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Under FERPA, schools must have written permission from the student or their parent to release any information from a student’s education record.
However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to school officials with legitimate educational interest.In conclusion, professors can see a student’s transcript, GPA, and previous classes if they are relevant to the current course.
However, they cannot access a student’s medical or financial information or personal information. Schools must follow FERPA regulations when disclosing student education records to school officials with legitimate educational interest.
