The U.S. Department of Education closely monitors universities to determine whether an institution is providing Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) training for its employees who have access to student records. Accrediting agencies also want reassurance that institutions are fulfilling this expectation.
With a rise in complaints filed with the Department of Education regarding unauthorized disclosure of student information in recent years, NEOMED implemented a systematic university-wide online training program in 2018 to avoid potential unauthorized disclosures of student information. After that inaugural training, NEOMED is requiring faculty and staff who have access to student records to renew or undergo FERPA training every two years.
Beginning May 13, all employees who have or who will have access to student records, either electronic or hardcopy, are required to complete a brief (40-minute) FERPA Compliance Training program and a brief certification quiz.
Requests for student records in Banner, ARGOS, or other NEOMED systems are contingent upon completing this training and test every two years. Additionally, any employee who may not be required but would like to undergo FERPA training is encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. An email invitation to the course in Canvas will be issued to employees on May 13. The deadline for FERPA Compliance training is June 30. New employees who are hired during the course of the year will complete FERPA training as part of the initial employment process.
The training materials and certification test are available through Canvas. The Office of the University Registrar has also posted FERPA Q&A’s for Staff and Faculty on its website for use as an information supplement and quick reminder tool.
For further information regarding FERPA Compliance Training, please contact Katherine Miranda, University Registrar, Office of the Registrar, via email at registrar@neomed.edu or Andrea Coard, academic affairs specialist, Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, via email at acoard@neomed.edu.
Good news! Upon completion of the FERPA training module and certification quiz, staff are eligible to earn 0.25 points toward their 2023-24 Incentive Bonus Plan!
— Submitted by the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs