Talking Stick - September/October 2008 - (Page 39)

had reviewed their policies under FERPA after Virginia Tech, and about a quarter of those had changed how they implement FERPA regulations and how they determine which instances would warrant notification of parents or third parties. Dr. Eells notes that these changes were very effective in improving safety, since campus officials could feel more sure about when the need-to-know outweighed a student’s privacy rights: “Prior to Virginia Tech, there was a lot of misunderstanding on what the restrictions of FERPA were. Since Virginia Tech, if anyone has any major concerns about safety that they communicate to someone, there won’t be consequences from FERPA. You can communicate information if that will be helpful.” GLHN ACUHO-I Ad.pdf 10/2/07 Colleges and universities are heeding the recommendations made by the Virginia Tech Review Panel and using these findings to reevaluate their understandings of FERPA and HIPAA. Lisa Trahan, dean of the first-year experience at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, says that this has allowed student affairs professionals to be educated on privacy policies. “If there was someone whose health and safety was in jeopardy, you need to do what is right by that person, and FERPA is loose enough to allow that. People can’t hide behind FERPA as much [since Virginia Tech]. It has forced people to gain a better understanding and appreciation and closeness with FERPA.” HIPAA follows a more complex consent system and has enforced 1:22:18 PM consequences for violations, making it less open to interpretation than FERPA. Jim Rooney, associate director of housing and director of residential life at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, finds that the restrictions of HIPAA cannot be redefined. “HIPAA is clearer and more directed than FERPA is, putting our medical staff at a greater disadvantage.” In response to these policy evaluations, lines of communication between college and university departments have strengthened in the past year. The MHEC study found that 65 percent of respondents had a “care team” or similar group of faculty and/or staff that meets regularly to discuss troubled and potentially troubled students. C R E AT I V E DESIGN F E O X R T E N ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS, INC 2939 E. Broadway Blvd. Tucson, Arizona 85716-5311 520.881.4546 Fax 795.1822 www.glhn.com D I N G T H E U S E F U L L I F E O F YO U R R E S I D E N C E H A L L S University of Arizona Residence Life Bldg Renewal http://www.glhn.com http://www.glhn.com

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Talking Stick - September/October 2008 Contents Online Now Vision Just In Your ACUHO-I Transitions Res Life Facilities Business Calendar Safe Harbor Think Globally, React Locally Conversations First Takes Reporting Out New Members Snapshot

Talking Stick - September/October 2008

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