4.8.2 Student Privacy 

An institution that offers distance or correspondence education documents that it has a written procedure for protecting the privacy of students enrolled in distance and correspondence education courses or programs.  (Student privacy)

Judgment

Compliance

Reinhardt University publishes several policies for protecting student rights in distance education courses.

The “Reinhardt University Procedure for Protecting the Privacy of Students Enrolled in Online and Hybrid Courses” is provided to students on the University’s public website [1] and is included in the contracts of faculty teaching online courses [2] and the Reinhardt University Online Student Handbook. [9]  This statement includes protections for student individual data collected during admissions, student postings during the time of an online course, and student grades.

The provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 apply to all students, including those in online, hybrid, and traditional courses.  FERPA policies are outlined in the Reinhardt University Undergraduate Academic Catalog 2016-2017, [3] Reinhardt University Graduate Catalog 2016-2017, [4] and on the Registrar’s website. [5]  A FERPA statement also appears in Reinhardt’s learning management systems—EagleWeb [6] and V-Camp. [7]

In addition, when all admitted students first log on to electronic records or courses, they must sign a Confirmation Statement that includes “Technology Responsible Use.” [8]

Conclusion

Reinhardt University has written procedures for protecting the privacy of students enrolled in distance education courses or programs.

[1] “Reinhardt University Procedure for Protecting the Privacy of Students Enrolled in Online and Hybrid Courses” website

[2] Sample Online Faculty Course Contract

[3] FERPA, Reinhardt University Undergraduate Academic Catalog 2016-2017, pp. 16-17

[4] FERPA, Reinhardt University Academic Graduate Catalog 2016-2017, pp. 13-14

[5] FERPA for Faculty, Staff and Students, Registrar’s website

[6] Screenshot of policy contained within Eagle Web Learning Management System

[7] Screenshot of policy contained within V-Camp 360 Learning Management System

[8] “Technology Responsible Use,” Admitted Student Confirmation Statement, p. 6

[9] Reinhardt University Online Student Handbook, Student Privacy