Let’s Get Smart
You look up from your work in the Registrar’s Office to be greeted
by a man in a dark trench coat, standing beside him a lovely brunette woman.
"Hello, I’m Maxwell, Maxwell Smart," he says.
This is my back-up, Agent 99. Suddenly, you hear a phone ringing.
After talking to his shoe, Maxwell starts to explain that they were
sent by the "Chief" to investigate a student who has applied
to be a secret agent. Maxwell needs information contained in
the student’s education record. Just when you are ready to say
never, Agent 99 presents you with a signed release from the student.
What will you do? What information can you release?
Why is Agent Smart talking to his shoe?
It’s Not Undercover
FERPA notes that students have the right to have some control over the disclosure
of information from educational records. A student may provide
a signed release at anytime. When Agent 99 presented
the student’s signed release, she gave you the tool to honor that right.
The steps to take are:
- verify the agent’s
photo identification
- verify what information the release authorizes
- keep copy of release
- document information you release
Oh yes, what about the shoe? Well, some things just can’t be explained.
(However, our secret agents have certainly progressed from hidden
telephones in shoes!)
Contact: Norma I. Guiler nguiler@ups.edu