NYT: Plan to Gather (college) Student Data Draws Fire

[DeepModem Mom]

Plan to Gather Student Data Draws Fire
By MICHAEL JANOFSKY
Published: May 27, 2005


WASHINGTON, May 26 - As the Senate moves to complete the spending bill for the Higher Education Act next month, a growing number of organizations concerned about privacy rights are fighting a Department of Education plan that would require colleges and universities to place personal information on individual students into a national database maintained by the government.

If included in the spending measure, the plan would radically change current practice by requiring schools to provide personal information on all students, not just those receiving federal aid.

Submissions would include every student's name and Social Security number, along with sex; date of birth; home address; race; ethnicity; names of every college course begun and completed; attendance records; and financial aid information....

***

Such detailed information is now provided only for students receiving federal aid, giving the department only a partial picture of higher education nationwide. The new approach, department officials say, would not only complete the picture but also help track students who take uncommon paths toward a degree....

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Jim Dempsey, executive director of the Center for Democracy and Technology, said: "Once a database is created for one purpose, regardless how genuine or legitimate it is, it's very, very hard to prevent it from being used for law enforcement or intelligence purposes...." Indeed, the feasibility report permits the attorney general and the Department of Justice to gain access to the database "in order to fight terrorism." Backers of the proposal, while acknowledging the privacy concerns, say that the benefits of having more information about students outweigh the risks, especially for lawmakers who oversee federal aid programs.


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/27/politics/27privacy.html

[Tempest]

1. Getting a little drafty in here

The purpose of the database should be pretty obvious.

[barackmyworld]

2. wow, this is scary

last semester I took a class on Arms and Arms Control, I hope I don't get in trouble :scared:

Oh no, I also took French!

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Good one! nt

[Debau2005]

4. My database entry would be HUGE!

I took my time, played a lot, studied a little, and changed majors several times. I think I took almost every liberal arts course my university offered. If they want to resurrect my files from the 80's to use as an example of what data they'll get they may be shocked at what paths students take.

Back on point, I am absolutely one hundred percent against this! Hey! Maybe they can also track what groups the students join and we can then track those pesky students who join Dem groups or other Liberal groups. Can't have them plotting against the government! :sarcasm:

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Thanks for posting, Debau, and welcome to DU!