Private Uni Prof revealed class performance info

[Upadhye]

I attend a private university in Michigan. I missed a final exam, and the prof called my boss and told him that I had missed the exam. My boss does also work at the same university, but as an administrator. My boss does not have access to student records.

I was under the impression that student performance info could not be given to others without my permission? Can I bring a lawsuit against the university for this? No, I did not experience any action by my boss because of this, my boss is a nice guy.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

You've told us what you want us to hear to give you the answer you want, now give us the facts you don't want to give us.

 

[Upadhye]

Huh? Like what? I don't know what else might be relevant, so you're going to have to ask me any questions you want me to answer.

 

[dmalone]

I was under the impression that student performance info could not be given to others without my permission?

"Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act"
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

In short, the professor is not permitted to disclose any records to anyone except those who have a 'legitimate educational interest.' This would not normally include your boss. And since the professor did not actually disclose any educational records, only that you missed an exam, there really isn't a violation of a law.

A lot of students do get confused about this.
There are certain things that a college or university can release to anybody without your permission.
These include things like: Name, Address, Phone, Birth, Nationality, E-mail, Dates of Attendance, Major, Degrees, and several other 'Directory Information' categories. The fact that you missed an exam could be considered 'Date of Attendance'. You have to specifically request that these things be kept private.

Can I bring a lawsuit against the university for this?

Can you? Sure.
Do you have any chance of winning? No.

Colleges in the United States are extremely well shielded from lawsuits, even though they may have broken a law. If you want to do something, then I would suggest filing a complaint with the Dean of the college. Since you did not suffer any consequences from your boss, there really isn't anything legally that you can do.

 

[Upadhye]

The fact that you missed an exam could be considered 'Date of Attendance'.

Doesn't it also count as revealing the grade I received on the test? Since I didn't show up, obviously it's a zero grade. That is a school record, isn't it?

 

[rmet4nzkx]

YOu fail to show up for an exam and now want to blame your prof? Please, grow up and take responsibility for your acitons.

 

[stealth2]

Is your education being paid as a perk for your job? Or is your job dependent on your attendance record?

 

[BelizeBreeze]

I attend a private university in Michigan. I missed a final exam, and the prof called my boss and told him that I had missed the exam. My boss does also work at the same university, but as an administrator. My boss does not have access to student records.

I was under the impression that student performance info could not be given to others without my permission? Can I bring a lawsuit against the university for this? No, I did not experience any action by my boss because of this, my boss is a nice guy.

You have no cause of action for anything you have posted here regardless of your boss being a nice guy or not.

Education performance records are NOT priviledged per-se. And you have suffered no compensible damages.

Move on.