Privacy is a large concern among students. The Nicholls 2004 Campus Directory includes students’ names, addresses, majors and classifications. Who has access to this information? Everyone in the public does.”I feel invaded, anyone who wants to get in contact with me can,” Shauna Freeman, accounting senior from New Orleans, said.
Michael Delaune, director of University Relations said the directory was created to increase accessibility to the faculty and students. “The directory is meant to be an aid, not to cause harm,” Delaune said.
Under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students have certain rights in respect to their education records. Students have the right to check their educational records. Written requests must be submitted to the Records and Registration office.
Students can also request to have their education records adjusted if the student believes the information is incorrect. Students must be specific in their request, stating exactly what information is false and why the student believes it to be so.
“Our office makes every possible effort to make sure students are protected,” Mickey Diez, assistant director of Records and Registration said. “Directory information is the only information on students that we release.” Directory information also includes photographs (for public relations purposes), telephone listings, e-mail addresses, dates of birth, dates of attendance and the weight and height of members of athletic teams.
“Anyone can call the University and ask if a student attends Nicholls, and that information will be released,” Delaune said.
Diez said that he has never received any complaints from students in regard to their personal information being released. Students who wish to be excluded from the student directory can request to do so by filling out a withholding of directory information form available at Records and Registration. The form is valid for only one semester. If a student wants to continue to have his information withheld, he must fill out a new form each semester of every year.
