News
Loyola U. declines to renew contract with investigative news organization
Through a two-year agreement, the university said it would provide free office space to The Lens, a non-profit investigative news website, if members of the organization provided internship opportunities, worked with students and spoke with journalism classes.
Bill aims to protect North Dakota student journalists’ freedom of speech
Legislators in North Dakota introduced a bill Monday ensuring students’ freedom of expression in school-sponsored media, regardless of whether the media receives financial support from the school or college.
President at Northern Michigan U. waives $300 fee it charged student newspaper for public documents
On Monday, after the Society of Professional Journalists, a local student-run media website and local television journalists raised enough to pay the bill, NMU President Fritz Erickson announced all fees for the public records request would be waived
Bill would require Va. universities to disclose sexual assault reports to local prosecutors
The bill would require the departments to report incidents of sexual assault to the local Commonwealth attorney within 48 hours of receiving the report, providing another avenue to access information about reported incidents.
Va. bill could restrict student journalists’ ability to survey classmates
The bill would require parents to approve any surveys asking students to provide “sexual information,” mental health information, medical information, student health risk information, information about drug use and other topics the school board deems “sensitive.”
Appeals court reinstates claim former Valdosta State U. president retaliated against student over Facebook post
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reinstated on Monday a former Valdosta State University student’s claim that he was expelled in 2007 in retaliation for a Facebook post that criticized the institution’s president.
Obama calls for federal student data protections
President Obama said the legislation, which is modeled after a new law in California, is necessary as digital learning becomes more prominent in classrooms. Leading up to his State of the Union Address next week, the proposal was part of the president’s recent focus on cybersecurity and privacy.
Bill could increase transparency on U. Connecticut Foundation spending
House Bill 5054 was pre-filed by Rep. Gail Lavielle on Wednesday, and if passed, would require the UConn Foundation to disclose to the public every expenditure they make, the same disclosure requirements as government agencies.
FERPA Fib of the Year, 2014 Edition
It’s fitting that the 365-day stink-bomb that was 2014 ended with the U.S. Department of Education wadding up the last remaining shred of its credibility on FERPA and pulling the flusher with both hands. It was that kind of year. Like Pavlov’s dogs at suppertime, school and college legal departments reflexively yapped “FERPA” anytime a… Continue reading FERPA Fib of the Year, 2014 Edition