Archive for Friday, June 17, 2005
KU admits big mistake in distributing private e-mail
‘We deeply regret it’
June 17, 2005
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If you are a student, this isn't the list that you want to be on.
But it definitely isn't the list that you want Kansas University administrators inadvertently e-mailing to fellow students.
KU officials on Thursday admitted that earlier this week they improperly sent an e-mail identifying 119 students who failed all their classes during the last semester and were in jeopardy of having their financial aid revoked.
"It was a completely inadvertent, unintentional mistake," said Todd Cohen, a spokesman with the university. "It was our error, our mistake and we deeply regret it."
The mistake occurred when staff members at the university's Office of Student Financial Aid sent an e-mail Monday to the 119 students who had failed all their classes in the last semester and who also had received financial aid. The letter requested additional information from the students to determine if they were still eligible for financial aid.
But the e-mail included the names of all the individuals as part of the e-mail address list. That meant each of the students who received the e-mail could see the names of everyone else who had failed classes.
Nancy George, a Gardner resident who was on the list, said she was livid Tuesday when she realized what had happened. She said the university's mistake was tantamount to releasing the grades of students without their permission, which is prohibited under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
"I'm pretty ticked off," George said. "When I saw everybody's names listed on here, I thought this was totally asinine. I have everybody's name and information, and they have my information. Nobody should have known that I failed a class or that I even had a student loan. It is really upsetting."
Cohen said the university discovered the error Tuesday and immediately began contacting students individually to apologize and inform them of steps the university is taking to ensure the mix-up doesn't happen again.
Cohen said the mistake should not have happened because it is the university's policy to communicate financial aid information to students individually, not through a group e-mail. He said the department also was receiving training on privacy and security issues related to e-mails.
"This certainly will be a reminder to anybody who is ever pasting e-mail addresses into a message," Cohen said.
Cohen said the university had reported the incident to the Department of Education's compliance office so it could determine if there was a violation of the federal act regarding student privacy.
Jim Bradshaw, a spokesman with the Department of Education, said the department would investigate any complaints about the incident it received from students. Bradshaw said universities who violated the law could risk losing federal aid, but said the department almost always was able to work with universities to ensure mistakes weren't made in the future.
George said she was considering filing a complaint. She said the mistake caused her embarrassment because it likely gave others an inaccurate picture of the type of student she was. She said she only took one class during the last semester and failed it because she was tending to her young daughter, who had developed pneumonia.
"The fact that I have a master's degree and over 200 college credits and have never failed a course before, none of that is in the letter," George said. "I just think this is absolutely inexcusable. Any professional should have known better than this."
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17 June 2005
at 8:08 a.m.
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consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
Nancy, strike while the iron is hot…. KU would not hesitate a minute to revoke your student aid for any reason. This reeks of lawsuit. I am not a proponant of frivolous law suits, but this stinks of total failure of protocall. KU has already shown how easily they are willing to drop the ax on your kneck. I would be on this like stink on you know what. Of course you can expect the university to use tactics to make you drop a suit, like the poor guy who did this will lose his/her job. Or, think of it this way. The university is in business to make money. Your money. Sue sue sue.
17 June 2005
at 9 a.m.
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enochville (Anonymous) says…
Good point, offtotheright!
17 June 2005
at 10:01 a.m.
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KUweatherman (Curtis Lange) says…
Embarassment that others saw her grades? Hahahaha. There were 118 other students on that list with her. There are what? 26,000 students here at KU. She most likely would never see those other 118 in her lifetime, especially with only taking one class. I also agree with offtotheright. If she does file anything, it'll get thrown out.
17 June 2005
at 10:14 a.m.
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penguin (Anonymous) says…
I find it funny how financial aid screwed up. All of us on campus get FERPA information/training regardless of our position on campus. I have always been told to never email grades or any discussion of those grades to students. Also phone conversations are highly restricted, because you never know if you are talking to that person either. As a former student I know how worthless and incompetant some in financial aid can be….this just affirms it.
This is a clear violation and oops is not a good defense. It doesnt matter if it is 117 other students or 1 other student that sees this information…it is still a violation. The law exists for a reason and well if you get a chance to kick financial aid in the butt….well take it :)
17 June 2005
at 12:34 p.m.
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piercedguy (Anonymous) says…
Offtothright, enochville, and Kuweatherman: are you kidding me? You on the far right are always kvetching about the federal government and its imposition on YOUR rights. This is a clear violation of these peoples' rights and they shoud not have said anything? How stupid are you? If it happened to you, you'd be looking for blood. If you are worried about government infringing on the rights of the people, it is actions like this, and this alone, that exposes it. Some apathetic, ignorant, arrogant, and incompetent piece of deadwood who doesn't give a tinker's damn about student rights may just get the University another “nice federal court spanking.”
17 June 2005
at 1:27 p.m.
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rogerman (Anonymous) says…
I find it hard to believe the entire office screwed up. The article says that “staff members” made the error. I find it hard to believe that multiple members sent out a bulk e-mail. I would believe it was either a computer error or the actions of one individual. Since the office didn't blame it on a computer error, I say an individual did it, not the entire office. If so, stop covering their behind and have that person held accountable! This was sensitive information and oops, I made a mistake doesn't cut it. I think disciplinary action is required!
17 June 2005
at 3:47 p.m.
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bugmenot (Anonymous) says…
I think we are missing the point here. Why is this news? Things must be pretty slow at the LJW today that they feel we couldn't live without knowing about a TYPO at KU.
17 June 2005
at 7:35 p.m.
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mykeeshond (Anonymous) says…
What class was Ms. George taking, and why did she fail the class? What's her GPA? Inquiring minds want to know.
17 June 2005
at 7:54 p.m.
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lunacydetector (Anonymous) says…
they should make a deal with K.U.
ku either keeps these students in school and gives them FREE classes, Or, the students sue ku's pants off. harr, harr, harr
my prediction: nothing will happen to ku. those folks are god wannabe's.
17 June 2005
at 10:50 p.m.
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publicdefender (Anonymous) says…
There is one thing that is quite apparent. Those who understand the full extent of the ramifications in this case recognize the true seriousness of it. What every KU student should be concerned about is that this error in professional judgment occurred. Some posters here have focused on what information was released and not on the act itself. This is unfortunate and misguided thinking. I am deeply troubled by this and hope the University administration takes disciplinary action against the individual(s) involved.
17 June 2005
at 11:52 p.m.
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yellowrose (Anonymous) says…
I'm scheduled to begin classes at KU in the fall and now am very worried about doing so. I'm already having trouble with a campus office and when I add this to the other problem I seriously must reconsider attending this university. Personnel in this office have behaved in an unethical way, and have taken underhanded, unprofessional action. Maybe I would be better off attending college somewhere else?
17 June 2005
at 11:57 p.m.
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KUweatherman (Curtis Lange) says…
piercedguy, I could care less if people saw my grades or not. If you'd like to know what I got in my classes last semester, just ask. Yellowrose, there are these type problems at every university.
18 June 2005
at 8:23 a.m.
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whosaid (Anonymous) says…
Bugmenot, LJWorld might be wasting their time reporting stories like this, but the AP doesn't think so. Maybe since the AP is reporting it, some of you will realize that violating an individual's right to privacy is a big deal.
Every professor at KU always states that they will not give information about grades over email. If they are not doing, why should these other departments even be doing it in the first place? If they had followed the policy, it would not have happened at all. The fact that someone made a mistake in how she put the email addresses is not the point. Grades are not supposed to be transmitted through email.
18 June 2005
at 12:37 p.m.
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KUweatherman (Curtis Lange) says…
I've gotten numerous grades through email. O.o
28 June 2005
at 7:13 a.m.
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lehenry (Anonymous) says…
It's too bad that this happened…..but since we seem to be a “sue” happy nation anymore…I'm sure some lawyer will pick up on this and seek Ms George out and help her get over her embarresment with a little cash…she should have conntacted the University if she was unable to get to her class…I'm sure she could have withdrawn for a good reason, that being a sick child…but oversight on her part I guess….