Friends,
It has been brought to my attention that my previous posting about FERPA regulations was difficult to read due to formatting problems.  In an effort to improve that situation, I've sent three attachments with what I believe are clear explanations of the FERPA regs.

 It seems to me that our own college has created policies that go far beyond any rules regarding student privacy that are imposed by FERPA.  There may be excellent reasons for our local policies. It's also possible, of course, that it's time for us to take a fresh look at our local policies.   A review of local policies might allow us, for example, to strengthen the learning experience of Teaching Assistants by making it possible for them to do more than our current policies allow.
Of course,  Maureen Artale, our Registrar, is an expert on all FERPA rules and college policies.  If we have additional questions about FERPA, I know, from personal experience, that she can answer them.

Thanks
Janet


Dr. J. Nepkie
SUNY Distinguished Service Professor
Professor of Music and Music Industry
Fine Arts 145
State University College
Oneonta, NY 13820
tele: (607) 436 3425
fax:   607 436 2718
[log in to unmask]


From: "Helser, Terry ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>)" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Reply-To: Teaching Breakfast List <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:12:40 -0500
To: "[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: Re: Student Grading Question

Well said, Janet. This is a nuanced, but clear and important distinction that seems lacking in the FH statement, unless I misread it. That is what I have always done in these labs. They have input and I report relevant, anonymous results to the evaluated teams, but I and/or the course instructor give their grades. Agreed?
Cheers!
Terry


________________________________
From: Janet Nepke <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Teaching Breakfast List <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:52:12 -0500
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Student Grading Question

I am in total agreement with Joanne.  Teachers have the responsibility and
authority to give grades.  Students may evaluate the work of other
students, and we may judge them on their ability to evaluate, but only
teachers should make evaluations that lead to grades.

Example:  A small group of my students must post questions each week about
ethical practices of the music and entertainment industry.  The rest of
the students are required to answer the question based on criteria I've
established, and then the original group is required to evaluate the
answers received.  I often comment to students on their success or lack of
success at each step of this assignment, and I give the final grade for
the entire exercise.

Thanks,
Janet


Dr. J. Nepkie
SUNY Distinguished Service Professor
Professor of Music and Music Industry
Fine Arts 145
State University College
Oneonta, NY 13820
tele: (607) 436 3425
fax:   607 436 2718
[log in to unmask]





On 2/10/11 1:21 PM, "Curran, Joanne ([log in to unmask])"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Education majors can practice evaluating and assigning grades without
>actually grading their peers. I think having students give an evaluation
>in labs or for oral reports or other projects is great, but my read on
>the FH is that those should not be influencing final course grades.
>
>Joanne Curran, Ph.D.
>Associate Dean
>Division of Education
>205A Fitzelle Hall
>SUNY College at Oneonta
>Oneonta, NY 13820-4015
>(607) 436-2541
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>Behalf Of Helser, Terry ([log in to unmask])
>Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 1:12 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Student Grading Question
>
>All interested parties,
>  Can students evaluate other student's performances like team oral
>reports?
>The Faculty Handbook, which I know may not have any/full force of
>law/policy, says:
>"Students and Grading
>Students (including work study students, teaching assistants, etc.) must
>not
>be permitted to participate in any form of grading. This includes, but is
>not limited to, evaluating and/or assigning grades, posting grades,
>handling
>grade change forms or grade sheets." p. 75
>I have lab teams fill out a rubric evaluating other teams' reports and use
>them with my own to arrive at a grade for each student. I feel this is a
>valid and useful experience for all of them, but particularly for
>education
>majors. How do prospective teachers learn to evaluate their students
>without
>training and practice in education courses? Am I missing something? Seems
>like a catch 22, if the FH is taken literally.
>Cheers!
>Terry