adriennetara
New Member
April 20, 2011
Dear Attorney,
My question, I believe, pertains to a Family Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) issue:
My immediate concern is how to handle a situation in which false and derogatory written information was sent to the dean of a nursing program I am applying to from the dean of a nursing program I recently attended, stating I participated in, and then withdrew from a course I took. I did not drop, withdraw, or fail this course; I was prevented from completing it because of the ethical misconduct from a clinical instructor. The dean did admit (in a Dec. 2010 meeting) that the misconduct took place, and that the school is in the wrong. The dean volunteered falsely and pejoratively in her letter, however, that I took and withdrew from the course in question.
BACKGROUND: The dean offered to remedy the offense by doing all she could to secure a drop in the course for me, as it was too close to the end of the semester to be able to make up the missed course/clinical work. (I am still unclear as to why my situation does not warrant a designation of "leave of absence"). The dean also told me, however, granting of the drop, as opposed to a withdrawal for the course, was ultimately up to Admissions & Records, but that getting the drop was very likely. The following week the dean informed me that unfortunately I would have to receive a withdrawal for the course. I contacted the Director of Admissions & Records, and asked why they didn't approve the drop. The director told me that Admissions & Records has no authority over the matter- that it is entirely up to the dean. I then confronted the dean with her lie, and subsequently the drop went through. My official transcript appears just as the Admissions & Records director said it would- the drop is the same as if I had never taken the course. (There is no indication of this course on my official transcript).
Now I face a dilemma, due to the dean's false statements in her letter because these statements conflict with my official transcript. The dean's false statements will cause negative repercussions for me because the new school I am applying to excludes you from participating in their transition program if you received a withdraw or fail in any course in the school you are transferring from.
I have explored two options for how to handle this. Please tell me which is best, or another option that is preferable.
OPTION 1: Tell the new school that the dean must have mistaken my records with another student's, for as they can see the class the dean is referring to is not on my official transcript. (Of course, this puts me in the position of technically lying about not having taken the course).
OPTION 2: Tell the new school I did take the course, but the dean is lying about the withdrawal status-an agreement was reached to drop it from my transcript because it was the school's fault. (I resent being forced into this admission because it opens up a can of worms that should not have been divulged, but was because of the dean's deviousness.
Please tell me what violations of FERPA are applicable to my situation. I would also like to know who in authority (administrative title) at the school I can approach to get a retraction of negative and/or damaging statements made in the dean's letter, or other memos, communiqués etc.
Yours,
FERPA student
Dear Attorney,
My question, I believe, pertains to a Family Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) issue:
My immediate concern is how to handle a situation in which false and derogatory written information was sent to the dean of a nursing program I am applying to from the dean of a nursing program I recently attended, stating I participated in, and then withdrew from a course I took. I did not drop, withdraw, or fail this course; I was prevented from completing it because of the ethical misconduct from a clinical instructor. The dean did admit (in a Dec. 2010 meeting) that the misconduct took place, and that the school is in the wrong. The dean volunteered falsely and pejoratively in her letter, however, that I took and withdrew from the course in question.
BACKGROUND: The dean offered to remedy the offense by doing all she could to secure a drop in the course for me, as it was too close to the end of the semester to be able to make up the missed course/clinical work. (I am still unclear as to why my situation does not warrant a designation of "leave of absence"). The dean also told me, however, granting of the drop, as opposed to a withdrawal for the course, was ultimately up to Admissions & Records, but that getting the drop was very likely. The following week the dean informed me that unfortunately I would have to receive a withdrawal for the course. I contacted the Director of Admissions & Records, and asked why they didn't approve the drop. The director told me that Admissions & Records has no authority over the matter- that it is entirely up to the dean. I then confronted the dean with her lie, and subsequently the drop went through. My official transcript appears just as the Admissions & Records director said it would- the drop is the same as if I had never taken the course. (There is no indication of this course on my official transcript).
Now I face a dilemma, due to the dean's false statements in her letter because these statements conflict with my official transcript. The dean's false statements will cause negative repercussions for me because the new school I am applying to excludes you from participating in their transition program if you received a withdraw or fail in any course in the school you are transferring from.
I have explored two options for how to handle this. Please tell me which is best, or another option that is preferable.
OPTION 1: Tell the new school that the dean must have mistaken my records with another student's, for as they can see the class the dean is referring to is not on my official transcript. (Of course, this puts me in the position of technically lying about not having taken the course).
OPTION 2: Tell the new school I did take the course, but the dean is lying about the withdrawal status-an agreement was reached to drop it from my transcript because it was the school's fault. (I resent being forced into this admission because it opens up a can of worms that should not have been divulged, but was because of the dean's deviousness.
Please tell me what violations of FERPA are applicable to my situation. I would also like to know who in authority (administrative title) at the school I can approach to get a retraction of negative and/or damaging statements made in the dean's letter, or other memos, communiqués etc.
Yours,
FERPA student
