
		STAR Upcoming Events Understanding FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act) Thursday, 3/20 ISC 220, 2:00 p.m. Presented by Rita Woltz, VCCS Council The NEW Early Alert System Tuesday, 4/29 ISC 220, 2:00 p.m. Presented by Tammy McCracken and Kim Morton www.vhcc.edu/star Archives March 3, 2008 February 25, 2008 February 18, 2008 NACADA Webinars Tuesday, 3/25 NEB 918, 12pm Swirling to a Degree: The Ups and Downs of College Transfer Thursday, 4/17 NEB 918, 12pm Ensuring Advisor Success: Mastering the Art of Advising through the First Year of Advising and Beyond
Undecided Students Advisors who follow a decision- making model when advising undecided students can ensure that all the necessary steps will be covered. The model follows a sequence of steps that leads the student though an orderly decision making process. This Plan may be used in a 30 minute advising sessions or over and extended period of time. Step One: Help students analyze their situation What are they considering as a major? Why are they undecided? Listen to their values, and discuss how they are important. Build a trusting relationship. Step Two: Help students organize a plan for exploring Determine what info you need. Establish a timeline to gather information. Step Three: Help students integrate information they have collected Help them understand academic and occupational relationships. Help them understand how majors and values / goals fit. Help them narrow down their options to two or three Step Four: Support students while they make decisions Help identify external factors that need to be considered. Help students understand their decision making style.Support their decision once it is made Step Five: Help students initiate and action plan Help identify specific actions steps to be taken. Help identify resources needed to take action. Set up a realistic time-table. Remind students to be flexible if something changes. Step Six: Encourage future contact Let student know you are there to help if needed. (Gordon, Virginia (1997). Academic Advising).

The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) is a 1974 federal law designed to protect the privacy of students. FERPA protects the privacy of students' education records by setting forth strict limitations governing the release of information about students. Good practice by faculty and staff members requires that they maintain, use, and report student data in compliance with the requirements of FERPA. The following statements provide practical guidelines to follow: Do keep any personal records relating to individual students separate from their educational records. Private notes of a professor/staff member concerning a student that are intended for professor's/staff member's own use are not part of the student's educational record. Do not put papers or lab reports containing student names and grades in publicly accessible places. Students are not to have access to the scores and grades of others in the class. Do not share student educational record information with other faculty or staff members unless their official responsibilities provide for a legitimate educational interest. The University of Alabama Tips for Faculty Want to know more? Come to this week's STAR Event on Understanding FERPA (Thursday, 2pm). Do you have a Tip to share? Email it to the Student Success Center!

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