University of Michigan Investigates Leak Of Student Data To Newspaper
Quick Facts
- Date: 4/3/2008
- Institution: University of Michigan
- Type of Incident: Unauthorized Disclosure
- Number Affected: Unknown
- Source: Pogo Was Right
- Abstract Source: The Michigan Daily
Abstract
The University of Michigan is investigating the how The Ann Arbor News obtained federally protected data on students that appeared in a recent news article about student athletes at the university. The article, titled "University of Michigan athletes steered to professor", contained information on which courses student-athletes had taken and even included the GPAs of two students. This type of information is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). According to University Provost Teresa Sullivan, the university warned the newspaper that the information was confidential and obtained in violation of federal law. According to Kelly Cunningham, the university had cautioned the paper against publishing this information twice. Cunningham also does not believe that any student-athlete had given the paper permission to reprint their personal information.
