Do sole possession notes of a professor or teacher qualify as student records under FERPA?

Do sole possession notes of a professor or teacher qualify as student records under FERPA?

• A. Yes, they are protected under FERPA
• B. No, they do not receive FERPA protection
• C. Only if the student requests them
• D. Yes, if they are shared with anyone

Answer: (B)

Sole possession notes refer to personal, private notes made by a professor or teacher that are not shared with anyone else and are maintained solely for the creator's use. Under FERPA, these personal notes do not qualify as education records because they are not considered records maintained by the institution or intended to be accessible to others. Since sole possession notes are kept solely for the creator's reference and are not documented in a way that is accessible by other individuals or entities, they do not receive FERPA protection. This is aligned with FERPA's purpose of safeguarding student education records while recognizing that personal notes made by faculty for their own use fall outside this definition.

Sole possession notes refer to personal, private notes made by a professor or teacher that are not shared with anyone else and are maintained solely for the creator's use. Under FERPA, these personal notes do not qualify as education records because they are not considered records maintained by the institution or intended to be accessible to others. Since sole possession notes are kept solely for the creator's reference and are not documented in a way that is accessible by other individuals or entities, they do not receive FERPA protection. This is aligned with FERPA's purpose of safeguarding student education records while recognizing that personal notes made by faculty for their own use fall outside this definition.