This presentation will look at FERPA and the role of the same for school employees in the areas of social media and e-mails. First, it will review what limits educational entities should and should not place on their employees in terms of what they say or don’t say on social media to ensure that it is FERPA compliant. Second, we will review the benefits and possible pitfalls of a growing trend in educational entities to use social media as a teaching tool and what should be done to use this tool while limiting potential violations of FERPA. This presentation will also include a review of what policies educational entities should have to address both concerns.  In addition, the presentation will review best practices in the area of e-mail to avoid liability and to avoid possible FERPA issues.

Learning Objectives:

• What is FERPA and when is it implicated?
• Understand what constitutes educational records under FERPA.
• Understand the rights provided under FERPA.
• How educational entities should implement FERPA compliance in the use of social media and avoid FERPA liability?
• What training should be provided to staff about what they can and cannot say through social media?
• What constitutes improper disclosure of FERPA information through social media use?
• Understand how and when social media may matter under FERPA.
• Instances when social media usage results in problems.
• Examples of recent cases where social media and FERPA have collided.
• How to handle student or parent posts on social media without resulting in FERPA violations.
• What types of policies or procedures should educational entities have to ensure FERPA compliance in social media?
• Guidelines on using social media as an educational tool.
• When e-mails are considered educational records under FERPA?
• When should e-mails be used to document educational issues and can be used to limit liability?
• When should e-mails not be used to document educational issues or can create liability?
• Other guidelines for the use of e-mail
• Litigation holds and the effect on e-mails for educational entities

To gain a better understanding of what the limits are while using e-mail and social media in the area of education. Ensuring that you and your educational entity are FERPA compliant in the use of both forms of technology. Learning the procedures and processes to have in place to ensure compliance and avoid liability. 

Who will Benefit:

• Director of Technology
• Director of Student Affairs/Dean of Students
• Director of Academic Affairs/Academic Dean
• Teacher or Professors who use or have considered using social media in the classroom
• Attorneys representing school districts or colleges and universities
• Directors of Human Resources