PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Student records.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 28B.30.150 and 20 U.S.C. 1232g. 95-07-043, § 504-21-050.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: To make the provisions of WSU's Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) set forth in chapter 504-21 WAC consistent with changes to the federal FERPA law in 1998 (20 U.S.C. § 1232g). Provisions providing for parental notification in cases of students being charged with illegal use or possession of drugs and/or alcohol will be an important tool in the university's handling of underage alcohol offenses. A second change will provide victims of sexual offenses to learn the outcome of disciplinary action taken against perpetrators. The third change will expand directory information to include e-mail addresses.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Education. The process to coordinate is that we review changes to the federal law and change our regulations to conform thereto as appropriate.
Process for Developing New Rule: New rules necessary to comply with federal FERPA laws. Reviewed internally at many levels before formal proposal.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. There will be a public hearing to permit comment on the proposed rule. There will also be an opportunity to provide written comments on the proposed rule.
April 13, 2001
Loretta M. Lamb
Assistant Vice-President for
Personnel and Administration
Rules Coordinator