1. Student Privacy In Institutional Research
Curtis M. Kularski
13 December 2017

2. What we know
The First Destination Survey is a voluntary survey completed by graduating students or recent alumni.
FDS is administered by the University Career Center on behalf of the University as a whole
Survey is sent to graduating students by the Career Center, “UNC Charlotte”, their academic advisor and/or their dean
Survey respondents are assured their information remains private

3. What We Know
Information is shared publicly in aggregate form for all interested parties to review (
Individual academic departments often request additional, more individual, information from the survey
The survey is internally linked to a student’s individual UNC Charlotte ID, and therefore could be re- associated with their full academic record

4. FERPA
All aspects of a student’s interaction with the University are protected by FERPA and my only be released in certain circumstances, even internally.
Internally records may only be accessed by “School officials with legitimate educational interest”

5. Current Access Survey Administrator – Full Access
Career Center Staff – Full Survey Responses with demographic matching
Colleges/Academic Programs/Other AA units – Aggregate data of baseline questions (specific to college/program), individual responses to college or program-level questions

6. Issue
Providing extensive data to a small program can re- identify anonymized responses
Since its creation the FDS has extended to include program evaluation data in addition to outcomes data
Could responses to questions be used against a student in some form by faculty or administration? (letters of recommendation, network status?)
In exchange for cooperation departments expect additional access to information

7. Issue
What is identity?
Assuming “re-identification” is not possible, how much information is required to constitute identity?

8. Questions
What expectation of privacy does the student have when completing the voluntary survey?
Does the perception of authority with the origin of the survey reduce agency for students in electing to complete the survey?
How can the researcher balance student privacy with providing colleges and departments with information to guide in their fulfilment of their educational mission?