September 2000 in respect of non-confidential references refers to the
2000/2001 applications cycle which starts in September 2000. The move to
open references is to comply with the manual records aspect of the Act and
allow for the transition period to October 2001.
Ken Horsburgh
Head of Computing Services
UCAS
Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Glos, GL52 3LZ, England
Phone: +44 (0) 1242 544740 : Fax: +44 (0) 1242 544960
Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.ucas.ac.uk
Reg. Company No. 2839815 : Reg. Charity No. 1024741
-----Original Message-----
From: Trevor Field [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 05 April 2000 13:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: UCAS Advice
Today I received a copy of a briefing note from UCAS re the DPA. The notes
about applicants' consent generally make sense, but there are two points of
particular interest/concern.
1 UCAS point out that they currently advise potential students that
data
given will be used only (i) by relevant HE staff for considering
applications
and (ii) to enable HEIs to set up initial records. UCAS then (in this
circular) advise that "it of course follows that to use it for any other
purpose would be in contravention [of DPA]". In one sense, agreed, but I
would
note the very interesting debate at Cardiff JISC workshop (4/4/00), in which
we
discussed and agreed to take forward the point that there may be occasions,
in a
community such as HEI, when warnings need to be given. Example given was
the
wish to warn hall porters that a certain student might be mentally fragile,
or
(say) suffer from fits, or... - not least because the porter might feel
aggrieved if set upon or otherwise distressed. Now presumably, UCAS are
right
to say what they have said, but it will maybe be for HEIs to build in such
appropriate and additional words when the (post-initial) student record is
set
up. That would be logical and honest.
2 The UCAS letter mentions references and says that "from September
2000
references will be open", noting that while referees will not have to
disclose
material, HEIs and UCAS itself will have to. I have a large problem here,
in
that I have never found September 2000 as a deadline anywhere in DPA, and
also
in that I don't see why these references differ from others. The rule for
others is that the referee has what is close to a veto, and one has to check
in
any case to protect identity of referee. The only reason I can imagine for
a
different view is that in the case of school pupils the reference is not in
fact
counted as a reference but as an "educational record" (s68 and Schedule 11)?
Since this advice is coming to HEIs from such a source (and since a note has
gone to all schools!) I think we should clarify quickly.
Trevor.
----------------------
Dr Trevor Field
Senior Assistant Secretary
University of Aberdeen
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