I'm unsure regarding transferring calls to Employee X. With regard to
leaving messages for Student Y, we give a similar answer to previous e-mails
on this subject. Namely, 'if Student Y is registered here, I will attempt
to pass on a message. However, this is no guarantee that the person is a
student here and I cannot confirm that the message will be passed on in the
case that s/he is not.' Our students do not, however, have campus telephone
numbers - this would be in the case of a general query coming through
switchboard or Records.
Marta
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles A. Prescott <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 10:38 PM
Subject: Re: Advising callers if student is registered or not
> Query: If a caller rings a company, university, or any institution, and
asks to be connected to
> Mr.X, is the operator's connecting the caller to Mr. X a disclosure of
personal data? It discloses
> that Mr. X has an extension there, at least. Or if the caller requests to
leave a message for
> Student Y to call back, and the operator accepts the message?
>
> Charles Christacopoulos wrote:
>
> > ** Reply to note from Lucinda Bennett <[log in to unmask]> Thu, 30
Mar 2000 12:17:27 +0100
> >
> > > At Exeter, if an enquirer phones up wanting to know whether
> > > or not an individual is registered at the University, staff
> > > currently disclose this information to the caller, ie Yes,
> > > X is a registered student here.1 Likewise, if the student
> > > should have registered but did not, or if the student has
> > > left the University, this information is also disclosed.
> > > However, any other information (eg addresses, phone numbers
> > > etc) is not disclosed to the caller - and messages are
> > > forwarded on to the student to deal with as they see fit.
> > >
> > > However, under the DP Act, is it legal for staff
> > > to disclose even this limited information? If not, could
> > > it be got around by advising students on the Registration
> > > form that this limited info will be routinely disclosed to
> > > callers.
> >
> > My reaction would be not to answer at all. You should stick to "one"
formal
> > answer and refuse to give any info. even if the student does not exist
in
> > your institution. If for some students you say they are not there and
for
> > others you refuse to answer you will efectively admit that the latter
are
> > there.
> >
> > My "conspiracy" mind says we have to safeguard those who may be in a
> > vulnerable situation. I am thinking of divorced people, sexual, racial
> > harassment and so on. We should not really be admitting to the
whereabouts
> > of students let alone their address or other private details.
> >
> > If a caller is serious enough ask them to write to you.
> >
> > If it helps at all.
> >
> > Charles
> >
> > ==============================================
> > Charles Christacopoulos, Secretary's Office, University of Dundee,
> > Dundee DD1 4HN, (Scotland) United Kingdom.
> > Tel: +44+(0)1382-344891. Fax: +44+(0)1382-201604.
> > http://somis.ais.dundee.ac.uk/
> > Scottish Search Maestro http://somis2.ais.dundee.ac.uk/
>
> --
> Charles A. Prescott
> Vice President, International Business Development
> and Government Affairs
> Direct Marketing Association
> 1120 Avenue of the Americas
> New York, NY 10036
> U.S.A.
>
> Tel. (1) 212-790-1552
> Fax. (1) 212-790-1499
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> website: www.the-dma.org
>
>
>
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