 |
 |
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 [[log in to unmask]] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%