This article addresses issues of confidentiality and the management of student records as affected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy act (FERPA). It identifies violations of FERPA and relates FERPA to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (DB)

Professionals often seem to view guidelines, standards, and the like, not to mention legal mandates, as adding to their work load. It is argued that a widely promulgated set of test taker rights would actually make the work of personnel selection professionals easier. The California court case Soroka v. Dayton-Hudson Corporation, in which test…

This report represents the views and perceptions of participants at a December 1994 Strategic Information Resources Management (SIRM) seminar, held in the District of Columbia, entitled "Building and Managing Government Internet Services." The group was comprised of 67 government officials and contractors who either had or were about to…

Computing involves social issues and political choices. Issues such as privacy, computer crime, gender inequity, disemployment, and electronic democracy versus "Big Brother" are addressed in the context of efforts to develop a national public policy for information technology. A broad range of research and case studies are examined in an…

The librarians and directors contributing to this article review current trends in censorship, and describe strategies, policies, and practices they would recommend. Discussion includes selection policies, educating the public, new technologies and materials, and the Internet. All agree on the library's responsibility of preserving intellectual…

Cautions that with growing access to new technologies, the expansion of Internet pornography and hate sites is fast becoming a danger for students, teachers, parents, and communities. Discusses technological possibilities for regulating Internet use available at school and at home. Relates Internet regulation with the goals of character education.…

Asserts that higher education institutions can benefit greatly, or cease to exist, depending upon how each college and university adapts to the transformational power of information technology in the future. Discusses the inevitable changes in higher education, catalysts, responses, and potential impact of change, and how to adapt to inevitable…

For years computer viruses have threatened productive use of personal computers, challenging users and support providers to prevent and recover from viral attacks. Now another type of computing malady has begun to enter popular consciousness: spyware. Typically, analyses of spyware focus on technical issues or provide pointers to resources for…

School systems that plan to give their students open access to the Internet need to set up policies which explain and affirm the principles of freedom of speech, freedom to read, and free access to information. A set of Internet rights and responsibilities should be outlined, and the issues of privacy and ethics should be considered. (Author/AEF)

As more government agencies request information and records from colleges and universities, it is important that all institutions establish standard procedures for handling such requests. Administrators should: learn the personality of the particular agency or office making the request; establish a professional, cooperative, non-adversarial…

The September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States have contributed greatly to a change in the information environment around the world. The weeks following the attacks saw governments around the world rush to pass legislation designed to prevent future acts of terrorism. Much of this legislation targeted information flow, especially on the…

Presents a global perspective on libraries and access to information. Topics include information policies, including intellectual property rights and censorship issues; the education and training of librarians; demographics and cultural changes; government and non-government activities; and the role of IFLA (International Federation of Library…

Addresses issues relating to the Internet and personal privacy. Defines privacy and discusses it in the context of property boundaries, contracts or special relationships, and gossip. Explores clashes between ideals of personal privacy, free speech, and economic freedom in the context of the Internet. (DSK)

Reports on a options and issues discussion at a December 1997 Orlando (Florida) meeting of CAUSE97 on providing access to campus technology resources. Options discussed included departmentally and/or university-owned modems, third-party provider contracts, and using wireless access. Issues included providing authentication, assuring network…

In the wake of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, discussions have raged both online and in the press about free speech, online pornography, and the protection of children. This paper discusses the legal and social science issues surrounding content regulation of the World Wide Web and the Internet as a whole, with an emphasis on the…