FERPA & Writing consultants

["Scott Hendrix" <Shendrix@albion.edu>]

Hi all, 

how do you handle student privacy issues with regard to peer writing consultants and tutoring work with other students?

I ask because here at Albion College we have a college-wide "competency exam," a timed writing that must be passed in order for a student to graduate. In the past, students who failed the exam twice had to enroll in a one-on-one tutorial with the faculty director of the exam. Now that the college has a writing center, I have been planning to have students who fail the exam work with writing consultants on assessing their exams, discussing strategies for prepping, writing under time pressure, proofreading and revision in crunch time, etc. The sad reality is that the exam asks for and almost requires a pat 5 paragraph theme. This format may be changed in the future, but the short-term need is how to deal with it as is. (I'd also be interested to hear from folks who have worked to successfully revise or eliminate such writing "hoops"--though as a new faculty member, I'm only learning the long history and nuances of this writing event...)

Do you think the plan for utilizing writing consultants is a good idea?  And/or does this kind of sharing of information--having WC folks read "failed" essays, and working with students who have failed the exam, etc.--violate the Buckley Amendment/FERPA guidelines? This kind of information would likely come out during discussion and work in the writing center--but then it is volunteered by students. 

Advice please--suggestions for who else I should ask? (I'm also contacting the Dean of Students here, as well as the Provost, my boss.) 

Thanks in advance!

Scott

Scott Hendrix
Director of Writing
Albion College