March 12, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Suzanne Ernst (702) 889-8426

Clarification on Disclosure of Student Information Policy

LAS VEGAS-Chancellor Jane Nichols today issued a statement clarifying a recent action taken by the Nevada Board of Regents regarding the disclosure of student information.

I want to make clear that the Board of Regents, the UCCSN and our campus presidents are committed to protecting the privacy rights of our current and former students. The Board of Regents voted last week to strengthen that commitment by revising our policies regarding the release of student directory information. It is extremely important to note that under no circumstance will directory information, for current or former students, be sold or rented by any of the UCCSN's eight institutions. Institutions will maintain control of student information so that it cannot be used for purposes not approved by the institutions.

The Board of Regents now requires that students must be notified annually of their right to "opt out" of the institution's directory. In addition, this annual notification form must be published within the first five pages of the institutional catalog and each class schedule.

The Nevada Board of Regents is the elected, 11-member governing body for the University and Community College System of Nevada. Comprising two doctoral granting universities, a state college, four comprehensive community colleges and one internationally acclaimed research institute, the UCCSN serves the educational and job training needs of the nation's fastest growing state. As Nevada's only system of higher education, the UCCSN provides educational opportunities to nearly 100,000 students.

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