Guiding Principles for Data Collection, Use, and Storage
At UMW we use data:
- to improve the learning experience;
- to support learner agency, including critical thinking;
- to provide personalized support for students and staff;
- to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion;
- to support university operations through evaluation and strategic planning
Empowerment
- Users/Learners should be active participants;
- Users have the right to know who controls and has access to their data;
- Users/Learners should be empowered to protect their own privacy;
- Users have some limited ability to opt out of data usage, except where mandated by law
Transparency
- The university will use professional judgment based on an educational interest in data;
- The university will explain how data is collected, used and shared, especially data shared with third parties;
- The university will investigate and screen outside entities on the design and use of data algorithms before using or employing them;
- Students and staff have the ability to inspect and correct their own data if incorrect;
- The university will make no revenue by selling student or staff data;
- The university will protect the privacy of one’s data appropriately
Efficacy
- The university will practice data minimization (and data deletion at completion of analysis)
- Data should not be used merely because we have the tool/technology to do so
- The university will maintain a balance between organizational needs and individuals’ right to privacy
Equity and Access
- The use of data implies a duty of care and obligation to act when information could be used to improve outcomes;
- The university will consider in each use case or algorithm how the use of data might perpetuate bias, reinforce existing inequalities, or have other unintended consequences;
- The university will protect learners from exploitation through the use of data
Applicable Legislation and State Policy:
DHRM Personnel Records Disclosure
DHRM Personnel Records Management
Family Educational Records and Privacy Act
Virginia IT Agency Policies and Guidelines
References:
Athabasca University: Principles for Ethical Use of Personalized Student Data
Parenting Coalition for Student Privacy
University of Michigan: Safe Computing
The University of Melbourne: Student Privacy Statement
1EdTech: Learning Data & Analytics Key Principles
University of Michigan: Learning Analytics Guiding Principles
Georgetown University: Privacy Policy
University of California: Learning Data Privacy Principles
University of Winchester: Policies and Regulations