Protecting Students’ Privacy on College Campuses

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici released the following joint statement after receiving responses from the Department of Education on privacy protections for student health records on college campuses:

Student privacy is critical to maintaining a safe environment on our college campuses. All students should feel confident that they can see a doctor or report a sexual assault without their information being exposed or their privacy violated. The Department of Education’s clarification of the federal protections students have is helpful. However, the response confirms a gap in privacy that could allow school officials to inappropriately access students’ personal health records without their consent. More must be done to protect students’ privacy and reinforce a safe college environment. We will continue to demand that the Department use its authority to immediately address this gap.

Bonamici and Wyden asked the Department of Education earlier this year to clarify the privacy protections for students on college and university campuses regarding access to their medical treatment records.