Re: Parent Access to Deceased Students' eMail

[Bob Kalal <kalal.1 () OSU EDU>]

Our position has been that the email belongs to the student's estate.

Bob Kalal
Ohio State University
On Jul 17, 2009, at 12:16 PM, Michael Carr wrote:

> How does your institution handle parental requests for access to
> deceased students' eMail?
>
> Some parents would like to send notices to their son/daughter's
> friends about any funeral arrangements.  Others would like access to
> content (especially in cases of suicide -- for closure.)
>
> University Council position is that the deceased student's FERPA
> privacy rights end with death; however, questions remain regarding
> the privacy rights of those persons/students identified in the
> deceased student's address book or eMail contents.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> Michael G. Carr, JD, CISSP, CIPP
> Director, Information Assurance
> Office of the CIO
> The University of New Mexico
> MSC02 1520
> 1 University of New Mexico
> Albuquerque NM  87131-0001
>
> desk: (505) 277-1212
> mobile: (505) 720-2121
> fax: (505) 277-8101
> mcarr () unm edu