Marcellette G. Williams was Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2001-2002.
This is an archive of the Chancellor's Web site during her tenure.



Office of the Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Email to Students

October 11, 2001

Dear Students,

As we continue to cope in the aftermath of September 11 we must be mindful of our responsibilities as members of this academic community. I know many of you may be concerned with the fact that colleges and universities have received increased requests for student and employee information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Immigration and Naturalization Services, and other federal, state and local law agencies.

To date, we have received no such requests linked to the September 11 events. I want to assure each of you that we will try to protect your privacy rights as allowable by the law in the event that such requests are made. We will abide by all relevant provisions and safeguards for your privacy detailed in the 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This law would normally bar us from releasing personal information without your consent. However, the law does allow exemptions during a health-and-safety emergency. In practical terms each inquiry must and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

These are uncertain times, times we have not experienced before. As such, we must recognize that the interplay between the needs to preserve privacy and to maintain public safety can pose challenges. As members of the UMass family, we must strive to understand these issues and seek solutions to challenges together.

Sincerely,

Jo-Anne Vanin
Dean of Students

 

 

 

 


Marcellette G. Williams
Chancellor

University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003

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This page last updated September 12, 2001