Computer Science | Grinnell College

For the CS Table on September 13, Peter-Michael Osera would like to discuss data collection and privacy in a place we normally don’t consider: higher education. In efforts to streamline operations and better the student experience via data analytics, universities are frequently turning to the cloud for answers. Does this have implications for how we as students and faculty manage our data? Read these two articles:

• Goldie Blumenstyk. "As Big Data Comes to College, Officials Wrestle to Set New Ethical Norms”. In The Chronicle of Higher Education. June 28, 2016. http://www.chronicle.com/article/As-Big-Data-Comes-to-College/236934 (Original link, paywall) http://www.chronicle.com.grinnell.idm.oclc.org/article/As-Big-Data-Comes-to-College/236934 (Stable link through Grinnell’s proxy, free)
• Emin Gün Sirer. "Outsourcing in Higher Ed Considered Harmful”. In Hacking, Distributed. August 29, 2016 http://hackingdistributed.com/2016/08/29/outsourcing-in-higher-ed-considered-harmful/

Printed copies of the readings will be available after noon on Friday at Charlie Curtsinger’s office (Noyce 3827). In addition to the readings, there is a short “homework” activity to get you in the spirit of the discussion. Try to answer these brief questions:

1. What FERPA is and how does it relate to your personal information? Read more about FERPA here: US DOE. "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)”. http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
2. Grinnell employs a number of third-party services that handle our (digital) data in various ways. List as many as you can.
3. Why can these third-party services handle sensitive data that would otherwise be protected by FERPA? Look to FERPA FAQ, US DOE. “FERPA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)”. http://familypolicy.ed.gov/faq-page#t62n218

Completing this homework isn’t required to attend CS Table, but we will start the discussion by tackling these questions. So please come prepared if you have the time!

Computer science table (CS Table) is a weekly meeting of Grinnell College community members (students, faculty, staff, etc.) interested in discussing topics related to computing and computer science. CS Table meets Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00pm in JRC 224B. Contact the CS faculty for the weekly reading. Students on meal plans, faculty, and staff are expected to cover the cost of their meals. Visitors to the College and students not on meal plans can charge their meals to the department.