Anonymous Students and Their Grades

 
In Ontario we have to conform to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). What this means is that we cannot publish student names and grades. The University of Toronto guidelines are very clear on this matter [Q and A for Instructors under FIPPA]. We shouldn't even be publishing student numbers with grades.

I just checked with one of my colleagues to find out what the policy was when she graduated in 1949. She showed me the booklet put out by the university in 1949. Her name and grades were listed there. Furthermore, the names and rankings of all student were published in the newspaper.

I asked one of my students who attended high school in Europe. Her name and grades were published in the newspaper. I'm told that this practice continues in some European countries. Another of my colleague learned his medical school grades by reading the Glasgow newspaper in the early 1950s.

Assuming that FIPPA does not apply to the publication of university grades (an invalid assumption), should we publish student names and grades? What are the non-legal arguments for and against this policy?

I like the idea of publishing student's names and grades because it helps make them take responsibility for their activities at university. Very few people agree with me. They all think that a student has a right to privacy. Most of these people don't have a problem with publishing Professor's salaries and course evaluation results because the public has a right to know this information.

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[Photo Description: This is a photograph of the wall on the ground floor of my building. You can see the names and photographs of every student in the medical school graduating class.]