https://apnews.com/article/education-ohio-west-virginia-3e28971b7d1261f5b125b9b7b0ec2553 Yikes. Their files were deleted or lost and apparently never backed up, so nobody has transcripts.
Maybe the former administrators should be held accountable. Graduates lifes affected, what are former president, deans, registrar doing to address the issues? I think a lesson to graduates of private colleges to order sealed transcripts and keep them in vault. Or Transcript Clearing House to offer such service? The lady who attended graduate school, maybe the school has her undergraduate transcripts on the record from admissions and can forward those to the licensing board?
Even ordering official paper transcripts isn't necessarily a guarantee. Those could be faked, especially these days. At some point, someone may want electronic confirmation. And, then, oops! It looks like you forged your transcripts, even if they're 100% legit and originally from the school itself.
According to FERPA, when you went to school and what degree you earned are considered "directory information" and available to the public upon request. This is true unless the graduate specifically asks to restrict its release.
I think the safeguards provided by FERPA are a measure of last resort, but the potential for degree and transcript fraud leaves me uneasy. The opportunity exists to take advantage of this sloppy administration.
Another good practice is to archive coursework, graded papers etc. Some times foreign credential evaluation services ask for course materials, course syllabus etc,when they try to determine compatability.
