Post 6: University Email Alert

Did you know that by if someone finds out your TAMU email address they could get your local address, and permanent address?

Texas A&M University classifies information including name, UIN, local address, local phone number, permanent address, permanent phone number, email address, dates of attendance, program of study (college, major, campus), classification, degrees, honors, awards received, previous institution(s), and participation in recognized activities/sports as “directory information.” Meaning that this information is open to the public.

The consequences for having so much of our personal information are endless. For example, if you are being stalked, your stalker can easily find out where you live. Or if your credit card is stolen and the robber saw that you were wearing an A&M t-shirt (s)he can look you up on our directory and find out your address, including your zip code, so they can use your credit card wherever because they have that information.

Thankfully, this is an easy fix. Due to FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974), you can request that the University withhold your information from public disclosure. If you fill out the request form then only certain individuals and Texas A&M University officials will be provided this information about you as prescribed by FERPA.

Although your first reaction might be to want to withhold all of your information, restricting certain directory information could also be undesirable. Restricting information such as your name, program of study, or degrees received may prohibit your recognition for awards, receiving enrollment verifications, etc.

I find it strange that I didn’t find out this information until my second year at Texas A&M University. I believe the University should’ve let us know when we first enrolled as a student. It is of extreme importance that our school let us know what information they are actually keeping confidential and what information is public. So that we have the opportunity to ensure our privacy.