The U.S. Department of Education wants to know all about you. In
a disturbing announcement, a research wing of the department has
recommended the launch of a national database for the collection of
detailed student data to enhance the tracking of academic success,
but it’s a dangerous idea.
First, the federal government shouldn’t be in the business
of monitoring and unduly influencing higher education. Trying to
measure a return on investment ““ like the No Child Left
Behind Act ““ is wholly antithetical to the institution.
Second, the DOE plan calls for the collection of very detailed
and personal information, including social security numbers,
addresses, financial data and even classes you’ve taken.
While the data would theoretically be used only for educational
research, it’s not a stretch to believe access might be
granted to other agencies in the future under the guise of
counterterrorism.
Analyzing the success rates of university students is important,
but this plan is an unnecessarily invasive way to achieve that
goal.
Personal freedom is a crucial component to gaining a university
education, but this proposal seems disturbingly indicative of how
pervasive a role the federal government would like to play in
higher education.