The vast majority of the colleges and universities in the United States do not secure the religious preference information of their students due to concerns about their privacy laws. Due to recent actions at two universities there is a window of opportunity to increase the number. You may want to consider attempting to request that your college or university begin doing so.
At Louisiana State University each student that fills out an application for admission can indicate their religious preference. Their contact information is then provided to religious organizations that they indicated as their religious preference or background. Our registrar was concerned that doing so violated the student’s privacy laws and in the fall of 2011 our religious organizations at LSU were informed that LSU would no longer provide this information. I examined our application form and confirmed that there is a statement on it that I felt would meet the legal requirements for us to receive the information. The question #9 on our application reads: 9. Religious Preference – by indicating a religion, I understand that my preference could be shared with campus groups of similar affiliation.
I appealed the decision to the registrar based on the statement. The LSU university lawyer examined the statement and he agreed. We can receive the religious preference information because the statement constitutes the giving of permission by the student for us to receive it.
I sent an explanation of the ruling to the Southeastern Conference BCMs last spring. The University of Florida BCM Director, Eddie Gilley and the religious organizations at the University of Florida used the ruling and requested through their Dean of Students that religious preference be added to their admission form. They were recently informed their request has been granted.
The lawyers ruling by LSU and the granting of the request at the University of Florida opens up a door of opportunity for other religious organizations to request that the religious preference be added to the applications at their college or university.
If you decide to do so here are some suggestions:
1. Meet with the other religious organizations on campus and request the religious preference information be added from the group.
2. Secure the lawyers ruling from LSU and present it with the request.
3. Print off religious preference information from the application of other colleges and universities that secure it. At this time seven of SEC universities secure the information. Present this with your request to show it is being done.
4. If permission is granted ask if your group can help determine the list of religious groups to be listed on the application.
If you want a copy of the LSU lawyers ruling or if I can be of any assistance in this process then email me at lsubcm@eatel.net or call me at 225-343-0408 (Work) or 225-964-0830 (cell).
2. Secure the lawyers ruling from LSU and present it with the request.
3. Print off religious preference information from the application of other colleges and universities that secure it. At this time seven of SEC universities secure the information. Present this with your request to show it is being done.
4. If permission is granted ask if your group can help determine the list of religious groups to be listed on the application.
If you want a copy of the LSU lawyers ruling or if I can be of any assistance in this process then email me at lsubcm@eatel.net or call me at 225-343-0408 (Work) or 225-964-0830 (cell).
Steve Masters, Transitions Contract Worker
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