Navigating Student Data Privacy in Higher Education

Safeguarding the rising volume of student data collected by universities demands robust security measures, adherence to privacy laws, clear policies and continuous training. With nearly 100 data breaches in US colleges in 2022 alone, and an average cost of $3.7 million per cybersecurity breach, protecting data has high stakes. Fostering trust through advocating informed consent, data minimization, and upholding compliance with regulations like FERPA, HIPAA, and CCPA is critical. Deficiencies in current systems will likely drive most institutions to replace their Student Information Systems by 2024.