Fears new laws could expose students’ personal, financial and medical information

Universities will be required to intrude into student privacy and collect unprecedented levels of personal information, a prominent Queensland institution fears.

QUT has raised the alarm over privacy concerns.

Universities will be required to intrude into student privacy and collect unprecedented levels of detail about their personal, financial and medical circumstances under plans for sector reform, a prominent Queensland institution fears.

Information on whether individual students are seeking counselling, medical or mental health support, receiving bursaries, housing assistance or are even going through personal crises may need to be collected and stored, Queensland University of Technology has warned.

But federal Education Minister Jason Clare’s spokesman said student privacy was paramount and that guidelines associated with the laws would be developed in consultation with universities, students and other stakeholders.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare

Mr Clare is seeking to reform the higher-education sector to ensure students from disadvantaged backgrounds have a better chance of accessing and succeeding at university.

Part of this is scrapping the rule requiring students to pass at least half their subjects to be able to access the HELP scheme, while another requires the institutions to actively identify at-risk students and intervene at an early stage before they fail.

Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor professor Margaret Sheil warned it could even create a disincentive for some universities to take on at-risk students, counter to the proposed laws’ intended effect.

Universities would be fined up to $18,780 for failing to comply.

Prof Sheil said QUT already had processes for identifying these students, but the Bill could mandate the collection, storage and reporting on individual students’ circumstances.

“It seems probable that … providers will need to collect and link to students’ academic records information such as the fact of applying for – and the potentially the details within applications for – financial needs-based scholarships and bursaries, housing assistance, counselling, additional academic support, medical and mental health support, and consideration for personal crises or ‘significant life events’,” Prof Sheil said.

QUT vice-chancellor professor Margaret Sheil

“It is not clear to what extent – or exactly how – providers will be expected to monitor and collect intelligence on the circumstances of students’ personal lives to ensure they are in a position to make proactive offers of support.”

But Mr Clare’s spokesman said Support for Students Policy Guidelines would be developed as part of the Bill, with input from universities, and be released prior to the Senate debate.

“The privacy of students is paramount,” he said.

“The Support for Students Policy will respect the privacy of students.”

The Bill is expected to go to the Senate during the next sitting week, starting October 16.