Releasing Your Student Data to NUGW-UE (Graduate Student Message)
Good morning,
As a graduate student, you’re likely aware that the relationship between Northwestern and graduate employees is governed by a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) finalized in March 2024 by the University and the graduate union, NUGW-UE Local 1122. The union has a legal obligation to represent bargaining unit members when they are engaged in bargaining unit work (teaching or research services for the University).
In order to do so, the union may need certain information about students performing this work, including details about their work and pay. However, the University is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal regulation that prohibits disclosure of most private student information, including these details, to third parties including the union.
To meet both of these obligations, Northwestern has created a release form you may choose to sign permitting us to share the following data about you with the union when you are performing bargaining unit work:
- Job title
- Work location
- Dates of employment, enrollment, and actual date of graduation (degree conferral)
- Employing department(s) or program(s)
- Permanent and local mailing addresses
- Stipend amount
- Additional rates of pay, if any
- Pay period
- Employment records
Northwestern will flag the records of students who sign the release so that staff fulfilling union data needs can act according to your wishes. You will see this flag in CAESAR via the “Holds” portlet (soon to be renamed “Holds & Notices”). I want to assure you, despite the current name of this portlet, that this is not a hold and has absolutely no effect on your registration or any other service. It is simply an attribute indicating that you have given Northwestern permission to send your information to the union when appropriate.
Staff in the Office of the Registrar are happy to answer any questions you have about this process or about FERPA in general. Please email us at nu-studentrecords@northwestern.edu.
Should you have questions about graduate union contract and its implementation, please visit this site, where you can review FAQs and submit questions.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Sincerely,
Jaci Casazza
Northwestern University