Which regulation governs how researchers can access data about subjects' disciplinary status from academic records?

The governing regulation for researchers accessing data about subjects' disciplinary status from academic records is FERPA, which stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. FERPA provides specific privacy protections for student education records, including grades and disciplinary records, and ensures that students have rights regarding their access to these records.

Under FERPA, educational institutions are required to safeguard the privacy of student records and only allow access to these records under certain conditions, such as written consent from the student. This regulation aims to protect students’ personal information and gives them control over who can view their educational records, making it essential for researchers to comply with when accessing such data.

Other regulations mentioned may govern related areas but do not specifically address educational records. For example, HIPAA pertains to the privacy of health information, while IRB guidelines are ethical standards for research involving human subjects that ensure the protection of their rights and welfare, but they do not manage educational records directly. The Education Amendments include provisions related to educational funding and civil rights, but FERPA specifically focuses on the privacy of student education records.