So, you thought your grades were confidential?

Dear Editor,

You probably think your consent is required for someone to see your transcript. After all, you have to sign a transcript release form when you apply for some projects or for certain positions around campus. If someone, even here at WPI, wants to see your transcript, for whatever reason, s/he needs your consent, usually in the form of your signature.

Well, sometimes. There are always individuals who take what they want without asking, no matter how inappropriate and creepy it may be. I learned this from experience.

About 1.5 years ago I applied to do a project with a professor in my department. He made no mention, written or spoken, at any time of any desire to see my transcript. He most certainly did not ask for my permission to see it. But unbeknownst to me, in considering my application, he did wish to know what kind of grades I had gotten, so that he could reduce the risk of accepting a bad student to do his precious project. Integrity, propriety, consideration, and respect all would have required him to ask for my consent to view my grades. But these virtues played no part in his approach to the situation. He simply walked into the department office, pulled out my file, and looked at my transcript. But that's not all. He proceeded to photocopy it. This man was neither the head of the department nor my academic advisor, and therefore was not entitled to a copy of my transcript. I'm sure this action alone would not have irritated me so much were it not for his behavior thereafter.

At that time, my GPA was roughly 3.6. Not fantastic, I know, but also not half bad by most standards. The professor made note of every less-than-perfect grade I had received, and essentially told me that I was a bad student for having gotten those grades. He did not say it in quite those words, but his meaning was unmistakable. My GPA was not perfect, therefore I was stupid. Never mind that I'd gotten mostly As and was in the top 1/8 of my class. This kind of verbal abuse is an excellent example of why it is so important to have confidentiality in grading.

I am writing this to warn you that any rude, childish professor in your department can help himself to a photocopy of your transcript if he so desires. It is because of people like him that signed forms should be required for transcript release. But unfortunately, people like him are the ones who take what they want whether or not they have the proper forms.