The Buckley Act
I’ve long thought that it’s foolish to keep university grades secret with the hypersecurity of the Buckley Act. Why not post student names and grades, so the students can find them out easily? (especially before email made this less important) Why should a slacker be entitled to keep his D a secret? Why shouldn’t the top student get public recognition? Isn’t it good for students and professors to be able to find out that a particular professor gives all A’s?
England is more sensible, as this BBC report explains:
For 300 years students at Cambridge University have learned their exam results from public notice boards.
…
Until recently, the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA) published all interim and final results in a Saturday edition of the Times newspaper.
This led to many anxious students cutting short their Friday evening fun to seek out an early edition of the paper at a late-opening corner shop. Saturday’s hangover was either tinged with relief or despair.
The institute still publishes its results in the Times, but now also offers text message and e-mail.