Students allowed to opt out of student org mass emails

Students who wish to block email messages from registered student organizations can now select that option via their Student Center in the My UW portal.

There are between 800 and 900 registered student organizations on campus, and each can send out a campuswide email once a semester, according to university Registrar Scott Owczarek. Some of them use the list to send emails at the beginning of each term to raise awareness of their group.

Student email addresses are considered public information under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and, in accordance with the Wisconsin Open Records Law, the institution is required to provide this information when requested.

Some students have expressed displeasure with receiving the emails. Owczarek says students already had the ability to opt out for third party emails (such as private businesses), and now that ability has been extended to opting out of receiving registered student organization emails. Both of these options are a method to reduce email while avoiding enacting a FERPA hold, which is considered a much more restrictive option. (To learn more about FERPA and your student privacy rights, visit the Office of the Registrar’s Student Privacy Rights Web page.)

Eric Knueve, assistant dean/director in the Division of Student Life’s Center for Leadership and Involvement, says the Wisconsin Involvement Network, a site set up to match student interests with student organizations, is an effective resource for connecting students to events and extracurricular opportunities. Since WIN went live in September 2011, more than 14,700 students have used it to sign up with organizations.

Knueve cautions that choosing to block emails from student organizations could cause some students to miss out on opportunities to participate in campus life.

“The broad assortment of student organizations on campus reflects a diverse and vibrant range of causes and interests,” Knueve says. “We encourage students to consider getting involved in an organization to enhance the total academic and social experience at UW–Madison.”