Eastern Michigan University had favorable reactions to a policy the University of Missouri began mulling over mid-November, indicating approval to begin requiring students to obtain written permission from professors before videotaping classroom lectures.
As it stands, EMU is close behind UM in the way of making changes.
According to mathematics professor Sandy Becker, Eastern Michigan instructors already have the power to veto classroom taping.
She said they have the right to decline in order to protect intellectual property or copyrights – the originality of lesson plans and lectures is often comparable to that of the chapters in a textbook – and for reasons of privacy.
A course of action concerning in-class taping, however, has not yet been approved nor discussed at EMU.
“[The subject of videotaping] is not a specific part of the student code of conduct,” said Meredith Blaine, assistant director of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
“There’s neither a policy against it nor for it. That could very well change one day.”
Becker said she doesn’t mind the idea of leaving the decision up to individual professors.
“I think it’s only fair to let us decide,” Becker, who has never dealt with the issue before, said.
“I have allowed students to take a picture of the board, but I would not like my lectures taped without my permission and then circulated online where concepts I have developed can become available for unauthorized use.”
Senior Laura Toshach understood the manner and voiced a similar opinion.
“All the information [professors] are being paid to teach would be free for anyone if it were put online,” Toshach said. “Unless [students] are given permission, it shouldn’t be allowed.”
One exception seems to exist by way of a policy of the State Board of Education in support of needed improvement
in teacher induction and mentoring:
“Improve the teacher certification process to incorporate performance-based standards and peer-assistance processes such as portfolios, local team evaluation, classroom observation and videotaped lessons.”
A recent College of Education graduate said this was common during her student teaching process. She remembered being filmed by a supervising teacher regularly and added the act did not disturb classroom events or students.
Students could actually benefit from the policy given it passes in Missouri, according to Steve Graham, senior associate vice president for academic affairs.
He said it protects the “sanctity of the classroom for our students so they can freely discuss their thoughts
and opinions.”
Junior Michael Gilmour, a computer engineering student, said he understood the importance of this area after considering it.
“I haven’t ever felt threatened to speak my mind in class,” Gilmour said.
“But nowadays, who knows what someone could get offended at and go off on you for? People get offended at everything.”
The possibility of the unique policy sparked in Missouri last spring after a blogger posted excerpts of two faculty members’ lectures in a labor program, arguing the instructors condoned or encouraged violence as a union tactic. In negation, the instructors said their lectures were taken out of context.
Regardless, in the case a student has learning and/or hearing disabilities, teachers and learning institutions are required to make proper accommodations either via IEP plans or 504 plans.
Audio — not video — recordings are included in the following:
IEPs — individual education plans — promote school success with additional services and protections like accommodations, modifications, related and special education services.
Similarly, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against the disabled by ensuring equal access to an education. All schools or programs receiving federal funds must follow the 504 law.
Troshach suggested EMU professors should continue allowing hearing-impaired students to record audio footage of classes but enforce written agreements — much like those discussed at Missouri — to protect the privacy and copyrights of the professors.
“If a student has a hearing disability, they could sign something that says they won’t publish it,” Troshach said.
For information on the Students with Disabilities Office at EMU, visit www.emich.edu/disabilities/ or call 734-487-2470.
