Faculty Access to Grades from Previous Classes?

This likely depends on the school. We definitely have access to this information where I teach. Admission is based on a points system; the majority of the points are based on grades. Without access to a student's grades, we could not make a decision about admission. By applying to the nursing program, the student gives consent for us to review grades. Also, it would be difficult for faculty members to correctly advise students as to appropriate class choices if they do not know the student's grades. I have had students who did not remember their own grades, and those that have not been truthful in stating their grades.

If you are not advising the student, or considering them as an applicant, you would not need access to a student's grades.

I'm not a teacher. But I know my teachers had access to mine when I was in school. I think it's ok for them to have it too...how you do in school is usually the school's business(teachers included). This way, those students who love to place blame on a teacher if they do poorly and claim that "I always did so well in school, this teacher is unfair". They can look back and see if that student has a history of poor performance. Also this pattern of performance can let a teacher help a student and find a way to do better.

You contend that they don't know how you do in school previously...but gladly give up background checks, money, even your own blood for lab work, etc?

Haha... YES. Definitely. Nursing professors (especially your advisor, program coordinators, instructors who serve in the admissions committee) can see everything. Of course, they'll deny it and tell you what they're supposed to tell you. They even know your SSN # and other personal info., because they have special clearance from the school.

The instructors who don't fall under those categories I just mentioned above would have limited info. So, yes... nowadays, anyone can run a background check on anybody. They don't even need to be your employer, it could just be someone you're dating, your friends, or even your neighbors. All they need is your NAME.

Background checks are only (mostly) updated up to the last time you applied for credit cards, or any loans. If you haven't applied for anything recent, then nothing would come up recent (for most of them, NOT all). Unless, of course, if you have friends in the state department , info. seems to be more recent and faster to access on other people ... nice huh?

I still say it's ok for them to see your grades. I went to chat with the dean one day just to say hey since I was by her office...she asked how my semester was going, and I told her it was going well except I made a C on a test in Peds. She pulled up that specific test on her computer...and could see the entire class roster with their grades. Even more...she clicked on my name and it pulled up every single question I answered on that test with my answers highlighted.

lol... that's the thing about nursing programs -- nursing faculty have too much power at times. They can either make or break their students.

Nothing wrong with them seeing students' nursing classes grades. It's the "more than enough needed access" to personal info. of their students, that's a bit concerning.

... And they will all tell you that they have limited access to your personal info. --yea, right.

No I'm not mixing it up. A lot of the faculty serve on the administration boards and other committees. In fact, both our dean and associate dean teach classes. Other teachers serve on the admission committees. Also if a faculty member wants to ask about a certain student's information from anyone who works in the school...they get it. If a teacher suspects a student of something, they can ask for it.