Could Populi create a new user role for DSOs? This additional feature would be a great help to almost every college and university.
Any SEVP-certified school authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students has at least one Designated School Official. The official(s) must have access to virtually all information stored in Populi according to Federal regulation. (See excerpt below.)
The DSO should have "Read and Write" access to personal info, with "Read Only" access to academic data. This arrangement would give DSOs necessary access, while avoiding security issues within the academic portion of the system.
Excerpts from 8 CFR 214.3(g)(1):
(g) Recordkeeping and reporting requirements —(1) Student records. An SEVP-certified school must keep records containing certain specific information and documents relating to each F–1 or M–1 student [...] Student information not required for entry in SEVIS may be kept in the school's student system of records, but must be accessible to DSOs. [...] The information and documents that the school must keep on each student are as follows:
(i) Identification of the school, to include name and full address.
(ii) Identification of the student, to include name while in attendance (record any legal name change), date and place of birth, country of citizenship, and school's student identification number.
(iii) Current address where the student and his or her dependents physically reside. In the event the student or his or her dependents cannot receive mail at such physical residence, the school must provide a mailing address in SEVIS. If the mailing address and the physical address are not the same, the school must maintain a record of both mailing and physical addresses and provide the physical location of residence of the student and his or her dependents to DHS upon request.
(iv) Record of coursework. Identify the student's degree program and field of study. For each course, give the periods of enrollment, course identification code and course title; the number of credits or contact hours, and the grade; the number of credits or clock hours, and for credit hour courses the credit unit; the term unit (semester hour, quarter hour, etc.). Include the date of withdrawal if the student withdrew from a course. Show the grade point average for each session or term. Show the cumulative credits or clock hours and cumulative grade point average. Narrative evaluation will be accepted in lieu of grades when the school uses no other type of grading.
(v) Record of transfer credit or clock hours accepted. Type of hours, course identification, grades.
(vi) Academic status. Include the effective date or period if suspended, dismissed, placed on probation, or withdrawn.
(vii) Whether the student has been certified for practical training, and the beginning and end dates of certification.
(viii) Statement of graduation (if applicable). Title of degree or credential received, date conferred, program of study or major.
(ix) Termination date and reason.
(x) The documents referred to in paragraph (k) of this section.
