Privacy Concerns at UNC: Business School Investigates Professor Over Classroom Surveillance without Consent.

UNC’s business school associate dean has sent a letter to Professor Larry Chavis, expressing concerns about an investigation into his class conduct. The letter stated that several of his class sessions had been recorded and reviewed using the classroom’s Panopto camera without his knowledge. This news has left Chavis feeling uneasy as he worries about the potential impact on the students who may feel uncomfortable with their classroom discussions being monitored without consent.

Chavis believes that the investigation into his behavior in class over the past few months was initiated after reports were received by the Kenan-Flagler Business School. While he is unsure what specific actions led to the investigation, he believes that reading an email exchange between him and the dean aloud to his class may have played a role.

As a concerned professor, Chavis emphasizes the importance of maintaining trust between students and professors in a classroom setting. He shared an example of how a student had shared personal information about their relationship with their parents during a conversation that would have been altered if they had known they were being recorded. This raises important questions about consent and surveillance in educational settings, where privacy must be respected to foster a safe and inclusive learning environment.

UNC has acknowledged the situation and clarified that there is no formal policy on filming classes but that they adhere to applicable laws. This incident has sparked discussions about privacy and trust within educational settings, highlighting the need for clear policies and guidelines on surveillance in classrooms.

Overall, this situation underscores the importance of respecting student privacy and maintaining trust in educational settings. It also highlights the need for clear policies and guidelines on surveillance in classrooms to ensure that students feel safe and included in their learning environment.