CSU agrees to notify faculty before disclosing personal information

By Emma Gallegos | EdSource

California State University has settled with the faculty union that represents 25,000 faculty members across the 22-campus system, which sued over the disclosure of personal information to the Trump administration.

The suit was filed after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sought the personal contact information and demographic data of all Cal State Los Angeles employees. Cal State L.A. alerted faculty and staff, but the California Faculty Association alleged in its suit that by the time the union was notified, employee data had already been disclosed to federal authorities. The union was particularly concerned about a broader disclosure of personal information under a systemwide federal probe into antisemitism.

Under the settlement agreement, CSU must provide notice to employees as soon as reasonably practicable before complying with any subpoena for employees’ personal information unless notice would be prohibited by law or regulation, according to a statement from the California Faculty Association. That includes name, social security number, physical description, home address, home telephone number, education, financial matters, medical or employment history and statements attributed to the individual.

“We celebrate this settlement as a win that will help prevent workers from being caught off guard by the CSU handing over personal information to federal agencies without the knowledge of the faculty impacted,” said CFA in a statement.

CSU released a statement saying that this agreement “reinforces the CSU’s longstanding commitment to employee privacy, transparency, and compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including lawful subpoenas.”

“We are pleased to have worked closely with the CFA to resolve litigation without further court involvement,” said a statement from CSU. “Both parties have a mutual interest in safeguarding employees’ personal information and providing timely information to those most impacted. We believe this agreement successfully accomplishes both.”