Cambridge university
Despite having computers, all admin is done on paper forms. Taken by me to various people's offices. Despite having a university network, my college couldn't work out who to invoice my fees to or even work out which department I was in. The department, which had they bothered to look it up, they would have realised is holding all my funding and just waiting for them to ask for money for my fees. Nowhere in the university takes card, everything has to be paid for either by cheque or by cash. Argh!
(Petite chien is going to do science to it, Wed 10 Nov 2010, 22:01, 6 replies)

if you keep your files on paper
no data protection act...

Not as stupid as it seems, I suggest.
(pounana Slept well, and dreamed of large women, on, Wed 10 Nov 2010, 23:17, closed)

Nope.
Data protection act applies to paper too - sometimes.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/29/section/1#commentary-c1818424 - section 1c:

“data” means information which—
(c)

is recorded as part of a relevant filing system or with the intention that it should form part of a relevant filing system


*

“relevant filing system” means any set of information relating to individuals to the extent that, although the information is not processed by means of equipment operating automatically in response to instructions given for that purpose, the set is structured, either by reference to individuals or by reference to criteria relating to individuals, in such a way that specific information relating to a particular individual is readily accessible.


So - if you have a huge pile of boxes of info, unsorted, and it's gonna take you a week to find it, it's not covered.

If however you can pull an individuals file by name, phone-number, or some other identifier, it is - even if it's paper.
(there are some exemptions for public bodies)

I think this changed ~2005
(speedevil, Thu 11 Nov 2010, 2:06, closed)

This is why we have to cut funding to universities
to stop this senseless waste of taxpayer dollars.

what do you mean Oxbridge is exempt from the budget cuts
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Thu 11 Nov 2010, 8:21, closed)

best throw a fire extinguisher off the roof of a tower then

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 11 Nov 2010, 9:31, closed)

I'm a PhD student
someone else is paying my fees :p
(Petite chien is going to do science to it, Thu 11 Nov 2010, 9:49, closed)

Needs more rioting.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 11 Nov 2010, 9:55, closed)