The U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into alleged privacy violations tied to the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement and advised colleges not to use student voting data collected through third parties. The guidance puts institutions and clearinghouses on notice about potential violations of student privacy protections and signals federal scrutiny of research partnerships that handle voter‑related student records. Officials cited concerns around disclosure, consent and appropriate data stewardship; the Education Department named Tufts University and the National Student Clearinghouse in its inquiry. Registrars, institutional research offices and counsel should review vendor contracts, data‑sharing agreements and IRB and FERPA compliance. The advisory raises the stakes for institutions using third‑party platforms for civic engagement research and could prompt policy revisions and tighter oversight of student data practices.