Privacy and the College Student
The Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) affects the way colleges can communicate with parents and others. This law, also known as the Buckley Amendment, governs how colleges can share information regarding its students. FERPA prohibits colleges from discussing confidential information about a student, including anything related to grades or disability, without written permission from the student.
Because of this law, your experience as a parent or guardian will be different from the K-12 system, since you most likely expected the high school staff to keep you informed of your son’s or daughter’s progress. At the high school level, the relationship was between the school district and the parents; at the college level, the relationship is between the college and the student. Once your son or daughter enrolls in a post-secondary institution, whether they are 18 years old or not, they become the sole guardian of all records maintained by that institution. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1976 (FERPA), the student has the right to access their own records upon written request. The parent or guardian does not share that right. This means that parents do not have legal access to their student's grades, transcripts, or any information concerning the services they are being provided through Disability Services. This information is confidential.
However, students may sign a written release of information that gives the institution the right to disclose their records to their parents. The only time a student's record may be disclosed without written consent would be to comply with a subpoena, or in an emergency situation where the health and safety of the student or another individual is threatened.
You may witness your student struggling at times, but please try to squelch the urge to "rescue" and allow your son or daughter to resolve issues. You can foster growth and independence by encouraging your son/daughter to talk to his/her professors and use the resources on campus. Because your son or daughter is viewed as an adult by colleges and the law, instructors may decline to talk to parents. FERPA, along with the culture of college campuses, where the student is in charge of their own education, mean that your role as a parent must change. No longer can you directly discuss any and all issues with teachers. Although this can be a difficult transition for you and for your daughter or son, it is a critical step on the road to increased independence. Even for those students who may always need some level of support, it is critical that they learn as much as possible to speak up and advocate for themselves.
