Consider this:  you have a college freshman that, by all accounts, is having the time of his life.  Despite his or her assurances about B’s and A’s for his semester grades, you begin to wonder if so much partying isn’t getting in the way of an education.  You’ve come to the point where you want to see the grades with your own eyes.

Have you heard of FERPA?  The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 provides parents the right to see academic records; however “When a student turns 18 years old or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, all rights afforded to parents under FERPA transfer to the student.”

Which means that you can’t see those records unless your child authorizes you to do so.

Now, most colleges have a standard form that your student can sign authorizing you to view their academic records.  With a little arm-twisting and power of the purse strings, most families are able to acquire access. 

Likewise, make sure your student completes the HIPAA form  (The Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act) authorizing you access to health information.  This is an easy thing to forget about until you might need it. so get that form on file during freshman year.

According to the US Department of Education “Balancing Student Privacy and School Safety:  A guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act for Colleges and Universities” disclosure to parents is allowable without the student’s consent, under certain circumstances, for example:

      Schools may disclose education records to parents if the student is a dependent for income tax purposes. (This pretty much takes care of the problem for most families.)
   
      Schools may disclose education records to parents if a health or safety emergency involves their son or daughter.
   
      Schools may inform parents if the student who is under age 21 has violated any law or its policy concerning the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.
   
      A school official may generally share with a parent information that is based on that official’s personal knowledge or observation of the student.

You’ve probably noticed that FERPA does not require the University/College to notify you of a health or safety emergency; it simply states that they “may” do so.   

What does this mean?  If your child experiences serious depression and/or stops attending classes, is anyone going to notice?  If they do, will someone tell you?  If your child becomes seriously ill, will the school call you?  These are good questions to ask and it is important to know how your son or daughter’s school interprets FERPA and what policies and protocols the school has in place regarding your student’s safety and health.

Stay Connected With Your College Student

While you have no control over what your child’s college will or won’t do regarding your student’s safety and health, there are some simple things you can do to stay connected.  Here are a few suggestions:

Get Contacts:  Make sure you have the cell number of a roommate or other student who lives nearby.  Make and keep a promise not to call that person unless there is a true emergency.  It is a good idea to have the name of the resident advisor (RA) for your child’s dorm too.

If possible, get the email address of the parent of one or two of your student’s friends, as they could be useful to you if you become concerned.

Once your student moves off-campus, it is especially important that you have a number or two of someone to call in the event you can’t locate your child.

Stay in touch:  This can sometimes be easier said than done.  You may have a child who has never been one to check in, hates to chat on the cell phone or in general is just not the chatty type.  See if you can get him to IM you occasionally or send a quick email, as a favor to you just so you won’t worry. Isolation just isn’t healthy.

Keep the lines open: If you son or daughter doesn’t talk to you, have your spouse call, or have his favorite aunt or uncle, his brother or sister send a text or an email.  During these rapid-growth years, sometimes your student may feel more or less connected to one parent than he used to.

Maintain Regular Visits:  Especially during the first two years, try to maintain a regular schedule of visits, with either you going to campus or bringing him or her home.  While this can be costly, it can also be critical for some students and it should be considered part of the college budget. 

Even the most gregarious and academically-successful student will have times when it is all just a little too much.  Having that direct line to someone who cares and someone who really knows him can help ease the way.

For more information, visit ”(http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/brochures/postsec.html

You may also be interested in “Parenting by Cell Phone.”
http://www.quazen.com/Kids-and-Teens/College-Life/A-Parents-Guide-to-College–Parenting-by-Cell-Phone.719187