College Privacy (1 Viewer)

[Cjw_55106]

Clearly I don’t have the complete story, but just curious as to how/why this is ok? My nephew is a freshman in college. My wife knows he didn’t agree to let his parents see his grades. 

He got caught smoking weed and his parents were notified. I’m wondering why this is legal? He’s 18 and possibly 19 at this point. I have to assume if he wouldn’t agree for them to see his transcripts, he certainly wouldn’t agree to have them called for an issue like this. 

 

[General Malaise]

Have his parents recovered yet from the shock of learning college kids smoke weed or do they still need some time?

 

[Cjw_55106]

Have his parents recovered yet from the shock of learning college kids smoke weed or do they still need some time?

I never said they cared. Either way, smoking on campus grounds is illegal. 

 

[rockaction]

I never said they cared. Either way, smoking on campus grounds is illegal. 

Probably would have gotten notified in real life then. If it's illegal, then it's worthy of notification. Thankfully not from the "officer" that caught them. Usually it's campus safety that catches them, and it's a whole lot better than if an officer did. Campus safety serves a quasi-legal function at university, and it blurs lines, for sure.  

 

[Cjw_55106]

Probably would have gotten notified in real life then. If it's illegal, then it's worthy of notification. Thankfully not from the "officer" that caught them. Usually it's campus safety that catches them, and it's a whole lot better than if an officer did. Campus safety serves a quasi-legal function at university, and it blurs lines, for sure.  

My question is why? In real life, they wouldn’t call your parents if you are 18+. 

 

[guru_007]

.

 

[rockaction]

My question is why? In real life, they wouldn’t call your parents if you are 18+. 

Good point. I stand totally corrected.  

 

[rockaction]

College is fantasy land, maybe, and not real life?  It's the indulgence of being between 18 and 23 and not being policed like other people and that leaves it so. We have a prolonged adolescence in our culture because of education and university. But your point still stands. They're 18 and adults. 

 

[-fish-]

Clearly I don’t have the complete story, but just curious as to how/why this is ok? My nephew is a freshman in college. My wife knows he didn’t agree to let his parents see his grades. 

He got caught smoking weed and his parents were notified. I’m wondering why this is legal? He’s 18 and possibly 19 at this point. I have to assume if he wouldn’t agree for them to see his transcripts, he certainly wouldn’t agree to have them called for an issue like this. 

I assume that they co-signed for some sort of financial responsibility for housing or tuition.   Somewhere in that paperwork there would probably be a right to notice about discipline, academic probation, etc.

 

[Thorpe]

I doubt there is anything preventing the college from notifying the parents.  The college doesn't have many options to discipline the student other than expulsion.  Calling the parents is about the worst they can do to a kid.

Also, the kids probably used his parents as emergency contacts, so maybe that is why they were called...

 

[eoMMan]

If his parents are paying for his college and he broke a college rule, I'm totally okay with them being notified. 

 

[Sabertooth]

College is fantasy land, maybe, and not real life?  It's the indulgence of being between 18 and 23 and not being policed like other people and that leaves it so. We have a prolonged adolescence in our culture because of education and university. But your point still stands. They're 18 and adults. 

Some of my best fantasies came true in college.  Don't say that like it's a bad thing.  Real life sucks compared to college life.  

 

[rockaction]

Some of my best fantasies came true in college.  Don't say that like it's a bad thing.  Real life sucks compared to college life.  

Oh, I agree. I even took out a thread on here about it once. It was based on Vampire Weekend and their song "Campus."

I sided with campus life over real life.  

 

[Cjw_55106]

I assume that they co-signed for some sort of financial responsibility for housing or tuition.   Somewhere in that paperwork there would probably be a right to notice about discipline, academic probation, etc.

That’s what I figured and told my wife. That’s when she told me that he specifically didn’t agree to them seeing his grades. 

 

[jvdesigns2002]

I don't know the answer but if I'm not mistaken aren't suicide rates for college students (especially freshmen) pretty high?  My guess is that perhaps there is some sort of waiver that allows them the right to call emergency contacts in case of something occuring that could effect their well being. 

 

[rockaction]

That’s what I figured and told my wife. That’s when she told me that he specifically didn’t agree to them seeing his grades. 

Grades likely wouldn't fall into housing concerns that they signed up for as a landlord/tenant situation that entailed with them committing illegalities on the premises.  

 

[tkrull]

I'd want to know if they're making bad decisions (and I'd want to see the grades too).

 

[NewlyRetired]

While this does not directly relate to this case, FERPA is probably an interesting read.  Here is some interesting info that may or may not be pertinent.

====================

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 was designed to protect the privacy of educational records and to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their educational records.

Once a student turns eighteen, or attends school beyond secondary school, the rights of access to the student’s records transfer to the student.  This means that all academic information regarding your college student goes directly to the student unless the student has given specific, written permission to release that information to someone else.  The exception to this law occurs if parents document in writing that the student is still claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes.

 

[bigbottom]

While this does not directly relate to this case, FERPA is probably an interesting read.  Here is some interesting info that may or may not be pertinent.

====================

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 was designed to protect the privacy of educational records and to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their educational records.

Once a student turns eighteen, or attends school beyond secondary school, the rights of access to the student’s records transfer to the student.  This means that all academic information regarding your college student goes directly to the student unless the student has given specific, written permission to release that information to someone else.  The exception to this law occurs if parents document in writing that the student is still claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes.

I think your post provides the likely answer to the question. A college kid has a statutory right to shield his grades from his parents. Committing a crime does not likely fall under the category of “academic records.”  

 

[Smack Tripper]

they call who signs the checks

I'd also assume there's language regarding notification for code of conduct violations

 

[rascal]

Clearly I don’t have the complete story, but just curious as to how/why this is ok? My nephew is a freshman in college. My wife knows he didn’t agree to let his parents see his grades. 

He got caught smoking weed and his parents were notified. I’m wondering why this is legal? He’s 18 and possibly 19 at this point. I have to assume if he wouldn’t agree for them to see his transcripts, he certainly wouldn’t agree to have them called for an issue like this. 

If they are helping to pay for it they could easily claim they have a right to such knowledge.

 

[Otis]

Seems worth being outraged about. 

 

[Cjw_55106]

Seems worth being outraged about. 

I don’t think anyone is outraged. 

 

[MAC_32]

While this does not directly relate to this case, FERPA is probably an interesting read.  Here is some interesting info that may or may not be pertinent.

====================

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 was designed to protect the privacy of educational records and to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their educational records.

Once a student turns eighteen, or attends school beyond secondary school, the rights of access to the student’s records transfer to the student.  This means that all academic information regarding your college student goes directly to the student unless the student has given specific, written permission to release that information to someone else.  The exception to this law occurs if parents document in writing that the student is still claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes.

It actually does reference this situation. Ferpa doesn't apply for substance issues - non consent disclosures are waived. 

 

[Bossman]

Do the parents have a problem with the school notifying them that their son broke the law on their campus?

Not sure who's having an issue with this. The student? Are you thinking that he should sue the school for character deformation?

What if he stole a laptop? Destroyed school property? Would that be a problem if the school notified the parents?

I'm sure that somewhere in the school policy you will find they have the right to contact the payers of the tuition in these cases ... as well as any scholarship providers.

 

[-fish-]

That’s what I figured and told my wife. That’s when she told me that he specifically didn’t agree to them seeing his grades. 

Seeing grades wouldn't have anything to do with discipline, unless he was on probation.   Smoking weed probably violated his housing contract.

 

[boilerdave]

I didn’t get upset at my kid when I found out she was smoking pot....had she gotten caught doing it would have pissed me off.

And I never would have stood for not being allowed to see her grades...hell I had her student login and PW.

 

[mquinnjr]

Probably would have gotten notified in real life then. If it's illegal, then it's worthy of notification. Thankfully not from the "officer" that caught them. Usually it's campus safety that catches them, and it's a whole lot better than if an officer did. Campus safety serves a quasi-legal function at university, and it blurs lines, for sure.  

Campus security at my college called the police for weed without a warning or heads up to the students. Needless to say, I don't donate and never will when asked.