The privacy protection FERPA gives to students is very broad. With limited exceptions, the FERPA regulations give privacy protection to all students’ “education records.” Education records are defined as “those records which contain information directly related to a student and which are maintained by the university or a person acting for the university.” Examples of records entitled to FERPA privacy protection are grade reports, transcripts, and most disciplinary files.

You should ask your student directly. While communicating with young adults can be a challenge, the college years are a period of growth and maturation. The willingness of students to share information usually grows, especially as they acquire the confidence that comes with assuming greater responsibility for their own lives.

U-M does not have a single waiver that students can sign to give families access to their records. Generally, FERPA requires that students provide written consent for their parents to access their education records, and each consent is typically permission for a specific occurrence - not a blanket consent for all education records.

In carrying out their assigned responsibilities, many offices collect and maintain information about students. Only two offices have records on all students. The Registrar’s Office maintains information pertaining to a student’s enrollment (registration) and official academic record. Student Financial Services maintains information about charges assessed and payments made to a student’s account. If you desire access to your student’s information, we recommend that you ask your student to provide permission to the office that is handling a particular matter. The Office of Financial Aid and Student Financial Services, for example, require completion of an electronic authorization form, which authorizes up to four individuals access to student financial aid data. Students can locate the authorization form by visiting the U-M Parent/Family Authorization page on Wolverine Access and inputting the authorized name, email address, and nature of relationship for the individuals they wish to authorize.

Under FERPA, the access rights that parents and legal guardians had in the elementary and secondary school setting are transferred to students once a student has turned eighteen or is attending any post secondary institution. Parents can be given access to their student’s records if the student authorizes the permission in writing.

U-M uses online billing statements. Students view their statements through Wolverine Access, the U-M student database. Parents can access student account and financial aid information through Wolverine Access with the student’s consent. First, the student authorizes a parent to have access to selected student information. Then, parents create a Friend Account to access the information. Information about setting up a Friends Account can be found on the ITS website.

FERPA is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, information on Student Rights and Records are available on the Office of the Registrar website.

No. Information about grades/academic standing is provided directly to students. You can ask your student to keep you informed about academic performance.

If we learn of an emergency involving one of our students, we will attempt to notify the student’s parents in accordance with specific departmental emergency notification policy and procedures. Hospitals and police agencies may also maintain separate emergency contact information. Similarly, other U-M departments or programs may request and maintain emergency contact information for specific purposes, such as University Housing or study abroad programs. Students should update their contact information to facilitate outreach in emergencies.

Fraternities and sororities are separate, private residences that generally are not under the control, ownership, or supervision of the University. Students living in fraternity and sorority houses have greater autonomy than students residing in residence halls, especially because the fraternity or sorority houses are located “off-campus” and are under the police jurisdiction of the Ann Arbor Police Department. Like other off-campus housing options, these facilities are typically managed by independent housing corporations, which enter into individual lease agreements with students rather than the U-M. Nonetheless, the fraternity and sorority student officers and facilities managers are requested to inform U-M staff when a health or safety emergency occurs. Often these representatives of the group have already notified family members of the student involved. If the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life staff members are aware of students in life threatening situations and parents have not already been contacted by health or safety personnel, they will make every effort to contact parents at that time. Students and other university community members may also file a complaint with the Office of Student Conflict Resolution against the students involved in an incident at a sorority or fraternity house which constitutes a violation of the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Generally, students are not subject to the university’s control or supervision while off-campus. However, if we learn of an emergency involving a U-M student, we will attempt to notify the student’s parents in accordance with our emergency notification policy and procedures. Hospitals and police agencies will also follow their own notification protocols.

FERPA regulations authorize – but do not require – disclosure of student records to parents of a student who is claimed as a dependent for federal tax purposes. The University of Michigan’s student record privacy policy does not take the student’s federal tax dependent status into consideration. Generally, student records will only be disclosed to parents when the student provides written permission to do so or when there is a health or safety emergency that warrants such disclosure.

FERPA governs release of and access to student education records. In 1998, Section 952 clarified that institutions of higher education are allowed (but not required) to notify parents if a student under the age of 21 at the time of notification commits a disciplinary violation involving alcohol or a controlled substance. Because of the health and safety risk inherent in alcohol and other drug misuse, the University of Michigan notifies parents/family members when a first year student under age 21 has a serious alcohol or other drug event. Examples may include alcohol-related hospital transport, an arrest for marijuana, or more than one alcohol or drug-related violation of either the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities or the Community Living At Michigan (CLAM). For more information visit the University Health Service website.

By law, the University Health Service (UHS) treatment services are confidential for students 18 and older and emancipated minors.  These students must consent to release of medical information. Parents of minors, however, are entitled to medical information, except for information about contraception, pregnancy testing, sexually transmitted infections, and substance abuse services. UHS clinicians encourage students to talk to parents when appropriate and will contact parents of minors for serious conditions and some procedures. Additionally, UHS clinicians will contact parents of students 18 and older for serious conditions, with student permission.

State laws and professional ethical codes preclude the U-M from sharing student counseling records with third parties, including parents, without the student’s consent. There are important policy reasons supporting these confidentiality requirements, including the proven therapeutic benefits associated with encouraging students to talk openly and candidly with a counselor without fear that their conversations will be reported to others. 

In general, the University does not inform parents of student disciplinary action but regularly encourages students to inform their parents regarding serious infractions. As the family member of a student at the U-M, you may have numerous questions and concerns about the non-academic conflict resolution process. The Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR) administers this process, and they have general information about the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities on their website. Due to FERPA, federal law prohibits OSCR staff from releasing most information about a student’s involvement in the resolution process without the student’s written permission, even to family members. In addition, at U-M each school and college has its own policies regarding academic misconduct and those records are kept in those units.

The university does have a policy regarding communication with parents/family regarding alcohol and other drug misuse. Because of the health and safety risk inherent in alcohol and other drug misuse, U-M will notify parents/family of first-year students under the age of 21:

• If a student has committed an alcohol or other drug violation accompanied by other serious behavior such as needing medical attention, significant property damage or driving under the influence.
• If a student has an incident that resulted in the student being transported to the hospital or jail.
• If a student has had a second alcohol or other drug violation. 

The AOD Parent-Family Communication Program Manager at UHS Wolverine Wellness will contact parents/family in these circumstances. For further information, please visit University Health Service website.