Parent Resources
MY STUDENT HAS A PENDING CASE. HOW CAN I HELP?
Staff in the Office of Student Judicial Affairs are always happy to speak with you generally about our process to help you understand the University's disciplinary system. However, in order for staff to discuss your student's specific circumstances, your student will need to sign a Release of Information before we can share information contained in your student's education records. For more information about privacy of education records, including student disciplinary records, please refer to "Privacy of Student Disciplinary Records" in the next section.
Parents who wish to better understand the University's disciplinary process are strongly encouraged to read the Student Disciplinary Policies and Procedures. Often times parents (and accused students) can learn many answers to their questions by reviewing this document.
PRIVACY OF STUDENT DISCIPLINARY RECORDS
Student disciplinary records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 ("FERPA," for short). As such, staff members are not permitted to discuss a student's disciplinary record or any specific incident or case without written permission from the student. Students wishing to grant parents or guardians access to their disciplinary records must sign a Release of Information in order to permit a staff member to discuss the student's case with the person(s) named in the release.
CAN I ATTEND MY STUDENT'S DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS?
Please note that student disciplinary proceedings are closed. Therefore, parents are not able to attend or participate in their student's pre-hearings, hearings or appeals unless they are serving in the capacity of the student's adviser. All advisers must be a member of the University community (eligible advisers are current University employees or students). For more information about advisers, please consult pgs. 14 & 18 of the Student Disciplinary Policies & Procedures.
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM YOUR OFFICE STATING MY STUDENT WAS FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THE UNIVERSITY'S ALCOHOL OR DRUG POLICY. WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
FERPA permits University officials to disclose limited information from a student's education records without the student's prior written consent. One example occurs when a student is found in violation of the University's alcohol or other drug policies and the student is under 21 years of age at the time of the disclosure. In such cases, parents or guardians will be notified in writing after the final disposition of the case. Please note: there may be a month or more delay between the student's incident date and the date on which parents or guardians are notified. This delay is due to the time needed to resolve the student's case (which may include a formal hearing and/or appeal). Parents are not generally notified of an alcohol or other drug incident at the time of the incident.
Parents or guardians receiving written notice of their student's violation(s) are encouraged to speak directly with their student to learn more information about the student's involvement in the incident and/or to ask the student to sign a release with Student Judicial Affairs.
Please see the "Additional Resources" section for some talking points to assist you in discussing alcohol and other drugs with your student.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
