<p>Lakemom-yes, that is what the law says and that gives colleges an out for talking to parents but you have to realize that most colleges also have their own rules and those rules may, and almost always do, say they won’t talk to parents about anything related to a student’s account without the student, who is a legal adult, signing a form granting them permission to talk to their parents, or whomever. Colleges don’t send those forms home, the student either has to ask for one or they are given to the student in the fall.</p>
<p>Pianomom, as thumper says, it does seem kind of obvious that you could simply ask your son to sign the waiver, and then you’d be able to see what it is you’re looking for. Has he refused to sign?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Note permits, not requires. Every college and university that I know of has its own privacy policy which prohibits the non-consented release of such information.</p>
<p>Yes, that is what I have noticed as well.
I just have D give me her passwords and user names.</p>
<p>Emerald, I know others who also have their kids usernames/passwords for their college portals. I didn’t even think to ask for that (both kids college websites clearly state they should not share this info). BUT both colleges set ME up with my very own username and password for the access my kid signed over. In our case, it was bursar’s office only. The colleges had several levels of releases the kids could sign. Once signed, a parent account was set up.</p>
<p>I’m going to go out on a limb and theorize that the OP is not worried about bursar’s statements or discovering if the kid has an overdue book at the library (or a lost key fine of $20 from the housing office!)</p>
<p>Oh Blossom, we are on the same limb re: the OP. Some of my responses were directed to Lakemom as well. In both cases, the student can sign the needed FERPA release.</p>
<p>Re: changing transcripts…agree with Blossom…this cannot be done after the fact. Re: judicial records…every college has an appeals process for college judicial outcomes. The student would need to avail themselves of that process in terms of any judicial records.</p>
<p>You know, I don,t know that school’s have a central “file” on each student, either. The registrar has the official transcript and related documents (declaration of major/minor), the bursar’s office has financial records, housing office has records of disciplinary actions related to life on campus, health/wellness office has other records–and those are governed by stricter confidentiality laws than FERPA. To collect everything, one would need to make a whole lot of calls. I’m also not sure some of that information would ever need to be released.</p>
<p>Anything regarding student health services is governed by HIPAA.</p>
<p>Although it was never really an issue with our kids, we were clear from the start that it is a condition of our contribution to their tuition/expenses that our children sign the waiver and let H and me see their grades. If they want privacy, that’s fine. But, they’ll need to find a way to pay for school on their own. We also try to motivate them by requiring them to pay (or borrow) a portion of their own tuition based on their grades. We tailor the scale for each child based on the rigor of their courses, so as not to deter them from taking a tougher course load.</p>
<p>I already went through the HIPAA scenario when my son was seen in the health ctr. In order to release info to the parent, the student has to give them permission as well. You might want to arrange for that rather than wait until an urgent situation occurs and you can’t find out what they think is wrong with your student.</p>
<p>Ordinary- the records are in fact linked. You cannot get a transcript released to an employer after graduation if you still owe money- hence my comments about library fines, key deposits, etc. The Registrar will put the records on an admin hold until the Bursar clears the student’s account.</p>
<p>HIPAA releases must be signed with each event in the health center. Unless something has changed, there is NOT a HIPAA form you can sign at the beginning of the year that covers all subsequent issues. Simply put, your college student probably doesn’t care if you have access to the visit when they get a flu shot, but they might want other issues to be private to them only. The exception is in a hospital or ER where the student is unable to speak…they can call next of kin without a release .For parents who really feel they need ready access to all health records, get a medical power of attorney.</p>
<p>Yes, anything related to money is going to be connected, but there are discipline issues, not related to billing, that won’t be on a transcript or sent to the business office.</p>
<p>In this day of computerized records, I don’t think anything needs to be “sent” to the office. Everything’s likely indexed under the student’s SSN or student ID number (except medical records). The days of separate “files” in separate offices are long gone.</p>
<p>At DS’s school he had to sign a HIPAA release so that the health office could share information with the dean’s office; I was impressed at the level of confidentiality maintained between the two divisions in a small school.</p>
<p>For the OP - we have no access to any records and have requested only that our son share with us if he is “in trouble” - receives a warning, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t believe the HIPAA forms are for each event. That would mean that if you wanted to know the date a flu shot was given you would need a form, then if you wanted to check the date they came in with an asthma attack you would need a new form.</p>
<p>I’m on the same page as blossom and thumper. </p>
<p>My experience with HIPPA and my elderly parents is that each provider needs a separate form, and it’s only good for a specified period, a year, I think. It’s a PITA, but also reassuring that our medical records are guarded so zealously.</p>
<p>I’ve never had access to any of D’s records, have not felt the need. We’ve never actually seen one of her report cards, although she usually tells us about it. Our only requirement about grades is, “Don’t lose your scholarship.” I have a feeling that if she were getting into academic trouble, there would be red flags long before report-card time.</p>
<p>I have found out about some minor infractions because the fines showed up on the statement, much to her surprise, I’m sure.</p>
<p>Las, with all due respect, I think that is a little simplistic. Some records may be in “official” file, some may not. IMHO, parent should tell student to pay the fee (or pay for him), sign transcript request, and have official transcript sent to parents. Of course, once parent unseals transcript envelope, it is not valid for grad school, but if there are any issues, it should be reviewed. Student should also be aware he or she will need recommendations, and should think, whatever this issue may be, does he still have 1 or 2 profs in his major that will write a good reccomendatio.</p>
<p>Kay- what records are not in an official file?</p>
<p>I am confused.</p>