<p>D2 is currently playing a sport at a DI university but is thinking of a possible transfer for next year. Most of the transfer apps require a form that needs to be filled out by Dean of Students indicating that student is in good standing. Will the Dean's office keep this info confidential or can the Dean's office pass this info on to the athletic dept/coach? D does not want to ask for a release to contact other coaches at this time and has not really made up her mind about the transfer. Any rules/laws on the confidentaility?</p>
<p>Anyone have info???</p>
<p>I’m not at all someone who can give “legal” advice, but here are some thoughts for you to consider. First, was your D recruited? That may hinder her from breaking a commitment. Next, is she attending a school where she can make an appt w/ the Dean of Students to talk about this? He/She might not know your D, and so it helps to get her perspective. It’s often difficult for them to write such a letter w/out speaking to those who know her. The information is usually construed from her transcript and any professors/department heads who have worked w/ your child. It’s generally a standard “release” form, and used by the next school to ensure your D is “okay” (all debts are clear, courses are finished, etc.). If there’s a problem, the new school needs to know about it before accepting her.</p>
<p>Thanks limabeans…have seen the form and all is ok…Dean really just needs to check things off, no letter. Yes, D was a recruited athlete and is on scholarship. According to NCAA rules she can apply anywhere she wants for transfer. She only needs to notify the coach when amd if she wants to talk with other coaches about playing for them. What I want to know is the DOS office held to a confidentiality about the POSSIBLE transfer or will they pass this info on.</p>
<p>The privacy of her academic records are covered by FERPA. Again I am not a lawyer but I would think that any conversations she had would be covered as well. This should include information that includes transcript requests or other information. In other words the registrars office should not be calling the coach if your daughter requests transcripts to be sent out or the form concerning good standing. The Dean should not be calling the coach if your daughter had a conversation with him.
If not illegal it would certainly be unethical. </p>
<p>Perhaps you can make an <em>anonymous</em> call to the dean yourself and pose it hypothetically.</p>
<p>I’d suggest waiting until after the season. While rules may be in place, word could leak back to the team. I have seen this happen in other sports and the result is that the player is benched for the rest of the season. I seem to recall that your daughter is in a fall sport - and most transfer apps are not due until January.</p>
<p>I agree with scualum. My son’s friend was considering a transfer her freshman year. It got back to the coach. The coach approached her and asked her point blank if she was willing to commit to be a part of the team the next year. She stammered and said she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. She did not play another minute of the season. Of course that cemented the deal. The sad part was that even though she did not dislike the school or the academics she felt she could not stay if she was not on the team. Her entire social life revolved around her teammates and the guys on the men’s team.Part of the decision to leave also might have been that financially she would not have been able to stay at the school without the athletic scholarship. The sad part was this girl had committed to this school way back at the beginning of her jr year.
There is really no rush to get the dean’s letter yet. Have her make a list of the schools she is considering and make notes of when applications are due. My oldest is planning a transfer and her earliest due date is Feb 1st.</p>
<p>Thanks all. She is not planning on asking for the form and transcript until January…waiting for semester grades. Sport will be over by then but practices still happening. The school she is most interested in at this time has rolling admissions that started October 1st.</p>