By: Ashley Thompson
Published: January 8, 2009
Recently, the Registrar’s Office at Pensacola Junior College has been receiving phone calls from concerned parents trying to obtain information about their child’s classes, and even grades.
However, once a student enters college or any post-secondary school, the right to access information shifts from the parent to the student.
“This rarely makes a parent happy for a number of reasons” said Martha Caughey, PJC’s registrar. “We receive daily calls from parents wishing to know if their children are attending and what kind of grades they are making.”
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, or FERPA, guards students’ information. Certain information may be accessed only by parents wishing to use the information for tax purposes and only once the proper steps are taken. In order for a parent to gain access to their dependent child’s information, they must file an affidavit in person at the college. The affidavit must be notarized and is only valid for one tax year. Once the proper paperwork has been filled out, a student’s classes, grade point average and names of his instructors may be given out, but only in person, not over the phone.
The college is only required to notify a student that someone is trying to access his information if there has been a legal subpoena served to the college for the student’s educational record. In that case, the student will be notified and has 10 days to respond.
FERPA guidelines state that if an institution receives a call regarding a student, only “directory information” may be given out. Directory information includes whether or not a student is currently enrolled (not what classes), dates enrolled and if the student has graduated or not.
Unless it is used to resolve an emergency situation, it would be a violation of FERPA rules to release this information without a student’s permission. If a student wishes, he does have the right to prevent any information from being given out, with the exception of subpoenas and for Internal Revenue Service purposes, simply by filling out a non-disclosure form in the Registrar’s Office.
“Unfortunately, there are instances where students have personal experiences in their lives that make the non-release of information a necessity, and the college respects and honors that need; i.e. a student who is enduring the horrible experience of being stalked or a student who is exiting an abusive relationship.” Caughey said.
These regulations also apply for Veterans Affairs and financial aid information.
Karen Kessler, director of Veterans Affairs and financial aid at PJC said, “We work hard to abide by the regulations so as to protect your privacy and your financial aid records at PJC.”
Oftentimes when adjusting to their children’s leap from high school to college, parents forget to let go a little and give their kids the reins. Parents who smother their college-age children often find that they push them even further away, some school officials say.
One student interviewed, who wished to remain anonymous, said that her mother often tried to keep tabs on her in class and was constantly asking about her grade point average. Parents like this are often called “helicopter parents.”
A national trend, helicopter parents all over are even accompanying their children to job interviews and are actually doing their kids a disservice, according to CNN.
Caughey gives some advice: “I would suggest that the student keep his/her parents up to date with academic progress. I’m not suggesting that the student provide his/her PIN so that a parent can access the (student’s school) record. I suppose my suggestion is very simple: Keep the lines of communication open with your parents and be honest with the information being provided.”