Why is everyone so mad at the colleges for their plans?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am mad at DC's school (NYU) because they do not communicate with parents. At All. I have read about NYU's plans through DCUM, news reports and NYU posts on Facebook. NYU emails the students on their student accounts, which aren't checked regularly becaue students are not in school. Seeding an email to the student's school account does not always work well to get info to the student or the people who are paying. And they have the teh student's regular email account, and the parent's email accounts. The biggest joke was when I read that NYU was studying the NY state guidance on reopening educational institutions, and one of the top goals was to establish good communication with students and parents. It has not been done and complaints about the lack of communication are ignored.

The timing of announcements has been terrible too. DC goes to Tisch in the Film and TV program. The program sent out a message on Thursday July 2 at about 4P, which basically said don't bother coming back because classes will be online as much as possible, and you should use your own equipment (the message actually said phone cameras) for film projects- not ours. Students will not be allowed to use Tisch equipment and TIsch won't be charging the typical fees and insurance for the equipment for fall, but students are expected to pay the full tuition. Then the school was closed for the 3 day July 4 holiday weekend, and no questions were answered until Monday. A big reason to attend a film program is to learn how to use professional equipment. Without the opportunity to use Tisch equipment, it makes no sense to return, or take production classes. So this message was essentially telling Tisch students to stay home, change your plans and change your schedule all of which require interaction with school counselors and staff. You bet I'm mad Tisch made this important announcement and then all staff and counselors disappeared for 3 days.

You need to have your child sign the FERPA waiver (which both of our adult children did, understanding that we were paying full right). Until you do that, NYU will not contact you regarding anything. This is important for all parents to know because colleges (to their own benefit) have decided that adulthood begins at 18 notwithstanding the fact that parents may be paying for everything. Until you do that, you will not be sent any emails and will not be able to advocate on behalf of your child for anything. I'm an SN dad and learned this the hard way. One of my nephews was flunking out of a SLAC in California but the parents - who were footing 75K a year - weren't notified. It was only because the final notice that the child could NOT return to campus which was mailed to the child at the parents' address, did the parents learn that their child had been asked to leave. Under you get your child to sign that, the college has no reason to communicate with you.

This is the standard legal definition of becoming an adult. Colleges did not arbitrarily come up with it on their own, nor out of the blue.

But colleges take advantage of it. And most parents have no idea that they are sending checks in to a college that won't talk to them if there is a legal or medical issue. This is why you must have your children sign the FERPAwaiver. Otherwise, if your kid is caught in some problematic illness, rape, drinking issue, dorm violations, etc. etc. etc. the college will not call you. I WANT TO BE CALLED if my DS or DD have been arrested, are accused of something or hospitalized. Unless you get the FERPA waiver, which we have done for all three kids, you have no voice

Noooo ... it's a demarcation. For legal purposes, they are an adult.

This isn't "taking advantage of it." It's following federal and state legislation. You can lobby to change the law, if you like. Go ahead. You can't rightly criticize universities and colleges for following the laws that they are required to follow.

Develop a better relationship with your kids before they become adults, if you want them to tell you things after they are adults. Set limits on what you will pay for -- limit the amount, and/or require they review their grades with you, or whatever. But they ARE adults. If they are not (because of disability, etc), then you should have already applied for legal guardianship, and this would be moot.

Nope, I'm an education lawyers and about zero of my clients even know about it. The college is under no obligation to talk to you as parent in any situation in which you, as parent, might want to be involved. This makes running a college a lot easier than if parents were dropping in every now and then to check on things. So under current law the parent's input counts for zero once that child reaches 18 but most parents, like N&U mom don't understand this. Just because you are paying bills doesn't not give you entitlement to your child's behavior, problems, medical issues, emails, problems with faculty, failing of courses, arrests, etc. And the colleges very much like it this way. This is what I advise all my SN parents to do - that way when the parent has to intervene because SN kid is in the hospital, etc., the faculty member can't immediately say "I can't talk to you" (although they will try that). Then you call the Office of Student Disabilities and they call the prof and say "Look the kid signed the FERPA waiver - you MUST talk to the parents even tho the child is AWOL".

[Anonymous]

How do you have the child sign the FERPA waiver? Where do you find this?

But, I'm also not sure why the schools can't communicate with the parents about their plans w/o a signed FERPA waiver. This is general information about the school, not specific information about the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am mad at DC's school (NYU) because they do not communicate with parents. At All. I have read about NYU's plans through DCUM, news reports and NYU posts on Facebook. NYU emails the students on their student accounts, which aren't checked regularly becaue students are not in school. Seeding an email to the student's school account does not always work well to get info to the student or the people who are paying. And they have the teh student's regular email account, and the parent's email accounts. The biggest joke was when I read that NYU was studying the NY state guidance on reopening educational institutions, and one of the top goals was to establish good communication with students and parents. It has not been done and complaints about the lack of communication are ignored.

The timing of announcements has been terrible too. DC goes to Tisch in the Film and TV program. The program sent out a message on Thursday July 2 at about 4P, which basically said don't bother coming back because classes will be online as much as possible, and you should use your own equipment (the message actually said phone cameras) for film projects- not ours. Students will not be allowed to use Tisch equipment and TIsch won't be charging the typical fees and insurance for the equipment for fall, but students are expected to pay the full tuition. Then the school was closed for the 3 day July 4 holiday weekend, and no questions were answered until Monday. A big reason to attend a film program is to learn how to use professional equipment. Without the opportunity to use Tisch equipment, it makes no sense to return, or take production classes. So this message was essentially telling Tisch students to stay home, change your plans and change your schedule all of which require interaction with school counselors and staff. You bet I'm mad Tisch made this important announcement and then all staff and counselors disappeared for 3 days.

How do you have the child sign the FERPA waiver? Where do you find this?

But, I'm also not sure why the schools can't communicate with the parents about their plans w/o a signed FERPA waiver. This is general information about the school, not specific information about the students.

Do you mean, can the colleges answer questions from anyone who calls about what their current policy is? They can, if they chose to. Had you called and asked, and they told you it was a secret, except for enrolled students only?

Or do you mean, will they email me about what is available to the adult that is enrolled in the program? No, just like your job would not automatically email your parents or your husband about a change in the workplace policy.

Again, if they are incapable of managing their own affairs, you need legal guardianship, and the question is moot. If they need help, then you can offer that -- but they can refuse. Because they are no longer legally minors. You are also able to put restrictions on how long and how much you will pay, and how much information you require from the young person to keep paying. But that is between you and the young adult, not the university.

[Anonymous]

My DC's has created a Catch-22 for the students and has not been responsive to questions regarding clarification.

[Anonymous]

[reformatted for clarity]

Anonymous wrote:How do you have the child sign the FERPA waiver? Where do you find this?

But, I'm also not sure why the schools can't communicate with the parents about their plans w/o a signed FERPA waiver. This is general information about the school, not specific information about the students.

Do you mean, can the colleges answer questions from anyone who calls about what their current policy is? They can, if they chose to. Had you called and asked, and they told you it was a secret, except for enrolled students only?

Or do you mean, will they email me about what is available to the adult that is enrolled in the program? No, just like your job would not automatically email your parents or your husband about a change in the workplace policy.

Again, if they are incapable of managing their own affairs, you need legal guardianship, and the question is moot. If they need help, then you can offer that -- but they can refuse. Because they are no longer legally minors. You are also able to put restrictions on how long and how much you will pay, and how much information you require from the young person to keep paying. But that is between you and the young adult, not the university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am mad at DC's school (NYU) because they do not communicate with parents. At All. I have read about NYU's plans through DCUM, news reports and NYU posts on Facebook. NYU emails the students on their student accounts, which aren't checked regularly becaue students are not in school. Seeding an email to the student's school account does not always work well to get info to the student or the people who are paying. And they have the teh student's regular email account, and the parent's email accounts. The biggest joke was when I read that NYU was studying the NY state guidance on reopening educational institutions, and one of the top goals was to establish good communication with students and parents. It has not been done and complaints about the lack of communication are ignored.

The timing of announcements has been terrible too. DC goes to Tisch in the Film and TV program. The program sent out a message on Thursday July 2 at about 4P, which basically said don't bother coming back because classes will be online as much as possible, and you should use your own equipment (the message actually said phone cameras) for film projects- not ours. Students will not be allowed to use Tisch equipment and TIsch won't be charging the typical fees and insurance for the equipment for fall, but students are expected to pay the full tuition. Then the school was closed for the 3 day July 4 holiday weekend, and no questions were answered until Monday. A big reason to attend a film program is to learn how to use professional equipment. Without the opportunity to use Tisch equipment, it makes no sense to return, or take production classes. So this message was essentially telling Tisch students to stay home, change your plans and change your schedule all of which require interaction with school counselors and staff. You bet I'm mad Tisch made this important announcement and then all staff and counselors disappeared for 3 days.

You need to have your child sign the FERPA waiver (which both of our adult children did, understanding that we were paying full right). Until you do that, NYU will not contact you regarding anything. This is important for all parents to know because colleges (to their own benefit) have decided that adulthood begins at 18 notwithstanding the fact that parents may be paying for everything. Until you do that, you will not be sent any emails and will not be able to advocate on behalf of your child for anything. I'm an SN dad and learned this the hard way. One of my nephews was flunking out of a SLAC in California but the parents - who were footing 75K a year - weren't notified. It was only because the final notice that the child could NOT return to campus which was mailed to the child at the parents' address, did the parents learn that their child had been asked to leave. Under you get your child to sign that, the college has no reason to communicate with you.

This is the standard legal definition of becoming an adult. Colleges did not arbitrarily come up with it on their own, nor out of the blue.

But colleges take advantage of it. And most parents have no idea that they are sending checks in to a college that won't talk to them if there is a legal or medical issue. This is why you must have your children sign the FERPAwaiver. Otherwise, if your kid is caught in some problematic illness, rape, drinking issue, dorm violations, etc. etc. etc. the college will not call you. I WANT TO BE CALLED if my DS or DD have been arrested, are accused of something or hospitalized. Unless you get the FERPA waiver, which we have done for all three kids, you have no voice

Noooo ... it's a demarcation. For legal purposes, they are an adult.

This isn't "taking advantage of it." It's following federal and state legislation. You can lobby to change the law, if you like. Go ahead. You can't rightly criticize universities and colleges for following the laws that they are required to follow.

Develop a better relationship with your kids before they become adults, if you want them to tell you things after they are adults. Set limits on what you will pay for -- limit the amount, and/or require they review their grades with you, or whatever. But they ARE adults. If they are not (because of disability, etc), then you should have already applied for legal guardianship, and this would be moot.

Nope, I'm an education lawyers and about zero of my clients even know about it. The college is under no obligation to talk to you as parent in any situation in which you, as parent, might want to be involved. This makes running a college a lot easier than if parents were dropping in every now and then to check on things. So under current law the parent's input counts for zero once that child reaches 18 but most parents, like N&U mom don't understand this. Just because you are paying bills doesn't not give you entitlement to your child's behavior, problems, medical issues, emails, problems with faculty, failing of courses, arrests, etc. And the colleges very much like it this way. This is what I advise all my SN parents to do - that way when the parent has to intervene because SN kid is in the hospital, etc., the faculty member can't immediately say "I can't talk to you" (although they will try that). Then you call the Office of Student Disabilities and they call the prof and say "Look the kid signed the FERPA waiver - you MUST talk to the parents even tho the child is AWOL".

Hey, let's be clear -- it's not that they just are not under an obligation, they are not legally permitted to do so (without a waiver). Precision is important, especially in regards the law.

[Anonymous]

Hey, let's be clear -- it's not that they just are not under an obligation, they are not legally permitted to do so (without a waiver). Precision is important, especially in regards the law.

THiS.

The person using “colleges are under no obligation” can’t be an education lawyer because they’d understand the BASIC concept is that schools can not violate this law unless there is a waiver.

They go over this at orientation. Always. I can’t believe people are just throwing their hands up, helpless about finding the waiver. Google it.

[Anonymous]

This law also protects students from abusive parents. There are young people out there who don’t want one parent (or more) to be able to mess around with their student account or course registration. Can’t y’all imagine a couple scenarios where FERPA would be a comfort for a young person?

[Anonymous]

I'm still not buying that FERPA is the reason that colleges can't communicate to parents about what their plans are re COVID and their plans for the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm still not buying that FERPA is the reason that colleges can't communicate to parents about what their plans are re COVID and their plans for the year.

Anyone can call up any college or university and ask about the COVID plans. I can almost guarantee there is a press release (or other standardized reply) that you can get.

But they aren't going to automatically email that to parents without being asked, just like your workplace won't email someone other than you about their policy changes, instead of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm still not buying that FERPA is the reason that colleges can't communicate to parents about what their plans are re COVID and their plans for the year.

What college is refusing to tell you, when you asked?

I just googled several and found their plans online. If you name the college, I will try to find a link for you, or call to see if they will answer the question for an interested third party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm still not buying that FERPA is the reason that colleges can't communicate to parents about what their plans are re COVID and their plans for the year.

I agree. Our DD’s college SCAD sends emails with updates to both DD and myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm still not buying that FERPA is the reason that colleges can't communicate to parents about what their plans are re COVID and their plans for the year.

I agree. Our DD’s college SCAD sends emails with updates to both DD and myself.

It's nice that they went out of their way to include you.

I still think I can find out for PP, if she posts the college. Happy to do it.

[Anonymous]

because people are idiots - entitled, selfish, idiots

to answer your first question, OP

[Anonymous]

To the NYU parent....

First will say my DC IS 17, in CAS, and a rising first year; so this could be the difference in our experiences

I have several emails from NYU... the latest on July 9 “letter to parents from NYU president Hamilton”. Also o do have my DC check the NYU email regularly and give me gist of email because I don’t fully trust my 17yo yo know what is important and/or urgent enough; especially since we parents need to plan hotels, days off, etc.

I Am also different because I actually don’t want school to send me every email. I get enough!
Am also on Facebook group.