Q re: the wisdom behind FERPA

[Anonymous]

We have a son starting college in the fall (large state flagship).

At all the parent orientation sessions this summer, the university staff repeatedly emphasize FERPA again and again. It's as if they live in fear of getting in trouble for violating this statute. I'm new to learning about this statute, but it seems extreme in protecting the privacy of the student. I'm definitely not a helicopter dad in any way, but this law seems kind of like overkill.

As a jaded lawyer, I am kind of asking myself why this statute exists, if the university staff acknowledge that it's not ideal to have such a strict law that only makes the parents aware of things if they are really really bad.

What prompted the enactment of this statute in the first place? And have universities ever questioned the law (and tried to lobby Congress to change it), or do they just live in fear of violating it?

Our laws should have legitimate purposes, and if not, we should try to amend them.

[Anonymous]

You can blame Nixon, I guess: "In the immediate aftermath of Watergate and President Nixon's resignation, the American public had a distrust of government, and there was an urgent outcry for increased transparency. It was out of this public outcry that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act also known as FERPA, was born."

https://study.com/academy/lesson/history-of-the-family-educational-rights-privacy-act-ferpa.html

[Anonymous]

You didn't have my crazy, narcissistic mother, obviously. If I didn't return a phone call on the same day she made it, she called my advisor. If I still didn't respond, she called the Dean of Students office.

[Anonymous]

If they are treated genital warts, do their parents get to know this?

[Anonymous]

Can't you think of scenarios where this law would protect a young person?

Also, are you irritated that staff are aware of and careful about following the law? People are litigious and other love to take to the media or internet to make something into a HUGE deal. Regardless of what you think of the law, it's no surprise that people are concerned with following it.

[Anonymous]

Here is some information about the history of FERPA.

https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/leg-history.html

The short answer to why it was enacted is that it came at a time where there was increasing distrust of government. The law is intended to limit access to student records to protect student privacy. The exceptions allowing disclosure are limited. It also provides for use of student data for research or study, as long as all information is de-identified. FERPA applies to all student educational records, including the records of students under 18, which parents or guardians may access. Once a student turns 18, the student controls access to the educational records. The ultimate consequence for violating FERPA would be a loss of federal funding for an educational institution, so the requirements are taken very seriously.

[Anonymous]

If they are given a prescription for birth control, do their parents get to know this?

If they are given Plan B, do their parents get to know this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they are given a prescription for birth control, do their parents get to know this?

If they are given Plan B, do their parents get to know this?

That's HIPAA not FERPA. Keep your politics out of the college forum please.

As for FERPA, don't most colleges have a procedure where students can grant parents access? Have your kid do that and then you don't have to worry about a silly privacy law.

[Anonymous]

I think you’re more of a helicopter parent than you realize. I’m guessing you’re paying for all or most of college and that’s why you feel entitled?

I graduated from college in the mid-aughts, and I was a true adult. I paid my own tuition and rent with money I made working (attended a very cheap in-state, probably one of the last places in America where this is still possible without major loans or grants). Nothing about college was any of my parents’ business and they certainly had no entitlement to information from the school.

Maybe instead of worrying so much about the fact that FERPA recognizes that your children are adults, you should worry more about the fact that you do not.

And I get it. Since you have the wealth to pay for college, the system puts you in this role of still being “daddy” for check-writing purposes. But if your wealth has, to date, emotionally stunted your children to the point that you really do not believe they are independent and autonomous adults (clearly happens, see the threads about college freshman who don’t even have their own checking accounts) maybe you should ask them to take a gap year and come back when they are truly adults.

[Anonymous]

PP- If by adult you mean someone who can pay for college and everything else by themselves, you are going to be waiting for a long time. Even if my kid saved every dime earned from jobs during high school, he could probably only afford maybe one semester at an in-state school. That's all he'd get. One semester. Your anecdote from yesteryear does not apply now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you’re more of a helicopter parent than you realize. I’m guessing you’re paying for all or most of college and that’s why you feel entitled?

I graduated from college in the mid-aughts, and I was a true adult. I paid my own tuition and rent with money I made working (attended a very cheap in-state, probably one of the last places in America where this is still possible without major loans or grants). Nothing about college was any of my parents’ business and they certainly had no entitlement to information from the school.

Maybe instead of worrying so much about the fact that FERPA recognizes that your children are adults, you should worry more about the fact that you do not.

And I get it. Since you have the wealth to pay for college, the system puts you in this role of still being “daddy” for check-writing purposes. But if your wealth has, to date, emotionally stunted your children to the point that you really do not believe they are independent and autonomous adults (clearly happens, see the threads about college freshman who don’t even have their own checking accounts) maybe you should ask them to take a gap year and come back when they are truly adults.

I don't think you learned much in college. You don't seem to realize that the chip on your shoulder is blocking your view of most kids' college experiences. Most kids have parental help paying for college expenses. It is not unreasonable for a parent to want information about the outcomes related to those expenses. My parents paid 100% of my tuition, room and board, expenses and spending money while I was in college. Of course I would not begrudge them the ability to know how I was doing with that support. When you mature perhaps you'll understand more about things like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a son starting college in the fall (large state flagship).

At all the parent orientation sessions this summer, the university staff repeatedly emphasize FERPA again and again. It's as if they live in fear of getting in trouble for violating this statute. I'm new to learning about this statute, but it seems extreme in protecting the privacy of the student. I'm definitely not a helicopter dad in any way, but this law seems kind of like overkill.

As a jaded lawyer, I am kind of asking myself why this statute exists, if the university staff acknowledge that it's not ideal to have such a strict law that only makes the parents aware of things if they are really really bad.

What prompted the enactment of this statute in the first place? And have universities ever questioned the law (and tried to lobby Congress to change it), or do they just live in fear of violating it?

Our laws should have legitimate purposes, and if not, we should try to amend them.

I agree with you OP that the law goes too far and is too inflexible. It doesn't not reflect the realities of most kids' college experiences. I think it would be an issue worthy of raising with your elected representative. I hadn't thought of doing that until I read your post but now I will bring it up the next time I see any of our congressional representatives at fundraising events or the like.

[Anonymous]

Professor here. No, you should not be choosing your child's courses, checking their grades or telling them what to major in. You don't need to know that your daughter is taking comparative religion or queer studies as she works out her own adult value system if you will feel compelled to block these efforts. And no you shouldn't be "advocating" for your child to have a do over on the final or insisting they didn't plagiarize when they did. The dad who was so insistent that the paper wasn't plagiarized appeared to have written it himself!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Professor here. No, you should not be choosing your child's courses, checking their grades or telling them what to major in. You don't need to know that your daughter is taking comparative religion or queer studies as she works out her own adult value system if you will feel compelled to block these efforts. And no you shouldn't be "advocating" for your child to have a do over on the final or insisting they didn't plagiarize when they did. The dad who was so insistent that the paper wasn't plagiarized appeared to have written it himself!

+1

Perfect examples. Thank you. NP here. Too many insane parents ruin it for the other parents.

Problem is, God forbid something really happen to your kid (not talking grades or STDs) - it would be nice to have that information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Professor here. No, you should not be choosing your child's courses, checking their grades or telling them what to major in. You don't need to know that your daughter is taking comparative religion or queer studies as she works out her own adult value system if you will feel compelled to block these efforts. And no you shouldn't be "advocating" for your child to have a do over on the final or insisting they didn't plagiarize when they did. The dad who was so insistent that the paper wasn't plagiarized appeared to have written it himself!

You are entitled to this opinion when you are ready to pay for my child's education.. Until then, STFU and be happy you have tenure at an overpaid, relaxing job.