One of the most significant changes a parent experiences in sending a son or daughter to college, is the difference in privacy standards for educational records at the University. The University of Michigan has a long history and tradition of protecting student privacy. Additionally, the University of Michigan is subject to a federal law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (also called FERPA or the Buckley Amendment) that sets privacy standards for student educational records and requires institutions to publish a compliance statement, including a statement of related institutional policies. The University of Michigan Policies on Student Records are available on-line.

FERPA information is also available from the University’s General Counsel Office as well as the Office of the Registrar.

Frequently Asked Questions about FERPA

Why do I have limited access to my son or daughter's college records especially when I am paying the bills?

How can I find out my student's grades?

Is there a single waiver that my son or daughter can sign so I can have access to all of their records or are there separate waivers for different offices?

How can I make sure the university-related bills are sent to me?

Where can I find out more information about FERPA?

What records does FERPA cover?

Will I be notified if my son or daughter is placed on academic probation?

Will I be notified if my son or daughter is hurt or in danger?

What if my son or daughter is hurt or in danger in a sorority or fraternity house?

What if my son or daughter is in danger off campus?

Will I be informed if my son or daughter is treated at the University Health Service or is seeing a counselor at Counseling and Psychological Services?

How will I know if my son or daughter is subject to University disciplinary action?

I've seen press reports about a new FERPA provision allowing notice to parents when a student violates alcohol or drug laws. What position has the University taken on this new rule?

Q. Why do I have limited access to my son or daughter's college records especially when I am paying the bills?
A. Under FERPA, the access rights that parents and legal guardians had in the elementary and secondary school setting are transferred to students, once a student has turned eighteen, or is attending any post secondary educational institution. Parents can be given access to their son or daughter's records if the student authorizes the permission in writing or in connection with the student's application for or receipt of financial aid.

Q. How can I find out my student's grades?
A. The best approach is to ask your son or daughter directly. Communicating with young adults can be a challenge. They're not always as forthcoming as we would like. The college years, however, are a period of remarkable growth and maturation. The ability and willingness of students to share information and insights usually grows, especially as they acquire the confidence that comes with assuming greater responsibility for their own lives.

Q. Is there a single waiver that my son or daughter can sign so I can have access to all of their records or are there separate waivers for different offices?
A. The University of Michigan does not have a single waiver that a student can sign to give a parent access to their records. In carrying out their assigned responsibilities, many offices at the University of Michigan collect and maintain information about students. Only two offices have records on all students. The Registrar's Office maintains information pertaining to a student's enrollment (registration) and official academic record. The Student Financial Operations Office maintains information about charges assessed and payments made to a student's account. By direction of the Board of Regents, however, each office that maintains student records is required to develop a written statement of its policies and procedures for handling those records; that statement is available in the particular office. In addition, copies of the University's "Policies on Student Records" and the pertinent federal law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), are posted on the bulletin board outside the Registrar's Office (first floor, L.S.A. Building) and are also available in all deans' offices. If you desire access to certain information, we recommend that you ask your son or daughter to provide permission to the office that is handling a particular matter.

Q. How can I make sure the university-related bills are sent to me?
A. The University uses online billing statements; they are not mailed. Students view their statements through Wolverine Access, the U-M student database. Parents can also have access to student account and financial aid information through Wolverine Access, with the student’s consent. First, the student authorizes a parent to have access to selected student information. Then, parents can create a Friend Account in Wolverine Access to access the student account and financial aid information . Information on how students can authorize parents to have access to Wolverine Access is online at wolverineaccess.umich.edu. Information about setting up a Friends Account in Wolverine Access is online at www.itd.umich.edu/itcsdocs/s4316/.

Q. Where can I find out more information about FERPA?
A. FERPA is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education. The Department maintains a FERPA Website (with links to FERPA regulations) at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OM/fpco/ferpa/parents.html

Q. What records does FERPA cover?
A. The privacy protection FERPA gives to students is very broad. With limited exceptions, the FERPA regulations give privacy protection to all students' "education records." Education records are defined as "those records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution." Examples of student records entitled to FERPA privacy protection are grade reports, transcripts, and most disciplinary files. FERPA does not cover counseling or medical records but other policies do. Please see below for further information about different types of records.

Q. Will I be notified if my son or daughter is placed on academic probation?
A. No. Information about grades and academic standing is sent directly to students. You can, of course, ask your child to keep you informed about his academic performance.

Q. Will I be notified if my son or daughter is hurt or in danger?
A. If we learn of an emergency involving one of our students, we will attempt to notify the student's parents, in accordance with our emergency notification policy and procedures. Hospitals and police agencies will also follow their own notification protocols.

Q. What if my son or daughter is hurt or in danger in a sorority or fraternity house?
A. Fraternities and sororities are separate, private residences not under the control or supervision of the university. Students living in fraternity and sorority houses have greater autonomy than students residing in residence halls, especially when the fraternity or sorority is located off campus. These facilities are managed by independent house corporations, which enter into individual lease agreements with students rather than the University. Nonetheless, the fraternity and sorority student officers and facilities managers are instructed to inform University personnel when a health or safety emergency occurs. Often these representatives of the group have already notified family members of the student involved. If the Office of Greek Life staff members are aware of students in life threatening situations and parents have not already been contacted by health or safety personnel, they will make every effort to contact parents at that time.

Q. What if my son or daughter is in danger off campus?
A. Generally, students are not subject to our control or supervision when they live or work off-campus. However, if we learn of an emergency involving one of our students, we will attempt to notify the student's parents, in accordance with our emergency notification policy and procedures. Hospitals and police agencies will also follow their own notification protocols.

Q. Will I be informed if my son or daughter is treated at the University Health Service or is seeing a counselor at Counseling and Psychological Services?
A. Not normally. In addition to FERPA, state laws and professional ethical codes preclude the University from routinely sharing student medical information and counseling records with third parties, including parents, without the student's consent. There are important policy reasons supporting these confidentiality requirements, including the proven therapeutic benefits associated with encouraging students to talk openly and candidly with a physician or counselor-without fear their conversations will be reported to others. Confidentiality, of course, is not absolute. It can be broken (and parents notified, as appropriate) if staff members in the Health or Counseling Centers determine that a student poses an imminent danger to self, or to an identifiable third party.

Q. How will I know if my son or daughter is subject to University disciplinary action?
A. As the family member of a student at the U-M, you may have numerous questions and concerns about the non-academic conflict resolution process. The Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR) administers this process and they have a brochure available for family members designed to provide you with general information about the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities.The OSCR staff is always available to discuss general information about the resolution process, University regulations and related laws. It is important to know that federal law prohibits OSCR staff from releasing any information about a student's involvement in the resolution process without the student's written permission, even to family members. In addition, please note that at the University of Michigan, each school and college has its own policies regarding academic misconduct and those records are kept in those units.

Q. I've seen press reports about a new FERPA provision allowing notice to parents when a student violates alcohol or drug laws. What position has the University taken on this new rule?
A. FERPA regulations authorize - but do not require - disclosure to parents of "the student's violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the institution, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance." The University of Michigan has not changed its privacy policy to permit such disclosure.