Yes under certain conditions. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) grants rights to education records in the student attending the university, not the parent. The university may disclose information in the student’s records to parents in the following situations: 1) if the student provides written consent to the university; 2) if the student is a dependent for income tax purposes; 3) if a health or safety emergency involves the student; or 4) if the student is under the age of 21 and has violated a policy or law relating to use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.
If the situation involves a dependent child or the student consents, have the student complete the FERPA form before communicating with the parent. If the dependent child’s parents are divorced, both parents may have access to the student’s records, unless a court order indicates otherwise. In situations involving a health or safety emergency, please contact the Office of General Counsel, the UNCW Police Department or the Student Health Center/Counseling Center in advance of any disclosure to a parent. Generally, the university advocates that rather than talking with parents directly, even with consent of the dependent student, we encourage the parent to obtain education information directly from their child. For information on FERPA, click here. (OGC 7/15/2009)
