Parents
A newsletter for parents of Bethel University students
Frequently Asked Questions
Parent Seeks Access to Student Information
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of student educational records. Information about FERPA and Bethel’s Access to Information policies appears in the Student Handbook and Planning Calendar or online at http://www.bethel.edu/registrar/ferpa.
Question: My sophomore student is thinking about changing majors. I suspect her decision is due to some dismal grades. As a parent helping to pay tuition, I feel that I have a right to talk with her advisors about her grades and this costly plan to make significant changes midstream in her college career. Who can I call?
Answer: Such a question deserves a thoughtful reply. College of Arts & Sciences Dean of Students Jim Fereira provided the following response:
“First, I think the best person to talk to is their son or daughter. Issues and situations like this are ideal places to work on the growing adult-to-adult relationship that parents and students need to develop. Parents may also encourage their student to talk to someone at the university about this decision; the student’s advisor would be a good start. Staff members from the Office of Career Services can assess a student’s skills, interests, and strengths to see if the major they are pursuing seems to be a good fit. Discussing direction and interests with student life staff can also help.”
After pursuing these options, if a student discovers that the major isn’t a good match, a change of direction might actually be a wise choice, Fereira says.
Though parents can help in the process, Fereira reminds that the “ultimate goal” should be helping the student find resources that will provide the best information for their decision, and learn to use them on their own.
If a parent wants to talk with someone, not so much about controlling their student’s decision but about how to offer advice or encouragement, Fereira adds, the deans in the Office of Student Life would be glad to connect to them.
“We discourage parents from making direct contacts with college staff and faculty without their student’s knowledge,” says Fereira. This can be a legal violation if parents try to access information without their student’s permission. (See a brief explanation of the FERPA law in the box above.)
“A parent’s best role,” suggests Dean Fereira “may be to offer a listening ear and serve as a wise and careful advisor, keeping their student before the Lord in prayer.”