You’re writing the tuition checks, but do you know what you’re actually buying? There is a profound shift in control occurring the moment your teen steps onto campus that catches almost every family off guard. Are you ready for the surprise waiting in the fine print?

College is outrageously expensive. And when parents are the ones paying the super-steep bills, they naturally feel they have a right to anything regarding their students. Although this is a common assumption, it isn’t the case at all. Sure, parents may be the ones forking over their hard-earned money, but that doesn’t buy access to everything, nor does it guarantee extras and perks. 

This often comes as a blindside, rude awakening parents experience when trying to communicate with their new college students’ schools, only to learn they must defer to the kids they’ve been raising since birth. Put more bluntly, teens are now in control, even if they aren’t yet mature enough.

You see, new college students have more to deal with than just classes, homework, exams, quizzes, roommates, laundry, cleaning, and maintaining schedules. Since many are 18 years old when they walk onto campus, they are legal adults. And that means a whole other set of challenges, such as dealing with jury duty summonses, which is just one example. 

Because they are now adults in the eyes of the law, they have the same privacy protections, meaning their scholastic, financial, and medical information is completely under their control, even if you, as parents, are the ones footing all the bills. Consequently, colleges are legally prohibited from sharing any academic information, including attendance, grades, standing, and more, as well as financial and health information.

The Legal FERPA & HIPAA “Iron Curtain”

When parents first interact with universities, it’s usually when their kids are still under 18. So, parents get used to being part of the entire process, including financial aid, class schedules, housing, meal plans, Insurance, books and supplies, parking, and a litany of other items. 

However, the day their kids turn 18, this unfettered access abruptly ends because they are legally considered independent adults in the eyes of the university, financial, and healthcare systems, which immediately erect invisible but impenetrable barriers that did not exist the day before. The two areas where this is more apparent than ever are academic performance and medical records:

• Grades and financial records (FERPA). University staff cannot legally discuss your child’s grades, class attendance, academic standing, or even tuition bills with you—even if you are paying 100% of the tuition. Unless your student explicitly signs a FERPA waiver through their portal granting you access, academic advisors and financial office staff will politely decline to talk to you.
• Medical privacy (HIPAA). If your child visits the campus health center or an emergency room, doctors cannot share medical updates or treatment plans with you without a signed HIPAA release and a Healthcare Power of Attorney.

So, here’s a pro tip you can use. Take the time to complete legal waivers (FERPA, HIPAA releases, and Durable Power of Attorney) over the summer before move-in day so you aren’t scrambling in an emergency.

Parents, what have your experiences been, and what would you add?

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