Parent and Family Notification

As your student makes the transition to USF, you will notice that the communication between the school and the family may be different from what you may have expected. USF considers the student the primary contact for university communication and may restrict communication from the university to students only. As required by federal and state laws and out of respect for your adult student, the university will limit contact with the parent, guardian, or emergency contact unless the university determines that notification is necessary to protect or safeguard the health, safety, or the wellbeing of the student or others.

Families and students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 and Florida Statute §1002.225 as they prohibit the university from disclosing a student’s educational records to any third party, including a parent, without the written consent of the student.

USF has the discretion to disclose, to any parent or legal guardian of a dependent student (as provided in FERPA) under the age of 21, information about a violation of any federal, state, or local law, or any rule or policy of the institution governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance, if the institution has determined that the student has committed a disciplinary violation with respect to such use or possession.

Students are able to provide consent to waive their privacy by granting permission for third-party access. At USF, there are several different processes students can complete to provide third parties permission to discuss their education records and financial aid. Your student’s right to privacy is ultimately their decision and these processes must be initiated and completed by them. You and your student can learn more about these processes here: usf.edu/student- affairs/parents/documents/student- privacy-family-access.pdf