Please note that this transcript was auto-generated. We apologize for any minor errors in spelling or grammar.

[00:00:00] If you’re the parent of an incoming college student, you may have realized that the college sends its communications not to you, but to your student. In fact, there are many things related to your child’s education that you will not have access to unless your child allows it, like grade reports, transcripts, most conduct files, and sometimes crucially for parents, the balance due on the college bill.

That can be jarring for parents, especially since many of them just spent a lot of time listing their own personal information on financial aid forms. But colleges need to do this to comply with ferpa, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which stipulates that students who are 18 and over have sole access to this information.

Parents, if you want to have access to this information to see your student’s grades or view the balance due, talk to your student. Students can waive FERPA restrictions and [00:01:00] grant designated individuals access to their grade reports and transcripts and college bill. In fact, the student can waive FERPA requirements on the common app when applying to colleges.

If they choose not to at that time, they can do so at the college, usually at the student affairs office or registrar’s office or on the college’s website. If your student hasn’t waived FERPA yet, make sure they’re diligent about checking their emails as you don’t wanna miss an important message about deadlines or bill due dates.

Have your student talk to the college with questions. I.