Academics

What is FERPA?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal privacy law that gives parents certain protections with regard to their children's education records, such as report cards, transcripts, disciplinary records, contact and family information, and class schedules. As a parent, you have the right to review your child's education records and to request changes under limited circumstances.

There are many ways parents can help their students manage exam stress, including those that not only improve their ability to perform on the tests, but also help them stay healthy in the process.

One of the first things parents can do to help their students through their exams is to make sure they don't wait until the last minute to prepare [link to article on procrastination]. Exam dates are typically set in the class syllabus and provided on the first day of class. Parents can help their student organize a schedule to stay on top of their work, and provide reminders throughout the semester to make sure they don't procrastinate.

Exams are a time when stress levels are higher than usual. Many students feel stressed at exam time - having to revise a lot of information in a short amount of time and add to that not understanding course material can lead to added pressure. Some stress can be positive; helping your student stay motivated and focused. However, too much stress can be hurtful and unhealthy, making your student feel overwhelmed, confused, exhausted and edgy.

External pressures around exams can be huge – and it can be hard to deal with. Things that might help your child manage expectations:

Follow the steps below to assist your student in determining their major:

1. Begin with an examination or self-assessment of their interests. What types of things excite your student? What types of jobs or careers appeal to them? Also, many, if not all, college career centers have a variety of self-tests your student can take to help them answer some of these questions. Pay attention to your student and what they are telling you – to help them make sense of these areas. It will be overwhelming.