University of Illinois at Chicago Parent Guide
UIC’s Relationship with Students and their Parents & FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- UIC students are capable of managing their affairs including decisions and responsibilities pertaining to academic, financial, and personal issues.
- Students are trusted and afforded privacy. They are expected to act responsibly and are held accountable for their behavior. If they do make mistakes, UIC believes students should be assisted in learning from them.
- To help students in their academic and personal development, a wide range of supporting resources are available.
Because of these principles, our compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and the practical fact that UIC is unable to assess the nature of each student-parent relationship, in most cases the University leaves it to the student to decide whether or when to involve parents.
Most academic and personal difficulties—from violation, to problems with physical and mental health, finances, family discord, roommates and relationships—are resolved without the university involving the parents.
University staff members are available to support students as they work through such issues. Additional information about UIC Student Records Policy can be found online.
The University does recognize, however, that there are unusual situations that may necessitate contact with parents. The vast majority of students handle their new independence with a deep sense of personal responsibility. If, however, a new student faces mental health problems, the University may choose to involve parents.
Recent revisions to the Higher Education Act also allow the University to notify parents of students under the age of 21 who violate laws on the use or possession of alcohol or drugs.
