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Do I have a right to access my child's records?
Unless granted
access by the student, at the post-secondary level
parents have no inherent right to access or inspect their son's
or daughter's education records. The right of access is
limited solely to the student.
However, SMU understands that many undergraduate students want
to allow their parents access to all or some of their education
records and now students have the ability to provide their
consent for access to their records by using the
Release of Education Records
feature in the self-service component of Access.SMU.
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Why is it that I had access to my child’s high
school records, but now I do not have the same access to records
maintained by the university?
Under FERPA, the
access rights that parents and legal guardians had in the
elementary and secondary school settings are transferred to the
student once a student starts attending any
post-secondary educational institution (regardless of the
student’s age and regardless of who is paying for the student’s
education).
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Can
I see my student’s account and invoice?
Account and invoice are
confidential information part of student’s education records
which is protected under FERPA and cannot be released to
third-party. Students have the ability to provide their consent
for access to their records by using the
Release
of Education Records feature in the self-service component
of Access.SMU. Student also can create other payer account for
parents to pay the account. More information available at
SMU Pay.
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Can you send me a letter certifying that my child is enrolled as
a full-time student at your institution?
Since current enrollment status is considered directory
information the university can release enrollment verification
to parents, unless the student has specifically
requested to restrict the release of his/her directory
information. More detailed information can be obtained at
the Registrar's
Enrollment Verification page.
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Can I request to receive grades and progress
reports?
Progress in a
course, deficiencies in a subject area, final grades, grades on
exams, and other information about academic progress are
examples of the confidential information that makes up part of a
student's education record. This information is protected
under FERPA and parents do not have access to it unless the
student has provided consent to the release of this information.
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Does SMU notify parents if a student is put on
academic probation or is subject to academic dismissal?
No. Information
about grades and academic standing is sent directly to students.
However, a letter of probation or dismissal to a student may
direct the student to a FERPA release form and request that he
or she complete it to allow the appropriate University
representative to speak with a parent. Under some circumstances,
a parent will be notified of a change in a student’s enrollment
status, but in such event, no explanation will be provided.
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How can my student grant me access to his/her education records?
Students have the ability to provide their consent for this
access to their records by using the Release of Education
Records feature in the self-service component of Access.SMU,
SMU’s student information system. Please refer your student to the
Student Instruction
page for detailed instructions on how to grant third party
access.
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If granted access, how do I navigate Access.SMU?
Once release authorization is granted some records are available
on-line through the parents own confidential access to
Access.SMU. Other records are available by contacting the office
holding the records. Please refer to the
Parent Instruction
page for detailed instruction on how to view your student's education
record information.
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What about crisis situations or emergencies?
If non-directory
information is needed to resolve a crisis or emergency
situation, SMU may release that information if it determines it
necessary to protect the health and safety of a student.
However, if personally identifiable information about a student
is needed, then the inquiring party should be referred to the
Dean of Student Life office, 302 Hughes-Trigg Student Center,
214-768-4563 or the
University
Registrar, 101 Blanton Student Services Building, 214-768-3417. Efforts will be made to get
word to the student of the emergency.
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Whom do I contact with questions or concerns?
General questions
may be directed to the
University Registrar
or the Office of Legal
Affairs.
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Where can I find out more information about
FERPA?
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