Suggestions for Parents
| My daughter is an
MSU student. How can I help her resolve a conflict?
The Office of the
Ombudsman is a
good place to
start. Simply instruct your daughter to contact us at 353-8830 to
set up an appointment. We will listen to her concerns, help
define the issue or problem, recommend various options that might
resolve the problem or refer her to an appropriate office on campus for
additional help We'll do all of this independently, impartially
and confidentially. Know, too, that we do not serve as advocates
for students--or anyone else at MSU; instead, we advocate for a fair
application of MSU's policies and rules. May I call your office to make sure my son made an appointment with you? As mentioned above,
confidentiality is one of the primary
standards of practice for the Office of the Ombudsman. Therefore,
we will not divulge the names of any individuals who contact us without
their permission. Yes.
The
University must
comply with the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA) and its own student privacy guidelines. This means that
MSU faculty and staff must not divulge any information--other than
directory information--about its students to a third party, including
parents, without the students' written permission. What do I need to know if I intervene on my son's behalf with his permission? First, since the
adoption in
1967 of a
document called Academic Freedom for
Students at Michigan State University, this University has
considered its students as adults. This means that we expect to
deal with your son in resolving his problem. Second, part
of the
broader goal of a college education is learning how to manage one's own
affairs and to speak for one's self. It's an important lesson, so
don't take charge of the problem for your son; instead, insist that he
take the lead. You can provide support and guidance behind the
scenes. Will you meet with me? Yes,
but only if, (a) I have met with the student and (b) the student has
given me written permission. How can I become more familiar with the University? Start with the University's main Web site (www.msu.edu). It will take you to all sorts of information about this University. Note the link to "parents and families." Other good sites for general information about MSU are those of the Office of the Registrar (http://www.reg.msu.edu/) and the Office of the Provost (http://provost.ur.msu.edu/). Questions? Contact the Ombudsman |
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