Parental Notification

Georgia Southern University is committed to the elimination of alcohol and drug abuse within the University community. The University is concerned with the safety and welfare of its students. The approach to violations of the alcohol and drug policy is designed to be pro-active. While the primary approach in response to alcohol and drug violations is educational, it should be clear that violations of the alcohol and drug policy would also result in disciplinary sanctions imposed by the University.

The Higher Education Reauthorization Act of 1998 (HERA) amended the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to allow institutions of higher education to notify parents or legal guardians of students under the age of 21 the final outcome of an alcohol or drug violation. Therefore, it will be the policy of Georgia Southern University to notify parents or legal guardians of student under 21 years of age the final outcome of an alcohol or drug violation.

POSSIBLE EXCEPTIONS TO THE POLICY

• The parents or legal guardians of students 21 years of age or older on the date of adjudication will not be notified.
• The parents or legal guardians of students under the age of 21 who are financially independent from their parents will not be notified.
• The parents or legal guardians of students under 21 years of age may not be notified in view of various social, religious, or cultural customs and practices, or under extraordinary circumstances. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Office of Student Conduct in consultation with other offices within the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

Georgia Southern University is an open records state. Written request for information under the Open Records Act will be forwarded to the Compliance Officer of the Open Records Act. (Effective Date: Spring Semester 2001)

Last updated: 8/13/2018