Pubdate: Tue, 08 Jan 2008
Source: Saint Cloud Times (MN)
Copyright: 2008 St. Cloud Times
Contact:  http://www.sctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2559
Author: David Unze
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

SCSU SEEKS FLEXIBILITY TO TELL PARENTS

St. Cloud State University is reviewing what  circumstances can allow 
the university to legally  contact parents about their child's behavior.

State law limits university officials' contact with  parents or 
guardians of students to cases in which  there is a health or safety emergency.

Federal law is much less restrictive and allows  institutions to 
notify parents when their child is in  violation of alcohol or drug 
policies, said Mike  Gillilan, interim associate vice president for 
student  life and development.

But the more restrictive state law trumps the federal  law, he said.

He'd like to see more flexibility so university  officials can have 
another option when trying to curb  potentially dangerous behavior by students.

Being able to notify the parents of their child's  underage drinking 
or possession of marijuana would be  "a tool in the tool kit," 
Gillilan said. "This is not  the be all, end all" in the battle to 
reduce high-risk  behaviors, he said.

The university is looking at what types of cases might  fall into the 
"health and safety" exception to the Data  Practices Act and whether 
the university should contact  parents more frequently, Gillilan said.

The university has contacted parents using the health  and safety 
exception when a student gets intoxicated to  the point they require 
medical treatment, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom