Should UM Tell Parents About Kids' Underage Drinking?

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A new University of Michigan pilot program will allow the school to contact the parents of students younger than 21 years old who violate certain alcohol and drug policies.

The health and wellness program, which begins this fall, will focus on first-year students because they are part of the student body that are most at risk, according to a release about the initiative on the UM website.

»RELATED: Check Out the Full Release on University of Michigan’s New Pilot Program

The criteria the university will follow when it comes to contacting parents is as follows:

• the alcohol and/or drug violation also comes with other factors, such as medical attention, significant property damage or driving under the influence.
• it’s the students second violation.

Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, students 18 and older must give their consent for universities to give their parents access to their educational records. But the act does allow institutions—but doesn’t require them—to notify parents if students younger than 21 violate school alcohol and drug policies.

»YOUR TURN: Should the University of Michigan contact parents after students violate alcohol and drug policies? Does it matter that the students are no longer minors, even if they’re still under drinking age? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.