Title IX Considerations for Parents at UConn
As a parent, sending your child off to college can be both one of the proudest and most emotional moments in your life. It is more than understandable to want to stay involved in your child’s life even while they are away at school. However, it is also important to recognize that under both state and federal law, your college-aged child is a legal adult with rights they could enforce with or without your consent.
In addition, there are certain legal obligations regarding academic privacy that your child’s school cannot and will not violate, including many related to your child’s participation in an ongoing Title IX case. If you have questions about your rights as a parent, a conversation with one of our knowledgeable Title IX attorneys could give you the information you need to fully understand Title IX considerations for parents at UConn.
Will UConn Notify Parents About Title IX Cases Involving Their Kids?
Under Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments, all students at federally funded schools—including colleges such as the University of Connecticut—have a right to be free from all forms of sex-based discrimination within their academic careers. Likewise, federally funded schools have numerous obligations imposed on them to prevent such discrimination from occurring and to address the harm it may cause if it does happen. One of those obligations is to protect the privacy of all complainants and respondents in Title IX cases.
What this means for parents of UConn students who are at least 18 years old is that unless your child signs a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) waiver to waive their right to privacy, UConn may not notify you about any Title IX case your child is involved in. Additionally, unless you and your child sign a FERPA waiver, the school may not provide you with any specific information about case proceedings. Since this is a matter of federal law and not school policy, there is no legal way to remain informed besides the means mentioned above.
Serving as a UConn Student’s Title IX Advisor
If your child does formally allow the University of Connecticut to notify you about their Title IX case and provide information about case proceedings, your child could also choose to name you as their advisor. In this case, you could represent them during a Title IX investigation and help them prepare for the hearing that follows. However, it is vital to understand that your child can only have one advisor. They cannot have both a legal professional and a parent present during case proceedings.
In addition, the role of a Title IX advisor is not analogous to that of a criminal defense attorney. Performing the role effectively typically requires extensive knowledge both of Title IX regulations and of how the specific school overseeing the case tends to handle Title IX proceedings. As a parent of a UConn student, the best way to help your child through a Title IX investigation is usually to support them emotionally and personally from home and to consider hiring a qualified lawyer to appoint as their advisor during their case.
A Qualified Attorney Could Discuss Title IX Considerations for UConn Parents in More Detail
Learning that your child is involved in a Title IX case can be immensely upsetting, regardless of whether they are the complainant, the respondent, or just a witness involved in a fellow student’s case. However, it is important to remember that your role as the parent of someone involved in this sort of proceeding might be smaller than you’d like. Your child ultimately has the most direct control over how they handle their role in a Title IX proceeding.
That said, there are still plenty of Title IX considerations for parents at UConn that are worth discussing in more detail with our seasoned legal professionals. Call Mark Sherman Law today to schedule a confidential consultation, and read over 300 verified reviews left on our Avvo profile by past clients.