For Panther Families

Since the first six weeks of college are a high-risk time for first-year students, we encourage you to call or text your student occasionally to keep the lines of communication open. However, you should begin pushing your student toward greater independence and self-sufficiency. Thus, calling or texting more than once a week, “just to check-in,” may be excessive and will not allow them to figure out how to problem solve on their own.

It is also very important to encourage your student to remain on campus the first few weekends of the year, even if they are homesick, as that is the most important time for them to make lasting friendships and develop a productive academic schedule.

Ask questions such as:

• How are you doing? Do you feel like you have a good routine? (i.e. balancing free time and studying)?
• What do you like about your classes? What are you learning in your classes?
• What kind of activities are available? (Early on you can ask about the Fall Welcome events or events in their residence hall or LLC).
• What do you like about living in the residence halls?
• Have you talked with your RA or Student Success Center Peer Mentor yet?
• How are you getting along with your roommate(s) or suitemate(s)?
• How are you meeting people and what are you doing for fun?
• Are you feeling overwhelmed? What is making you feel overwhelmed?
• Are you aware of available resources and how to seek help with any issues you have on campus?
• Besides sending more money, what can we do to help?

For any issue, ask what they have done to address it and encourage them to seek resources themselves before reacting.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232(g); 34 CFR Part 99) is a federal law that protects the privacy of education records. In accordance with FERPA guidelines, University Housing administrators will not share any resident information, other than directory data, with anyone outside the University system. This includes, but is not limited to, resident’s grades, behavioral history and actions, health concerns, current whereabouts, or financial information. Even if a parent or other support system is paying for the cost of education and housing, the student, as the contract holder, is the only one with automatic access to their personal information. Exceptions to this Act, regardless of age, may be made in life-threatening situations. Also, FERPA permits colleges and universities to inform the family of a student under 21 years-of-age when their student has been found in violation of university alcohol or drug rules. Students are allowed to designate what information they permit UWM and University Housing to release, and to whom.

A new way to stay involved with your student and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Access for UWM families sponsored by the UW-Milwaukee Office of Admissions and Family Programs

Although restricted by FERPA, college students are allowed to determine whether third parties (parents, employers, etc.) may access their protected information. UWM provides two primary ways for students to provide third parties with access: PAWS Designate Access and Student Consent Release.

Students may create a Designate Access* account for family members, which would allow their designees to:

• View “To Do” items
• Make a payment
• View financial aid
• View grades
• View billing statements

*Please note, this does not cover housing-specific information.

In addition, students have the ability to allow third parties to request information from campus representatives about academic records (including grades and enrollment), financial information, academic and non-academic misconduct, university housing, and more. This is done through a Student Consent Release form.