The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1 - 78

Erika L. Beseler Thompson • Thomas E. Hall • Myron A. Eighmy

notified of their students’ violations.

METHODOLOGY
The researchers collected and analyzed data
regarding the effectiveness of the notification
policy in encouraging communication between
parents and students in situations where students made high-risk decisions to use alcohol
or other drugs. An evaluation research design
was used to assist the researchers in making
decisions about programs or policies based on
research findings; this design is “a systematic
process of collecting and analyzing data about
the quality, effectiveness, merit, or value of
programs, products, or practices” (Gay, Mills,
& Airasian, 2006, p. 17). Evaluation research,
unlike other research that seeks new knowledge or understanding, focuses on making decisions about those programs.
The study was conducted at a mid-sized
public land-grant institution located in the
Upper Midwest, where a parental notification
policy has been in place since 2002. Parental
notification at this institution is accomplished
through a letter sent to the parents of any university student under the age of 21 found to be
responsible for violating institutional policy on
alcohol and other drugs. A parental notification letter is sent for every violation for which
the student is found responsible, beginning
with the student’s first violation. The notification letters originate in the Office of Student
Life for parents of students who live off
campus and the Department of Residence Life
for parents of students who live on campus.
The letters sent from each office have similar
content that includes an overview of the policy
that was violated, educational resources for
parents to use to have a conversation with their
78

student, and contact information for any questions that arise. The following is a sample of
the parental notification letter:
Dear [Parent/Guardian(s) Name(s)],
I am writing to inform you that your son/
daughter [Student’s Name] was recently found
responsible for a violation of [University
Name] policies related to the use, possession,
or distribution of alcohol and/or other
drugs. [Student’s Name] was sanctioned
following an Administrative Hearing held in
accordance with Rights and Responsibilities of
Community: A Code of Student Behavior.
As you may know, Congress amended the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA) in late 1998 to permit colleges and
universities to notify the parents or guardians
of students under the age of 21 about
violations of campus alcohol and/or drug
policies. This exception to FERPA was enacted
because of the detrimental health and safety
consequences associated with underage
drinking. In addition, we also know that there
is a strong association between academic
performance and the illegal/abusive use of
alcohol and other drugs by our students.
We encourage you to participate in this
teachable moment by having a discussion
with your son/daughter about this incident.
Students receive written documentation from
[University] including notice of charges letters,
notice of sanctions letters, and there may also
be other printed records available, depending
upon the type of Code violation. If you would
like additional information, you may find it
helpful to ask your son/daughter to share
these printed materials with you.
When known, a discussion concerning the
student’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) may
be useful. In [State], a person is presumed
intoxicated if their BAC is .08 or greater. Under

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The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1

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