Is it always wrong for parents to contact university on behalf of students?

[stripycats]

Just after some advice as I am sitting on my hands and it is becoming difficult. I also don't want to go into too much detail, but if a student has a bit of an issue with the university (not related to grades/marks awarded, discipline or attendance) and struggle to get a resolution themselves, with emails not being replied to, when, if ever would you get involved. There is a financial element to this dispute, which means it does affect me directly. Would it be wrong for me to get involved?

My DS has illegible handwriting. In the primary school he did manage but it was almost funny - teacher and DS will sit together and try to understand what he has written - DS can’t understand his own handwriting as well. In secondary school after a couple of mock exams, the school wrote to me saying that his work is of questionable value as nobody understands what he has written and would I object to school assessing need for using laptop. I didn’t object of course and received an email that after spending a day with him assessing his needs they recommend using laptop. We supplied that email as proof to university, actually two different universities (bachelor and masters degree) and it was accepted - both unis are quite well known unis in the UK, so I am surprised your uni is being so uncooperative.

a couple of questions.

1. Why are unis not supposed to discuss anything related to the student with a parent or carer by email?
2. How does this work in regard to school once the child is 18?

We are not supposed to discuss anything with a parent by email or on the phone because our legal contract is with the adult child attending the university. Many students do not want their parents involved. Some students are estranged from parents. We have to be v careful not even to acknowledge the student attends our university due to previous cases where an estranged parent is trying to track down a child who is non contact.

We are now allowed to contact parents where a student has supplied details and where there is a concern for their safety or wellbeing.

I can't answer Q2 but would guess that at the point of entry to a sixth form of FE college a YP is usually under 18 and different rules apply. The institution is then acting in loco parentis.

I think in this case an email enquiring about processes and contacts would be reasonable. Not an email trying to deal directly with the problem, more "YP has been trying to resolve X issue but has come up against some barriers. It would be really useful if we could both understand the processes involved, as this is not something they have navigated before. Who would be the best person for them to contact to resolve this as swiftly as possible? What are the usual time frames involved. What happens if the deadline passes after they have been trying to get this sorted out since Y? ... etc"

They won't reply though, as others have said this could be a ploy to find out where the adult child is.

I might reply but in a general sense.

“If your son/daughter is at this university, then the usual advice is for them to contact…”

I wouldn’t not reply at all.

Have read the OPs posts but not everything else so apologies if I’m repeating previous advice. I’d say get your dc to talk to their personal tutor, also to get the union to help support them. You could also email, as others have said it’s not standard procedure but I can understand you wanting to see if it makes a difference….no idea if it will. You could cc your dc into it and it’s not like you’re asking for personal information.

Im a senior lecturer, I’d allow computer use without a specific formal learning plan in case and have done so in the past for cases like this. My university now have stopped doing learning support plans and told lecturers now just to put things in place which a student feels would benefit them without needing anything official stating they need it. Inclusivity is the buzzword.