Communication with Parents/Family Regarding Alcohol & Other Drug Harm

About this initiative

The Parent-Family Communication Program notifies the parents/family of first-year students after an incident involving alcohol and other drugs (AOD). The goal of this program is to promote student well-being moving forward from the incident by:

  • Connecting first-year students and their loved ones to AOD and other well-being resources as they transition into the U-M community.
  • Interrupting possible patterns of substance misuse at the beginning of a student’s college journey, hopefully, before they can impact their personal and academic success.
  • Contributing to the university's comprehensive approach to reduce AOD risk and harm.

The University of Michigan deeply values students and parents/family as essential partners in a wide range of health and wellness issues. We know that loved ones are an influential part of a college student’s life. Being part of your student’s support network, especially after an incident like this, can make a big difference in their well-being!

How this communication will occur

U-M will notify parents/families of first-year students under the age of 21:

  • If a student has committed an AOD violation accompanied by other serious behavior such as needing medical attention, significant property damage, or driving under the influence
  • If a student has had an AOD incident that resulted in the student being transported to the hospital or jail
  • If a student has had more than one AOD-related violation of the U-M Alcohol and Other Drug Policy

The AOD Parent-Family Communication Program Manager at Wolverine Wellness will contact parents/families after the student has met with university staff. This contact typically occurs via email. The student will be copied on the letter and receive the email at the same time.

Especially for students

It is our goal to create a culture of health and wellness so that all students can thrive. We encourage all students to keep the lines of communication open with their parents/family to best support their health and wellness on campus. You may want to talk about how you're doing in terms of personal well-being.

AOD-related harm continues to be the top public health issue on campus. For this reason, federal law allows universities to contact parents when students under 21 have alcohol or other drug incidents on campus.

Many universities, including most other Big 10 universities, contact parents/families as one part of a comprehensive program to address alcohol and other drug-related harm.

If you were involved in an AOD policy violation, we encourage you to be proactive in your communication with your loved ones. Want to learn about strategies that have worked for other students when talking with their loved ones? Email the Program Manager at aod-communication@umich.edu.

Especially for parents/family

If you are notified that your student was involved in an AOD-related incident, we offer these suggestions for talking with your student:

  • Ask your student what might be helpful for them. What do they need to be well moving forward from this?
  • Listen. You may learn a lot by listening to what your student has to say.
  • Talk about accountability for the incident. Who will be responsible for paying costs associated with the ambulance and hospital visit, if any?
  • Share facts and resources. You can play a vital role in providing accurate information about AOD and framing next steps.
  • Help your student plan to navigate future situations. What would they do differently next time?
  • Discuss your expectations about AOD. Your feelings, values, and priorities can be influential in shaping your student's future decisions regarding use.
  • Be a good role model.  Your student notices what you do, especially around AOD.

If talking with your student is challenging, consider asking about their personal well-being to help learn about your student's well-being and life on campus.

Email the Program Manager at aod-communication@umich.edu for additional ideas and suggestions that have worked for other parents. 

Regarding privacy

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) governs the release of and access to student education records. Section 952 clarified that institutions of higher education are allowed (but not required) to notify parents if a student under the age of 21 at the time of notification commits a disciplinary violation involving alcohol or a controlled substance. 

Interested in continuing the conversation?

Email the Program Manager at aod-communication@umich.edu.

You can find additional support at: