Dear family and friends of Goucher students,
We hope you enjoyed the holidays and that those of you who had your “newly independent” student at home navigated it successfully! We want to share some of the ways we support students and remind you of the opportunities for and limitations on your involvement as parents and families.
Student Success and Retention Services
The Office of Retention & Student Success collaborates with units across campus to provide leadership to various student-success initiatives. We support the registration process for each semester, advocate for student needs, and coordinate communications so that students know they must complete important tasks (like meeting with their academic advisor or clearing holds).
Keys to Student Success
Collaborative Student Support
A number of key personnel on campus work collaboratively to identify and support students who are experiencing difficulties that impede their success. This work is coordinated through the Care Team and the use of Navigate, a student-success software. In students’ first two semesters at Goucher, parents/guardians who are on their student’s FERPA will be notified by the associate provost for undergraduate studies when the student receives Academic Progress Reports (APRs, which are issued twice each semester) showing that they are at risk in two or more classes. More explanation of FERPA is below.
Policies Regarding Student’s Right to Privacy and Family Engagement
At Goucher, we have a Policy for Student/Parent/Guardian Engagement in Academic Affairs. We respect our students’ agency as young adults and seek to equip them to positively resolve difficulties they encounter here and once they graduate. We understand that traditional-aged students are going through a developmental process in which they are increasingly able to act independently from their parents/caregivers.
For matters related to students’ educational progress, we generally expect that Goucher students—not their parent, guardian, or support system—contact faculty, staff, and administrators. Still, there are circumstances (early in a student’s time at Goucher or when we see a persistent pattern of academic concerns) when the associate provost for undergraduate studies, the associate vice president for student success, or some other member of the Care Team will proactively reach out to a parent/guardian—but only if the student has provided Goucher with written consent to waive their rights to privacy with regards to their educational records. These privacy rights are dictated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Students can, at any time, give permission to disclose educational records to designated persons by completing the FERPA form found in the “links” section of their myGoucher page.
We encourage you to discuss the FERPA policy and these key success tasks with your student as they continue navigating their college experience. Together, we can support their journey toward independence while ensuring they have the resources needed for success.
If students have difficulties contacting a particular office or need additional support, feel free to encourage them to reach out to the Office of Retention & Student Success. Our team is here to assist with navigating campus resources, answering questions, and ensuring students receive the help they need to thrive academically. Students can contact us directly via email at studentsuccess@gt5cheats.com or make an appointment with one of us via Navigate, and we will work with them to connect with the appropriate department or personnel.
Emily Perl, Associate Vice President for Student Success
Alexandra Graves, Director for Student Success