For a life-threatening emergency call 911; for non-emergency illness the student should use campus health resources and tell residential staff if help is needed.
What should my student do if they become seriously sick or injured in the dorm?
Residence staff can help a student connect with support, while UCSC Police/911 handle emergencies. If illness prevents a resident from going to the dining hall, UCSC Dining's Buddy Meal program provides a separate food-access option.
Can I call Housing and ask what is happening with my student's room or roommate problem?
Parents can contact Housing with a concern, but student education-record information is protected. The student should authorize the appropriate release when they want Housing to discuss protected details with a parent.
Can parents access a college student's education records if the student is our tax dependent?
Federal FERPA contains an exception allowing a postsecondary institution to disclose records to a parent of a dependent student for federal tax purposes. The institution may require documentation and may still choose how to exercise the permitted disclosure.
Can UCSC tell parents about an under-21 alcohol or drug violation?
Federal FERPA expressly allows parental disclosure for qualifying alcohol or controlled-substance disciplinary violations involving a student under 21. UCSC's actual notification decision remains subject to university policy and the facts of the case.
Does FERPA still apply if my UC Santa Cruz student is only 17?
Federal FERPA defines the student as the eligible rights-holder once the student attends a postsecondary institution, regardless of whether they have reached age 18. Parents therefore should not assume age 17 gives automatic access to college records.
Can the college contact parents during a serious health or safety emergency?
The federal emergency exception permits disclosure when the institution determines the information is necessary to protect the student or others. This is an exception for genuine emergencies, not a general parent-access rule.
Sources & editorial context
University housing information is organized from the linked sources, with its original review date shown. Rates, deadlines and availability can change; use the applicable academic year and check the source before committing. CollegeHousing.ai is independent of University of California, Santa Cruz.
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Lori Hill, Broker Associate at Compass, is the local real estate contact. Matt Dean, NEXA Lending, NMLS #227603, is the financing contact.