The University of South Carolina may notify the parent/legal guardian of a student enrolled on the Columbia campus who is under 21 years of age:

• following a violation of university policy regarding alcohol or other drugs that places the student on housing or conduct probation (official notice that any additional offense may affect the student's ability to live on campus or attend the university), or that results in removal from University Housing or the institution (e.g. housing removal/relocation, suspension, or expulsion).
• following the second violation of university policy regarding alcohol.
• following any incident in which the use of alcohol or drugs has resulted in hospitalization. 
• Notification will come from the Behavioral Intervention Team Chair or designee. 

Notification will occur in writing to the permanent address updated by the student through his/her VIP account.  If parents would like information regarding their student's disciplinary case(s) from the OSC, their student can sign a FERPA – Waiver to Release Information allowing the OSC to release that information. These forms are also available at the OSC office, 901 Sumter St., Suite 201.

If a student meets the legal standard for "independent status" (e.g. for tax purposes), parents will not be notified without the student's express written consent. 

This exception is based on the following provision of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act:

34 CFR 99.31(a)(15)(i) The disclosure is to a parent of a student at an institution of postsecondary education regarding the student's violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the institution, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if-
(A) The institution determines that the student has committed a disciplinary violation with respect to that use or possession; and