Parent consent no longer required for off-campus
Katherine Poythress
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
Hillsdale College students must no longer obtain a parent's signature for off-campus housing permission.
Now the deans' offices will send parents a copy of the letter awarding off-campus permission to students as well as a copy of the contract.
Dean of Women Diane Philipp said the contract forms contain some revised language and are "pretty much the same, only parents don't have to sign them now."
Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said the change is insignificant.
The reason for the required parental signatures in the past was to ensure students discussed their living arrangements with their parents in case of potential financial problems with off-campus living, Phillips said.
Now that parents no longer have to sign, the new contract contains a clause stating: "I have consulted my parents about all the financial implications of my living off-campus and signing a lease with a landlord."
Philipp and Petersen said they want students, many of whom sign such agreements for the first time in college, to communicate with their parents about living off-campus to make sure lease agreements are fair.
"There are so many implications to living off-campus," Petersen said, pointing out another clause in the contract that requires students to also discuss their off-campus plans with the director of financial aid to understand the impact off-campus living could have on academic scholarships.
"This is just a little bit of housekeeping so students don't end up in a bad situation," Petersen said.
Philipp said administrators thought it was sufficient to send the forms to the parents to keep them informed rather than requiring their signatures.
She said the revised language aligns with the honor code and the strong communication the school encourages between students and parents.
Junior Jessie Kendro, who moves off campus this fall, said she did not know about the new contracts since she has not received hers yet, but she said she thinks the college should not require parents to sign a contract.
Nevertheless, Kendro said she sees the value of involving one's parents in such a decision.
"I feel like it would be weird if someone didn't talk to their parents [about moving off campus], unless they just had a really bad relationship with their parents," she said.
Petersen said he never had students complain about the required parental signature in the past, but he knows it will relieve some pressure students experienced when trying to mail or fax their forms in time to make the college's deadlines.
Now the deans' offices will send parents a copy of the letter awarding off-campus permission to students as well as a copy of the contract.
Dean of Women Diane Philipp said the contract forms contain some revised language and are "pretty much the same, only parents don't have to sign them now."
Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said the change is insignificant.
The reason for the required parental signatures in the past was to ensure students discussed their living arrangements with their parents in case of potential financial problems with off-campus living, Phillips said.
Now that parents no longer have to sign, the new contract contains a clause stating: "I have consulted my parents about all the financial implications of my living off-campus and signing a lease with a landlord."
Philipp and Petersen said they want students, many of whom sign such agreements for the first time in college, to communicate with their parents about living off-campus to make sure lease agreements are fair.
"There are so many implications to living off-campus," Petersen said, pointing out another clause in the contract that requires students to also discuss their off-campus plans with the director of financial aid to understand the impact off-campus living could have on academic scholarships.
"This is just a little bit of housekeeping so students don't end up in a bad situation," Petersen said.
Philipp said administrators thought it was sufficient to send the forms to the parents to keep them informed rather than requiring their signatures.
She said the revised language aligns with the honor code and the strong communication the school encourages between students and parents.
Junior Jessie Kendro, who moves off campus this fall, said she did not know about the new contracts since she has not received hers yet, but she said she thinks the college should not require parents to sign a contract.
Nevertheless, Kendro said she sees the value of involving one's parents in such a decision.
"I feel like it would be weird if someone didn't talk to their parents [about moving off campus], unless they just had a really bad relationship with their parents," she said.
Petersen said he never had students complain about the required parental signature in the past, but he knows it will relieve some pressure students experienced when trying to mail or fax their forms in time to make the college's deadlines.
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