Welcome, Parents!

We understand that you have great expectations for your child’s college experience and expect a valuable return on your investment in his or her education. At Ohio Wesleyan, we are committed to helping your student succeed academically and personally. In four years, he or she will graduate with a degree from one of the top liberal arts universities in America, transformed by a top-notch educational experience.

U.S. News and World Report lists Ohio Wesleyan among the best national liberal arts colleges in the country, and we recently were featured as one of The Princeton Review’s Best 376 Colleges. We are included in the 2012 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges and in Forbes magazine’s list of “America’s Top Colleges.” The Princeton Review also ranks OWU as one of its “Best in the Midwest” colleges and our students are No. 15 on its list of the nation’s “happiest students.”

In short, Ohio Wesleyan is a great place for your student to learn and live in the years ahead; it’s an ideal spot for him or her to grow intellectually and socially, make new and exciting discoveries about the world, and form friendships that last forever.

Here are some resources for parents and families we hope you’ll find helpful:

• OWU's Parents & Families website offers a way to connect with other OWU families.
• OWU's Student Affairs website includes valuable information about student life, student organizations, public safety, residence life, student health, and more.
• Tips for First-Year Parents

Other Informational Websites for Parents & Families

• U.S. Department of Education
• College Parents of America
• Campus Safety

Important information on FERPA and The Clery Act

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 as amended details the access of student records held and maintained by educational institutions. The law further requires that parents or eligible students be notified of the types of records held and officials responsible for such records.

Parents have the right of access, review and challenge for elementary and secondary students (under the age of 18). The student assumes the rights of the parents at age 18 or upon attendance at a postsecondary institution. However, if the student is considered dependent (according to the 1954 Internal Revenue Code), both the student and parents have access rights. A student’s records will be released to parents only after receipt of reasonable proof of dependency.

Pursuant to Section 99.13, students have the right of access to all educational records except those specifically excluded under the amendments to the Privacy Act.

Clery Reporting Information

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses.

The National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (NCHERM) has completed an off-site audit of Ohio Wesleyan University Public Safety’s Clery Act compliance. Ohio Wesleyan University Public Safety is substantially compliant with NCHERM’s assessment criteria for the Clery Act.

NCHERM is an independent organization not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, which is the ultimate arbiter of Clery Act compliance. A NCHERM audit is not a legal guarantee of compliance.

To review the Ohio Wesleyan Annual Clery Report, visit OWU's Department of Public Safety website.