UW Parent & Family Programs | Authorizations, FERPA, and how to support your Husky behind the scenes
Forms, releases, & accounts
Once your student enrolls, the UW communicates directly with them about grades, accounts, and records. It is not a wall. It is a handoff.
Your student can authorize your access in five different places. Here is how each one works, what it gives you, and the right person to call when something needs to move.
FERPA Basics Tuition & Fees Housing & Dining Health & Insurance Counseling Center Connect with PFP
Step one
Start with FERPA
FERPA is the federal law that gives your student control over their education records. Your access depends on their permission, in writing, in five separate systems. Have the conversation early.
Step two
Five places your Husky authorizes you
Tuition billing, housing and dining, medical records, accommodations, and financial aid. Each one is a separate authorization, and each one starts with your student.
Step three
What to do, in what order
Some forms only become available once your student is enrolled. Others depend on housing assignments, course registration, or your student’s age. There is a smart sequence.
The recommended sequence
What to do, in what order
- Tuition release (any time after enrollment). Your student authorizes up to five family members in the Student Database.
- Housing & dining authorization (after housing assignments go out). Your student authorizes up to two family members in MyHFS.
- Medical records authorization (before your Husky’s first Husky Health Center appointment). Your student selects what to share through the medical-records authorization form.
- Insurance walk-through (before move-in). Out-of-state and international families especially. Use the UW Health Insurance Guide as a checklist with your provider.
- Disability Resources for Students (if applicable). Your student completes the Release of Information consent inside their myDRS dashboard.
The five authorizations at a glance
Each one is a separate form, in a separate office, with a different login. Your student fills out the form. You receive an email with instructions when they grant access.
Tuition Billing
Up to 5 family members
Housing & Dining
Up to 2 family members
Medical Records
Husky Health Center
Accommodations
Disability Resources for Students
Financial Aid
Forms & updates
Grades & Progress
No portal. Ask your Husky.
FERPA: what changes when your student enrolls
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that governs the use of, and limits access to, student education records. Once your Husky enrolls at the UW, they have full access to their academic records by logging into their MyUW account. Access for parents and family members is limited or restricted, and each office has its own authorization process.
What that means for grades. There is no parent portal for grades and academic progress. The simplest path is to ask your Husky to share their grades and progress with you directly. They log into MyUW to see them.
For new Husky families
Have the FERPA conversation together
FERPA is not a wall. It is a handoff. Your student stays in control of who sees what, and the sooner you talk through what you both want, the smoother the transition. This is one of the five family checklist items in our admitted-families guide.
Two-factor authentication protects your Husky. UW uses DUO two-factor authentication to protect your student’s personal information, work, and data. DUO defends them and the UW from phishing, identity theft, and stolen passwords. If your Husky asks you for help recovering an account, encourage them to set up DUO and bookmark the recovery instructions.
Paying for tuition & fees
Your student authorizes you in the Student Database. Once they grant access, you receive an email with instructions to view a modified version of their MyUW page and email reminders when online tuition statements are available.
Authorization renews each academic year. Your student needs to refresh your access annually. A reminder in their phone calendar around late August saves a scramble in September.
Authorize tuition access
Your student fills out the Information Release Authorization in the Student Database. They can authorize up to five family members for online, phone, and in-person inquiries.
Make a tuition payment
Once your student completes the release form, you can access their tuition statement and pay through the UW parent and family login.
Tax forms & 1098-T
For statements, payment plans, or 1098-T tax form questions, contact the Office of Student Fiscal Services. Call 206-543-4694.
Paying for housing & dining
Housing and dining authorization is separate from tuition. Your student logs into MyHFS with their NetID and authorizes up to two family members. That access lets you view the account, make changes, and pay.
All housing communications go to your student’s UW email. Authorized family members receive a notification when billing statements are sent, but the original goes to the Husky. Encourage your student to forward important emails or schedule a weekly check-in for the first quarter.
Authorize housing access
Your student logs into MyHFS, opens Authorized Users, and adds up to two family members. Each one receives a confirmation email with login instructions.
Make a housing payment
Once your access is set up, the parents and family payment page is where you review charges and pay housing and dining bills.
Housing & dining questions
For questions about meal plans, billing, or assignments, reach the HFS Student Services office. Call 206-543-4059.
Health forms, records & insurance
Medical authorization is its own world. Your Husky decides what to share, with whom, and how much. Husky Health Center, Disability Resources for Students, and your student’s insurance company each have their own forms.
Authorize medical records
Your Husky can authorize you to access all or specific parts of their Husky Health Center medical record. They can also share health care directives.
Disability Resources for Students
Your Husky completes a Release of Information consent inside their myDRS dashboard so DRS can discuss accommodations with you. They can also request that documentation be sent from a physician or previous institution.
Know your insurance benefits
Out-of-state and international families especially: walk through the UW Health Insurance Guide before move-in. It is a list of questions to ask your provider.
Special case
If your student is under 18 at the start of first year
Minor students need a parent or guardian to provide consent, sign a financial agreement, and acknowledge privacy practices for Husky Health Center care. Three forms, all from Husky Health Center, all completed before your Husky’s first appointment.
Husky Health Center contact
Husky Health Center questions
Husky Health Center is across from the HUB in the center of Seattle campus. Call 206-685-1011 or email hhpccweb@uw.edu.
UW Counseling Center
The UW Counseling Center (UWCC) is a mental health resource for currently enrolled students. UWCC supports adjustment, depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, and a range of other challenges through individual sessions, group support, psychiatry, and free workshops.
Insurance and cost. For counseling, UWCC bills your student’s insurance. Any cost-sharing is aggregated and billed to the Services and Activities Fee, so there is no out-of-pocket cost to your Husky for counseling. For psychiatry services, UWCC bills insurance and your student is responsible for any cost not covered. UWCC still serves enrolled UW students who do not have insurance. Outreach services and workshops are free.
Authorize counseling records
Your Husky can authorize you to access all or specific parts of their counseling record. The same Husky Health Center authorization process applies.
Common insurance questions
Wellbeing maintains a running list of insurance billing questions families have asked, with answers about co-pays, deductibles, and SAF coverage.
Reach the Counseling Center
UWCC is in Schmitz Hall on the Seattle campus. Call 206-543-1240. Make a first-time appointment through the Student Portal.
24/7 mental health support
Husky Helpline
For students who are out of state, in crisis, or who need to talk to someone outside business hours, the Husky Helpline (powered by Telus) connects to a confidential mental health and crisis intervention counselor any time, in multiple languages. Phone, online chat, or app. Encourage your Husky to download the Telus app before move-in.
From inside the US or Canada: call 206-616-7777.
From outside the US or Canada: dial +1 416 380 6578.
For parents & families
Counseling Center resources for parents & families
UWCC maintains a dedicated page for parents and families with practical communication tools. Active-listening tips, examples of what to say when your student fails an exam or loses a friend, and how to time advice so it actually lands. UWCC’s family page also links back to PFP’s Talk with Your Husky resources. Read it before you need it.
Financial aid forms
Financial aid lives in its own portal. Your student submits or updates forms, supplies documentation, and receives award letters through the UW Office of Student Financial Aid.
Office of Student Financial Aid
Submit & update financial aid forms
Verification documents, appeals, special-circumstance requests, and dependency overrides all live on the financial aid forms page. Your student is the account holder. You can help them gather documents and review what is requested, but they submit.
Still have questions?
If you are not sure which office handles your situation, start with us. Parent & Family Programs is the connecting tissue across UW units. We will route you to the right person and stay with you until your question is answered.
Connect with PFP
Email us, follow us on Facebook or Instagram, or fill out the Family Information Form so we can reach you directly.
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