Latin, translated "in place of the parents."

In loco parentis is a term used in situations where another individual or agency is acting in place of a parent on behalf of a minor. The term is used in legal settings to assign the rights, duties, and responsibilities of a parent to another person or agency. Alternatively, the term has been used in less formal references to describe the role played by an educational institution, such as a boarding school, college, or university, in supervising minors and young adults.