"but why should the president of a university meet with a student or his family members about whether credits from another university will be accepted at Duke?"
"Both Colin and Reade Seligmann are taking classes this semester at colleges near their homes. However, Duke will not let them transfer more than two courses so they are unable to keep up with their studies while suspended unless they get permission to transfer more. "
Duke would not allow the transfer, and so they had to ask for that permission.
You take a man's name, you take his livelihood.