Your Childhood video

Who were you at 18? What were the central pieces of your life at age 18?

The Millennials "Millennials refers to a specific cohort of individuals born, roughly, between "Millennials are primarily children of Baby Boomers, though some are children of the older Gen X adults. A central characteristic of what defines "Millennials is that they have no memory of the Cold War, just as Generation X has no memory of the Vietnam War and the Baby Boomers have no memory of World War II.

Characteristics of a Millennial Student Greater sophistication More informed but less disciplined Greater group socialization High levels of stress and pressure Cutting edge of technology

Common Beliefs and Behaviors Special Sheltered Confident Achieving Pressured Team-Oriented Conventional

Political Views Disenchanted with politics and nations social institutions Bifurcated in political attitudes Liberal in social attitudes Socially conscious and active Consumer oriented Local community focused video

Academic Preparation Weak in basic skills Learn best in ways different from how they are taught Pragmatic Career oriented

Personal Attributes Sexually active yet socially isolated Heavy users of alcohol Hardworking Frightened, tired, and want security Demand change Diverse and divided

The Entitlement Generation Shockingly high expectations for salary, job flexibility and duties Mismatch between expectations and reality Raised on extensive praise and expect it Will share sensitive or private information Need to know WHY something needs to happen and make things task oriented Will work well with others from a different background Formality of Mr. and Mrs. and cleaning up are sometimes lost on them Need to learn what theyre good at and what theyre not –Not motivated by feelings of duty

Developmental issues students will face Social integration (Chickering and Reisser, 1993) Developing competence Managing emotions Moving through autonomy to interdependence Establishing identity Developing mature relationships Developing purpose Developing integrity

Parent Types Helicopter (hovering and always fixing) Lawnmower (mowing everyone down) Bulldozer (destroying everything in its path) Blackhawk (extreme helicopter) Blue Angel Parent (zooming in unexpectantly) Velcro (attached)

Parent Types Stealth (secretly hovering from a distance) Stroller (not letting child walk alone) Psycho In-Denial (not my perfect angel) Lion Parent (roaring and devouring) Mosquito (always poking around and irritating people) Partner

What level of involvement is appropriate, healthy, and helpful? The 90/10 balance90 percent of life is great, its the 10 percent that we learn from. 24 hour rule…act on something if it is still an issue 24 hours later. Some Points to Ponder

Facing a challenging professor will help your student gain life skills to manage a difficult boss Managing an uncomfortable situation with classmates will help your student learn to work with peers and co- workers Roommate issues can help your student learn to live with a partner or spouse Dealing with bureaucracy helps your student develop independence and leadership skills Allowing your child to be uncomfortable

First Year Timeline - Summer Parents ? Residential *Packing *Roommate(s) – August 9th Commuters *Where to park *Connecting to campus *Spending time between classes All *Classes *College vs. hs? *Whos in charge? *Preparation *Friends *Meal Plan *OneCard Towson Pre-orientation Orientation Transition Retention

OneCard The OneCard is the students all-access pass to Towson University The OneCard acts as… o Students ID card o Holds meal plan o Holds dining and retail points o Access to residence hall Retail points o plcp plcp Important website o

Meal Plans Two types of Meal Plans o Flex Plans: Offered to residents or commuter students. Meals will NOT carry over from week to week. Meal plan will reset on Thursday nights. o Block Plans: Offered to commuter students. Meals carry over from week to week throughout the semester. Dining Points o Dining points are used to cover the extra balance after a meal is used. o Dining points can be added to meal plan via the OneCard website. Important website o

Parking Residential Permit o Limited number of permits, only for West Village garage Commuter Permit o Towson Center and West Village garage until 3 pm on weekdays, evening permits in Commuter or overflow areas Conditions o Must be registered for classes and have housing assignment (if applicable) before purchasing parking permit Cost o Full year: $303 o Per term: $174 Important website o

Textbooks Purchasing o University Store o Online or off-campus stores o Get receipts! Book rental program o Pay one flat fee per book for the semester then the book is returned to the bookstore at the end of the term Used Books o Used books are available to buy at the University Store Important websites o Search for University Storewww.towson.edu

Academic Advising First Semester Schedule o Students first semester schedule is based on the Academic Interest Form they complete before coming to campus. o FTP students schedules are created by the program coordinators. o ORIE 305 (not on FTP schedules) is a non-credit baring course hold for a time when advisors can meet with students. Advisor o All students assigned a First Year Experience (FYE) Advisors. All students are required to meet with their academic advisor at least three times a semester, including an advising meeting to discuss and learn how to register for Spring classes. Important website o

First Year Timeline – August/September Adjustments –Academic (actually have to study, less graded assignments, test anxiety, uncertainties) –New and unfamiliar people –Social life –Sharing a room –Long distance relationships –This is college? (disenchantment or elation) Homesickness and feelings of insecurity vary –Can be overwhelming –Intense at times –Fades over time

Scenario #1 You begin a casual phone conversation with your son/daughter about how things are going with classes. You hear that classes are difficult but manageable, and that it is taking some adjusting to get used to the expectations of TUs faculty members. How do you feel? What, if anything, can you do?

Scenario #2 Hmmm…you have call and texted your student a few times today (okay, maybe more than a few) and havent heard back yet. You are beginning to become worried but you also dont want to be a helicopter parent. What, if anything, can you do?

Scenario #3 Your son/daughter texts you this. What do you do? It just seems like everyone here has frnds. i dont. What do you mean? Ppl eat together, i eat in my room… i tried going to bsu but its not me Whats bsu? Why isnt it for you?

First Year Timeline – October/November Academic transition –Time management, procrastination, more demanding than expected –Anticipate stress around mid-term exams and grades –Some might feel a sense of loss and failure associated with grades, others will think (or try to make it look like) things are easy Social transition –Social pressures around drinking, dating, sexual activity –Roommate conflicts may begin or intensify Expect –Colds and sickness more likely –Depression and anxiety can increase

Scenario #4 You are talking to your son/daughter on the phone and he/she comments about going to a party over the weekend. He/she then goes on to say that he/she is surprised at the amount of alcohol on campus and the number of students who are drinking. How do you feel? What, if anything, can you do?

Scenario #5 Your student calls home late on a Friday night and tells you he/she is not feeling well and that the health center is closed. How do you feel and what, if anything, can you do?

F irst Year Timeline – December/January Academic Transition –Final exams – cramming and extra efforts to secure desired grades. –Time management pressures - balancing academic demands and extracurricular responsibilities –Some wonder if their major is right for them. Social Transition –Relationships changing with high school friends Expect –Excitement builds for winter break and family time –Students worry about what it will be like back home for break –Stress associated with the new semester may appear.

Scenario #6 Your son/daughter shares his/her first-term grades with you and he/she has received a D and a C, as well as a couple of Bs. These grades are lower than he/she has ever received in high school. When you ask him/her about the grades, the response is that they will improve over the next term. How do you feel? What, if anything, can you do?

First Year Timeline – February/ March Academic Transition –Pressure to keep up with school work –Worry about mid-term exams and mid-term grades –Anticipation for spring break –Questions about the fall semesterclass schedules, confirming major, Social Transition –Applications for many student organizations or leadership roles –May over-commit to student activities –Anxiety over relationships or lack thereof Expect –Desire to talk about living options for next semester –Beginning to plan for summer jobs or internships

Scenario #7 Your son/daughter asks for additional money to go out with friends. This is the third time he/she has asked for money since the beginning of the semester and it is not even midterms yet? What do you do?

First Year Timeline – April/May Academic Transition –Stress and fatigue, lack of focus (Spring fever) –Academic pressure builds as finals near, followed by relief and desire to sleep forever! –Pre-enrollment for the fall Social Transition –End of year banquets and student organization activities Expect –Concern builds over parents reaction to grades and moving home –If starting summer school, concerned about not taking a break –If starting a new job, concerned about learning the expectations

Scenario #8 Your son/daughter got along great with his/her roommate during the first semester but now the honeymoon is over. The roommate is borrowing clothes without asking, leaving the room unlocked, playing music too loud and eating your son/daughters Pop Tarts. How do you feel? What, if anything, can you do?

Trying to think of a new metaphor for my ideal style of parenting, I decided I want to be one of those guys on the landing strips at the airport, with the flags… After much unproductive googling, I contacted my air traffic controller cousin and this is what he wrote back: That position is called a Ramp Agent. The code I have developed with my own daughter is this: If I havent heard from her in a few days, or if I just have an ache for her, I will send her a text that says, Say hi. She will respond with those two letters and it is astounding, really, how much better I feel. Parenting Secrets of a College Professor

The only reason we panic when we havent heard from our child for three days is because we can, and often do, hear from him or her nearly constantly. But learning to respect boundaries is part of this process, and we have to do it, even when technology has erased the lines. This is the same moderation and balance we want our kids to learn as they navigate the bumpy freedoms of adulthood. Just because you have access to all the alcohol you can drink doesnt mean you should. Just because you can shut off your alarm and roll over without any immediate ramifications doesnt mean you should. Thats the lesson we parents have to learn. Just because we can peek in on our children, doesnt mean that we should. Just because you can see that your child has not swiped in at the Dining Center but instead bought $12 worth of snacks at the campus bodega, do you need to know that information? I am going to do my best to stay a ramp agent and try not to helicopter, waving my flags on the tarmac even if sometimes that waving gets frantic. - Kathleen Volk Miller Parenting Secrets of a College Professor

Welcome to Towson Orientation Schedule Saturday 8/24Sunday 8/25 -Move-in & Packet Pick-Up (9 am – 5 pm)- Skills & Resources -Commuter Celebration (6 pm) -Parent Send-Off (6 pm) Monday8/26Tuesday 8/27 - Academic Transitions- Exploration of campus and Towson

Lisa Reagle Director of New Student Programs (410) OR Dr. Teri Hall Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Campus Life (410) And colleagues Presented by