Managing Millennial Parents

Introduction of Topic Much research has been shared on the distinctive characteristics of the millennial generation, but college staff have also noted unique characteristics of their parents. Much research has been shared on the distinctive characteristics of the millennial generation, but college staff have also noted unique characteristics of their parents. College staff describe these parents as “helicoptering” in to save the day and advocating before their students have a chance to problem- solve on their own. College staff describe these parents as “helicoptering” in to save the day and advocating before their students have a chance to problem- solve on their own.

The Millennial Generation Millennials, Echo Boomers, Generation Y Millennials, Echo Boomers, Generation Y

Millennial Traits Special Special Sheltered Sheltered Confident Confident Team-Oriented Team-Oriented Achieving Achieving Pressured Pressured Conventional Conventional

Technologically savvy Technologically savvy MTV/short attention span MTV/short attention span – immediate response – can’t think long-range – immediate response – can’t think long-range Over-achieving/over-managed – brought up on Gymboree, soccer, music lessons, play dates – organized group activity Over-achieving/over-managed – brought up on Gymboree, soccer, music lessons, play dates – organized group activity Team players/teamwork/fitting in Team players/teamwork/fitting in Rewarded for participation, not achievement Rewarded for participation, not achievement

Aim to please Aim to please Diverse and tolerant Diverse and tolerant Lower rates of violent crime, alcohol and tobacco use and teen pregnancy Lower rates of violent crime, alcohol and tobacco use and teen pregnancy Trusting Trusting Word of mouth/reputation key Word of mouth/reputation key Protected/coddled/valued Protected/coddled/valued Optimism locally/pessimism nationally Optimism locally/pessimism nationally High expectation of authority/institutions High expectation of authority/institutions

Millennial Parents “Boomer” or “Gen X” generation “Boomer” or “Gen X” generation Older, more affluent when having children Older, more affluent when having children Pessimists Pessimists “Attachment parenting” - Over- protective/concerned with physical and moral safety “Attachment parenting” - Over- protective/concerned with physical and moral safety Helicoptering/hovering Helicoptering/hovering Soccer moms, hockey dads Soccer moms, hockey dads IEP advocates IEP advocates

As Parents of College Students Consumer mentality/price of higher ed vs. value Consumer mentality/price of higher ed vs. value Expectation of “in loco parentis” Expectation of “in loco parentis” Enlisting the “team” of advocates Enlisting the “team” of advocates Propensity to threaten legal action Propensity to threaten legal action “Susie doesn’t know I’m calling but…” “Susie doesn’t know I’m calling but…” Constant contact through cell phones Constant contact through cell phones Expectation of immediate, 24/7 administrative response Expectation of immediate, 24/7 administrative response Cleary Act and concerns with campus safety Cleary Act and concerns with campus safety

Parent Management Themes Safety Safety Responsibility Responsibility Empowerment Empowerment Employability Employability

Parents of Millennial College Students Born: 1943 – 1960 Born: 1943 – 1960 Nearly 75 million - “Baby Boomer” Nearly 75 million - “Baby Boomer” Formative Years: 1953 – 1978 Formative Years: 1953 – 1978 Came of age during the consciousness awakening of the 60’s and 70’s Came of age during the consciousness awakening of the 60’s and 70’s Idealists Idealists “Prophets” “Prophets”

Parents of Millennial College Students Reflect self-indulgence and an inward focus Reflect self-indulgence and an inward focus The most visible generation The most visible generation of the century of the century Experienced college as a Experienced college as a protest era protest era Their parents were not Their parents were not present on campus present on campus

‘In loco parentis’ “It is strange that the generation who, in their youth, fought so hard for their own personal freedom and to liberate themselves of parental control, has tethered their own children with pagers, cell phones and parental notification policies.”

‘In loco parentis’ “In effect, baby boomers have projected their college behavior and attitudes onto their own children. And since baby boomers who attended college exceed in percentage and numbers any other generation of Americans at that time, their voice is very loud and their power very real.”

Parents of college students are: Protective Protective Want their sons/daughters safe and secure Want their sons/daughters safe and secure Involved Involved Want to help them achieve Want to help them achieve Concerned Concerned Want them to receive “their fair share” Want them to receive “their fair share” Intelligent Intelligent College educated College educated Demanding Demanding Savvy customers Savvy customers

“In loco parentis” “These are some ironies. Baby boomers are the generation who toppled ‘in loco parentis.’ Today, as parents, they demand through the laws and policies they advocate and pass, as well as through the numerous lawsuits they bring, that today’s college and university administrators act on their behalf to manage and protect their children.”

Another irony: FERPA – Family and Education Right to Privacy Act The rights accorded to parents under FERPA are transferred to students of any age (including those under 18) if the student is attending an institution of higher education. The rights accorded to parents under FERPA are transferred to students of any age (including those under 18) if the student is attending an institution of higher education. Parents, however, of a college student may have access to the student’s record if the parents claim the student as a dependent for tax purposes. Parents, however, of a college student may have access to the student’s record if the parents claim the student as a dependent for tax purposes. Colleges, therefore, have considerable discretion concerning FERPA and how it will be applied. Colleges, therefore, have considerable discretion concerning FERPA and how it will be applied.

What do parents expect from the college/university - for their students? for their students? One One Two Two Three Three for them as parents of college students? for them as parents of college students? One One Two Two Three Three

Knowing parents….. What NOT to do What NOT to do And what to DO!!! And what to DO!!!

“Don’ts” with parents: Don’t tell them to “go away” after dropping off their student Don’t tell them to “go away” after dropping off their student Particularly freshmen Particularly freshmen Don’t state that you care as much about their student as they do Don’t state that you care as much about their student as they do They have taken care of them for 18 years! They have taken care of them for 18 years! Don’t suggest that you know their son/daughter better than they do Don’t suggest that you know their son/daughter better than they do They need reassurance and not to be felt inept They need reassurance and not to be felt inept

“Don’ts” with parents: Don’t pass them off to another office Don’t pass them off to another office Check with appropriate office to inquire about the parents’ situation Check with appropriate office to inquire about the parents’ situation Don’t be flip or curt with them! Don’t be flip or curt with them!

“Do’s” with parents: Be responsive Be responsive Reply professionally Reply professionally Communication Communication Updated Web site Updated Web site E-Newsletter E-Newsletter University print material/calendar of deadlines University print material/calendar of deadlines Provide copies of policies/resources to parents Provide copies of policies/resources to parents Information Information Curriculum requirements Curriculum requirements Financial aid opportunities Financial aid opportunities Health and counseling services available Health and counseling services available Judicial process Judicial process Safety and security issues Safety and security issues

Parent Management Plan Pre-admission communications/materials Pre-admission communications/materials Orientation of parents Orientation of parents Explanation/Interpretation of FERPA Explanation/Interpretation of FERPA Management of parental communications Management of parental communications On-going communication/updates to parents – website and letters On-going communication/updates to parents – website and letters Family Association Family Association Family Weekend Family Weekend

Orientation of Parents Separate program for students and parents Separate program for students and parents Programs such as “Letting Go” and “Parent 101” Programs such as “Letting Go” and “Parent 101” Explanation of the role we want parents to play Explanation of the role we want parents to play Providing reassuring info and contact information Providing reassuring info and contact information Involving reps from the Family Association Involving reps from the Family Association

FERPA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Establish a college policy and related procedures regarding release of information, judicial information, and release forms Establish a college policy and related procedures regarding release of information, judicial information, and release forms Explain FERPA regulations and the college’s policies regarding release forms at summer orientation sessions and on website Explain FERPA regulations and the college’s policies regarding release forms at summer orientation sessions and on website On-going education when parents call On-going education when parents call Alcohol and Drug violation notification Alcohol and Drug violation notification

Parental Calls and s Establish a standard response time Establish a standard response time Direct calls/ s to lowest appropriate level first Direct calls/ s to lowest appropriate level first Do not guarantee confidentiality Do not guarantee confidentiality Request permission to discuss call/ with student Request permission to discuss call/ with student Tell parent where to direct student for help Tell parent where to direct student for help Dealing with threats (I’ll call the President, my lawyer, the media, Jay Leno) Dealing with threats (I’ll call the President, my lawyer, the media, Jay Leno) Avoid responding more quickly to parents than students Avoid responding more quickly to parents than students

Parent Association Roles: recruitment/advocacy; resource for current parents/liaison to administration; resource development Roles: recruitment/advocacy; resource for current parents/liaison to administration; resource development Involving Parent Association in recruitment and orientation activities as well as Parents’ Weekend Involving Parent Association in recruitment and orientation activities as well as Parents’ Weekend Involve Parent Association rep in key committees Involve Parent Association rep in key committees Credibility factor Credibility factor

Helicopter Traffic Control Calculating Response Time –setting expectations Calculating Response Time –setting expectations Assessing the Problem Assessing the Problem Involving the Student Involving the Student The Role of the President and Institutional Leadership– directing to the appropriate response level The Role of the President and Institutional Leadership– directing to the appropriate response level Responding to threats of legal action Responding to threats of legal action Documentation Documentation

Assessment Evaluation of Summer Orientation program by parents Evaluation of Summer Orientation program by parents Focus Groups Focus Groups Tracking calls/ s and repetition Tracking calls/ s and repetition

Future Trends Colleges marketing themselves as “safe” campuses Colleges marketing themselves as “safe” campuses A return to modified “in loco parentis” – a partnership b/w college and family A return to modified “in loco parentis” – a partnership b/w college and family Legal challenges to FERPA and confidentiality policies Legal challenges to FERPA and confidentiality policies Students evaluating how they have been parented Students evaluating how they have been parented Continuing question of the value of college (cost vs. outcome) Continuing question of the value of college (cost vs. outcome)