From the Playground to the

Campus: Becoming the

Parent of a College Student

Presented by: Division of Student Affairs Presented by: Division of Student Affairs and and

TCNJ Parent and Family TCNJ Parent and Family AssociationAssociation

Session Learning OutcomesSession Learning Outcomes

• Goals for Today:Goals for Today:– To become familiar with the TCNJ philosophy regarding To become familiar with the TCNJ philosophy regarding

TCNJ parents TCNJ parents – To learn how we apply this philosophy to communication To learn how we apply this philosophy to communication

and interaction with parents and familiesand interaction with parents and families– To learn about parent and family activities and services To learn about parent and family activities and services

provided by the College and the Parent and Family provided by the College and the Parent and Family Program Program

– To be introduced to the college curriculum and learning To be introduced to the college curriculum and learning goals for your studentgoals for your student

– To become more familiar with the services and programs To become more familiar with the services and programs that support your studentthat support your student

– To start to feel…part of the family!To start to feel…part of the family!

Institutional Philosophy Institutional Philosophy • The student is at the core of our educational programThe student is at the core of our educational program• We focus our efforts on student learning and the We focus our efforts on student learning and the

student experiencestudent experience• Desirable student learning outcomes include skills and Desirable student learning outcomes include skills and

efficacy in accomplishing goals and problem-solvingefficacy in accomplishing goals and problem-solving• We partner with parents to help students learn and We partner with parents to help students learn and

achieve their goals and value families as important achieve their goals and value families as important members of the TCNJ communitymembers of the TCNJ community

• Acknowledging that the parent-student relationship is Acknowledging that the parent-student relationship is in transition during the college years (moving from in transition during the college years (moving from director/planner to advisor/guide), we work to help director/planner to advisor/guide), we work to help your family achieve a successful transitionyour family achieve a successful transition

How TCNJ Partners with Parents & FamiliesHow TCNJ Partners with Parents & Families

• Advisement & InvolvementAdvisement & Involvement– Parent & Family Association MembershipParent & Family Association Membership– Family & Family Association Executive BoardFamily & Family Association Executive Board

• CommunicationCommunication– Parents ListserveParents Listserve– Text Alert RegistrationText Alert Registration– E-NewslettersE-Newsletters– Student Affairs emailStudent Affairs email– Parent and Family WebsiteParent and Family Website– FERPAFERPA– Conduct Notification LetterConduct Notification Letter– Addressing Concerns and Problem-SolvingAddressing Concerns and Problem-Solving

……More Partnering…More Partnering…

• College Liaisons – Magda College Liaisons – Magda Manetas/Associate VP for Student Affairs Manetas/Associate VP for Student Affairs and Dean of Students (and Dean of Students (mmanetas@tcnj.edu, , 609-771-2455)609-771-2455)

• ProgrammingProgramming– Accepted Student DayAccepted Student Day– Summer Orientation – July 10 – 18, 2012Summer Orientation – July 10 – 18, 2012– Parent & Family Hospitality Suite on Parent & Family Hospitality Suite on

Check-In Day: – August 23, 2012Check-In Day: – August 23, 2012– Family Weekend – October 19-20, 2012Family Weekend – October 19-20, 2012

Your Student & TCNJYour Student & TCNJThe Greater CurriculumThe Greater Curriculum

Intellectual & Academic Development

Personal Development –

Competencies/Independence/Managing Emotions/Developing Mature Interpersonal

Relationships/Establishing Identity

Vocational Development Spiritual & Ethical Development - Integrity

A Sense of Belonging & CommunityA Sense of Purpose

The Changing LandscapeThe Changing Landscape

• Context: Parents are “Gen-X”, some “Baby Boomers” & Students are Context: Parents are “Gen-X”, some “Baby Boomers” & Students are “Millenials” or “PAPAs” (Post-Adolescent Pre-Adults)“Millenials” or “PAPAs” (Post-Adolescent Pre-Adults)

• Some researchers see this generation of students as on schedule Some researchers see this generation of students as on schedule developmentally – others perceive as extended adolescencedevelopmentally – others perceive as extended adolescence

• Technology has provided almost instant and constant communication Technology has provided almost instant and constant communication between students and parentsbetween students and parents

• K-12 – a “good” parent is an involved parent, advocacy might have K-12 – a “good” parent is an involved parent, advocacy might have required the parent to “rescue and fix” for studentrequired the parent to “rescue and fix” for student

• Change from perception of college campus as a safe/inviolable haven Change from perception of college campus as a safe/inviolable haven to a place where frightening things can and do happento a place where frightening things can and do happen

• Culture encourages a customer-service orientation to education as a Culture encourages a customer-service orientation to education as a product and concept that everything is negotiable – grades, product and concept that everything is negotiable – grades, roommatesroommates

• Students feel special, confident, happy but pressured to achieve and Students feel special, confident, happy but pressured to achieve and multi-taskmulti-task

• Students conventional, value what parents valueStudents conventional, value what parents value

AspirationsAspirations

What Parents Hope For Their Students:

Independence The Ability to Navigate the World The Ability to Make Sound and

Healthy DecisionsSuccess and HappinessSense of Belonging and Community

…and A Willingness to Carry a Homing Device – Cell Phones: “The world’s longest umbilical cord.”

ResourcesResources• Residential Education and Housing • Ambassadors• Faculty & Academic Advisors • The Career Center• Counseling and Psychological Services• Student Health Services• Differing Abilities Services• Athletics and Recreation • Student Activities • Religious and Spiritual Life/Chaplains• Campus Police • Alcohol & Drug Education Program• Office of Anti-Violence Initiatives• Center for Academic Success/Tutoring Center

and the Writer’s Place

College Family FeudCollege Family Feud1. In a recent survey of southern universities, on average,

how many times a week did students call home to speak with their parents?

2. What percentage of TCNJ first year students reported involvement in a student club or organization?

3. What percentage of residential students typically stay on campus on the weekend?

4. How many hours per week does the average TCNJ first year student report that they study?

5. What percentage of first year students at TCNJ work on campus?

College Family FeudCollege Family Feud1. In a recent survey of southern universities, on

average, how many times a week did students call home to speak with their parents? 12 times

2. What percentage of TCNJ first year students reported involvement in a club or organization? 83%

3. What percentage of residential students typically stay on campus on the weekend? 66% (56% are on campus 3-4 weekends per month)

4. How many hours per week does the average TCNJ first year student report that they study? 11-15 hours

5. What percentage of first year students at TCNJ work on campus? 23%

Questions?Questions?Do you wonder…Do you wonder…• Will my student be lonely?• Will they get involved – over-involved?• Will they excel academically?• Will they have an impossible roommate?• Will there be anyone there for them when you

can’t be? • How can I help them prepare for this

transition?• Will we have enough money left to retire after

we finish educating the children?