Parents As Partners

Preparing to be a Partner in your Student’s CU experience

• Your approach as a “Partner”

• Setting Realistic Expectations

• Home Connections

• Budgets

• Roommate Situations

• Health, Wellness and Safety

• Communication

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Being a Partner

Your student needs you to:

• Listen with an open mind and be supportive• Encourage them• Express your belief in them• Share your wisdom and counsel and resources

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Setting Realistic Expectations For Academic Rigor

– Remember that university studies are not like high school

– Ask specific questions about goals– Coach them through failures– Encourage realism and accountability– Familiarize yourself with academic policies and

regulations (including academic integrity)– Be there to listen to their ideas and ask what

they’re learning– Point your student toward resources

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Selecting a Major

• There is no degree in undecided.

• It is OK for now.

Setting Expectations For Major Selection• Did you know:

I have a potential, attractive career in mind 77%I have made a firm career decision 59%I am very confused about what occupation to pursue 23%I would like some help selecting an occupation that is well-suited to my interests and abilities

50%2008 National Freshman Attitudes Report

• You can help your student choose their major and/or refine career goals by:

– Recognizing that exploration is a process

– Listening more, directing less

– Encouraging use of campus resources

– Consulting campus resources yourself

– Allowing your student to make this decision6

Home Connections• Millennial students thrive on being rewarded

• During a time with so many changes, it’s comforting for students to know about and feel connected to their past experiences

• Great ways to stay connected with your student (no matter the distance) is to solidify their connection to “home”:

– Send their favourites and the ‘essentials’– Send the hometown news– Send “real” mail– Send money (once in a while)

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Budgets

Budgets• Plan ahead WITH your student

– Create an education budget– Create a monthly budget that includes:

• Fixed expenses• Estimated earnings• Variable expenses• Allowances

– Determine a ‘tracking’ system for spending– Help identify options for sources of $

• Be realistic and honest, about:– students’ ability to earn $ while in school– funding from parents

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Roommate Situations

Roommate Situations• These relationships are crucial in the life of our students –

particularly during the first few weeks.

• Times of transition can result in high stress and lead to miscommunications and roommate conflicts

• How you can help coach them through:– Maintain perspective– Listen more, Intervene less– Encourage use of campus resources– Consult campus resources yourself if you are concerned– Resist the urge to “Fix It” for them

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Health, Wellness and Safety• With freedom comes responsibility

• Talk to your student about their thoughts about and plans for:– Self-care

• Eating• Exercise• Sleeping• Health Maintenance

– Safe and Responsible Decision-Making• Where I go• What I do

– Sexual Responsibility– Alcohol Consumption

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Health, Wellness and Safety• Know that Campus Safety is always a phone call away and

available 24/7 to help any community member

• Ensure that your students familiarizes themselves with campus rules and regulations surrounding their behaviour

– Student Code of Conduct

• Other campus safety resources:– Foot Patrol– Tunnel system– Surveillance cameras

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Communication

Communication – with your student• Come up with a plan

– Regular phone calls home– Emails – Academic updates (no report card)

• Use the Thanksgiving long weekend to connect with your student and help them reflect on their experience

– Discuss expectations vs. realities– Likes and dislikes– Change of plans (academic, financial, etc.)

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Communication – with the University• FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act) has three main

functions:1) Provide the public with the right to access university controlled

records including one’s own personal information.2) Provide individuals whose information is held by the university

with the right to make corrections to their personal information when necessary.

3) Protect the privacy of personal information held by the university by setting uniform standards of collection, use and disclosure as per the standards set out in FIPPA.

PERSONAL INFORMATION is factual or subjective information about an identifiable individual. It includes, but is not limited to, details such as one’s name, address, gender, age, martial status, health information, education, employment history, and financial data.

– For students personal information includes student number, enrolment status, grades and courses taken or the amount of fees owing.

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Communication – with the University• Unless students are under 16 years of age, they are considered adults for the

purposes of FIPPA and possess a legal right to privacy regardless of whether or not they live at home or their tuition is paid by parents (or a foreign government).

• Under usual circumstances Carleton will not confirm or deny the enrolment status of any student to anyone, including parents, without specific consent.

• Carleton will not release information about fees owing to anyone other than the student without specific consent.

• If students wish information to be released to a third party, they need to sign a specific consent form and leave it on file with the Office of the Registrar.

• FIPPA does allow for the disclosure of personal information without consent in exceptional circumstances such as when a student is injured or ill and unable to communicate for themselves.

• In these cases, the student’s ‘emergency contact’ on file will be the contact of first resort. Students should insure that their emergency contact information on file with Carleton is correct and up-to-date. 17

Summary of Tips for Parents• Maintain perspective

• Communicate (listen and plan)

• Use resources

• Resist the urge to rescue

• Trust (your student and the University)

• Balance the amount of challenge and support

• Parents as Partners Quiz

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Questions?