December 4, 2012

5 Ways To Get Students And Their Families “Launch” Ready

Dec. 4, 2012 at 10:46 AM | By Sally Daniels Herron | Comment Count

I’ll begin with a story. It’s my story, but my hunch is that for some of you it will sound familiar and perhaps more importantly, it will feel like your story as well.

In September of 1975, my parents drove their station wagon to the freshman dorm at Augsburg College. We met my roommate, unloaded all my stuff and went to a local restaurant for one last supper together. After many hugs and tears abounded, we said our good-byes and my folks headed home to Michigan, promising to call when they could.

Fast-forward more than thirty years later. It was my turn to say my “good-byes,” as I dropped my daughter off at Augsburg College for her first-year in college. But, this time was a little different. Instead of an intimate dinner with mom and dad, Augsburg sponsored a big send-off feast on campus for incoming students and their families.

The Millennial Generation is the most adored, most watched and cared for generation in history. Their parents are Baby Boomers, a.k.a. the Helicopter Parent, and Gen-X’ers, otherwise known as Lawn Mower Parents. As a result of this cultural shift in parenting, parental involvement throughout the college process has become increasingly challenging for both students and their families.

So how best can colleges and universities engage with parents to help them prepare for “launching” their child into college? Share these 5 simple but important suggestions.

5 Ways To Get Students And Their Families “Launch” Ready

Teach your child how to do laundry! This underestimated skill includes removing tissues and dollar bills from pockets, as wells as separating dark colors from whites. In all honesty, it is remarkable how many students show up to class in pink clothes during fall semester because they don’t know that reds and whites don’t do well in hot water!
Make sure they know how to order delivery! Delivery will come in handy for those many overnighters they’re bound to spend cramming for midterms or final exams. On a more serious note, recommend parents take the time to speak with their incoming college student about managing finances. Ideally, this is something families should discuss during the year before entering college. By the time classes begin, students should already log into their online banking accounts regularly, paying close attention to money spent. Parents can help their child with finances by outlining simple questions:

-How often and how much money will be sent to my college student at one time?
-Is money sent for school only or will a pre-determined amount be set aside for extra spending?
-Does my child need access to a credit card? Determine the credit limit.
-Are student loans necessary? If so, here are some financial planning tips for parents.
-How will my child be held accountable for mistakes made in managing their money?
If your child is lucky enough to bring a car onto campus, ensure clear guidelines are outlined. Do they know what to say when another student wants to borrow their car? Do they know how to change a tire? Are they aware of what to do in case of an accident? Do they have a campus parking pass and have a clear understanding of where they can and cannot park?
Free time. For most students, college is the first time they have been without parental supervision. Although this offers freedom for students to make their own decisions, it comes with great responsibility. When it comes down to it, academics should always remain a student’s top priority. Parents can help their child stay on the path to collegiate success by teaching time management and by conveying the significance of participating in clubs, volunteer work, and other campus activities.
Safety is the single biggest concern for any parent preparing for launch. Parents should not hesitate to address the tough issues like behavior, violence on campus, binge drinking, etc. Encourage your son or daughter to trust their instincts when they feel uneasy or unsafe. Parents should ensure their child is well aware of campus security and health services; understands the importance of not walking alone across campus after dark; often chat about what to do in emergencies; and have their child provide a list of must-have phone numbers.

Sally Daniels Herron is the Director of Parent and Family Relations at Augsburg College.

*Photo by Michael Gil licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic.