Parenting
College
Students 101:
Seasoned faculty, staff offer advice
To kick off the 2010–11 school year, Parent Times rounded up some campus experts and asked, “What are the most important things for parents to keep in mind about today’s college students?” Here are their answers:
Recommended Reading for Parents
Don’t Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years by Helen E. Johnson and Christine Schelhas-Miller
Empty Nest…Full Heart: The Journey from Home to College
by Andrea Van Steenhouse
The Happiest Kid on Campus: A Parent’s Guide to the Very Best College Experience (for You and Your Child) by Harlan Cohen
The iConnected Parent: Staying Close to Your Kids in College (and Beyond) While Letting Them Grow Up by Barbara K. Hofer and Abby Sullivan Moore
I’ll Miss You Too: An Off-to-College Guide for Parents and Students by Margo E. Bane Woodacre and Steffany Bane
Letting Go: A Parents’ Guide to Understanding the College Years by Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger
When Your Kid Goes to College: A Parents’ Survival Guide by Carol Barkin
You’re on Your Own (But I’m Here if You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years by Marjorie Savage
“A little conversation goes a long way. Talking to your students about things like high-risk drinking, relationships, and balancing social life and academics helps students understand that expectations for healthy, positive behavior don’t end just because they are ‘on their own.’”
Sarah Hansen
Director of assessment and strategic initiatives,
Division of Student Services
“Multitasking is a myth. When studying, students should turn off the cell phone and stop e-mailing, tweeting, and surfing. Recent studies have shown poorer cognitive performance in multitaskers than in those who focus on one thing at a time.”
Shaun P. Vecera
Professor of psychology,
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“Students today are more likely to include their parents in their daily lives than students in the pre–cell phone, pre-Internet age. Even so, parents who were college students in 1990—or 1980, for that matter—will hear a lot of stories that sound very familiar, because the experience of being a college student has changed less than people might think.”
Peter Hubbard
Director of academic programs and services,
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“When students call home with concerns, one of the best things a parent can do is encourage their son or daughter to seek solutions on their own. One question to ask might be, ‘What can you do to improve the situation?’ This encourages students to take initiative in their first year and can help in their adjustment to living independently in a new environment.”
Jon Sexton
Director of Orientation Services
“The University has resources to assist your student, no matter what problem he or she may be facing. Your student should not hesitate to try to get help immediately, and not let the problem linger, whether the concern is about a class, an instructor, a roommate, or the need for accommodations. Faculty and staff are committed to helping students succeed.”
Helena Dettmer
Associate dean for undergraduate programs and curriculum,
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“Once your student has chosen a career, remind them that the Pomerantz Career Center can help them with résumé writing and interview preparation and provide job and internship search tips. Also, the center hosts a variety of courses and events throughout the year and a large, online job/internship posting database called UI Employment Expo.”
Sara Burden
Director of career education, Pomerantz Career Center
