Engaging the millennial family
3. METHODS
an orientation program for the families of new students
Cathie Shanahan and Cheryl Burgess
University of Newcastle, Australia
1. TOPIC
As part of a holistic approach to the
orientation and transition of new students
the University of Newcastle conducts an
orientation session for their families.
In recognition of the value
students place on their
parents' and families’
opinions, the University
aims to empower parents
and families by providing
the basic tools to equip
them to assist new students.
4. MAJOR
FINDINGS
The common themes are:
• safety
• finances
• workload
• course information
• accommodation
2. OBJECTIVES
1 To provide a dedicated 3 To empower parents and
venue and learning
activity for families during
orientation.
2 To provide families with
basic information about
higher education and
leaving home for the first
time.
families to assist new
students with the
transition to higher
education.
4 To allay fears about safety,
security and student
well-being.
We hope that by engaging with the parents, the parents will support
the University and our retention rates will improve.
Parents are provided with an interactive presentation where the top ten areas of interest are explained
and questions are encouraged. Detailed printed material is provided and we have set up a dedicated
Twitter site for parents. The Tweets are used for just in time information, along with links to relevant articles
and resources. Our rationale is to provide the parents with the tools they can use to be supportive
without suffocating their student.
5. IMPLICATIONS FOR INSTITUTIONAL
IMPROVEMENT OR ADVANCEMENT
• where to go for assistance
• travel and parking
• paid work
• social life
• what to do if the student gets sick
The parents’ orientation program has been
conducted in parallel with the student orientation
activities over the past three years. Each year has
seen an increase in the number of participants and
all feedback indicates this is a valuable initiative.
These themes are constant; there is very little variation in the nature of enquiries.
We use a combination of University staff and current students to present the information.
The same evaluation tool has been used n each occasion the parents’ sessions have been conducted .
We have over 90 per cent response rate and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive.
‘Thank you. This really put my mind at ease
‘Fabulous as I was very naive on
and also gave me some insight so I don’t
procedures. Very informative.’
look so dumb in front of my daughter.’
‘Very helpful, brilliant. I feel more
comfortable with this knowledge, ‘The information session ‘Assisted in understanding
to help my daughter who is NOT for parents is useful and what is involved for students.’
very confident (without hovering).’ should be continued.’
‘Very informative and
covered all the areas I was
‘Thank you, especially to the students
concerned about. Thanks.’
who attended to answer questions.’
Attempts to foster traditional notions of adult independence are
counterintuitive for the Millennial Generation, which has a tendency
to delay some of the traditional markers of coming of age. To
engage with this behaviour the University offers a targeted session
aimed at empowering the parents who may have little or no social
capital in the higher education sphere yet are highly influential in the
students’ lives.
The parents’ orientation sessions have been evaluated from the outset and the feedback is overwhelmingly
positive. Our next challenge is to improve the advertising of the initiative. Privacy legislation in Australia
prevents us from contacting anyone other than the student and we are looking at other ways to reach our
target market.
The University has conducted the parents’
orientation session over the past three
years. Through interaction and feedback, we
have identified the top ten areas of interest
to parents.
Feedback comments are similar over the three year period and include:
‘It is very comforting to know that we
are included and valued as part
of our children’s education’
(Quote from a participant)
The University of Newcastle has a high proportion of low
socioeconomic and first generation higher education students. Most
commencing students are part of the Millennial Generation and
grew up in a world where children were highly valued. They have
received attentive parenting and, in turn, students value their
parents' opinions and inputs into decision-making.
Suggestions for enhancement include:
‘Providing a timetable. A
day-in-the-life-of-a-uni
student example.’
‘Possibly need to make sure that parents
know about this session. Late afternoon
useful for working parents. Need to make
students feel that it is "cool" to have
parents come with them.’
The Australian Federal Government has set a target
to have twenty per cent of the population holding a
university degree by 2020.
REFERENCES
Nimon, S. (2007). Generation Y and Higher Education: The Other Y2K AAIR
Journal 13, No. 1.
Kift, S. (2009). A Transition Pedagogy: The First Year Experience Curriculum
Design Symposium HERDSA News, 31(1), 1-4.
Shaputis, K (2004). The Crowded Nest Syndrome: Surviving the Return of
Adult Children Clutter Fairy Publishing.
CONTACT
Cathie Shanahan
Assistant Academic Registrar
Student and Academic Services
University of Newcastle
University Drive
Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia
Email:
[email protected]
Cheryl Burgess
Manager,
Student Experience and Transition
Student and Academic Services
University of Newcastle
University Drive
Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia
Email: [email protected]
20%
Population holding a University degree by 2020
This requires universities to reach non-traditional
markets. Providing access to higher education is only
one aspect of increasing student numbers. Employing
a range of support strategies is equally important to
assist students to engage with the organisation and
to achieve success. Forming a relationship with
significant people in students’ lives is a positive step in
the transition period.
Poster design by
Kate Barlow and Jessica Burden
Student and Academic Services
University of Newcastle,
Australia
June 2013