Transcript Slide 1

Parents as Partners:
Identifying an appropriate role for parents in
career exploration and planning
Heather Fredrickson
Career Professional
Marjorie Savage
Parent Program Director
Background
What Parents Want from College
• Student to graduate:
– In four years
– With a useful degree that will lead to a job
• Student to be prepared for the future:
– Mature
– Independent
– With a plan for what’s next
Background
Reasons for Involvement
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Parents are told to be involved
Financial impact of a college education
Technology makes communication easy
Students initiate involvement
Background
Parents Greatest Concerns
• Health & Safety
22.7%
• Academics
19.8%
• Career Planning
18.0%
• Finances
13.9%
• Personal Relationships 7.0%
• Involvement Oppor.
2.3%
• Other/none
16.1%
Background
What Students Ask Parents About
• Finances
30.6%
• Career Planning
19.7%
• Academics
12.5%
• Health/Safety
8.2%
• Personal Relationships 7.3%
• Involvement Oppor.
1.6%
• Other/none
21.0%
Background
Parents Whose Greatest Concern is Career Planning
•Freshmen Parents 5.8%
•Sophomore Parents 16.0%
•Junior Parents 23.0%
•Senior Parents 42.3%
45.00%
40.00%
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Frshmn
Soph
Junior
Senior
Percent
Background
Q: On What Topic Are Students Asking Most Advice?
A: Career Planning
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Freshmen 11.4%
Sophomores 15.7%
Juniors 23%
Seniors 40.5%
45.00%
40.00%
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Frshmn
Soph
Junior
Senior
Percent
University of Minnesota Parent Poll
Who do you think has had the greatest influence on
your student's career decisions so far?
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41.8% said mother
24.9% said father
15.5% said teacher
10.9% said college adviser/counselor
0.8% said high school guidance counselor
2.6% said employer
3.4% said other, including individual decision, both
parents, friends/family friends, grandparents/other relatives
N=337; University of Minnesota online parent poll, July 2007
University of Minnesota Parent Poll
Do you expect your student to go to graduate school
after completing an undergraduate degree?
11.7% said no
43.8% said yes, right after earning a bachelors degree
23.1% said yes, but not until he/she works for a year or two
20.1% said maybe, but not in the immediate future
0.9% said I don't know
N=685
University of Minnesota online parent poll, July/August 2006
University of Minnesota Parent Poll
How much influence do you think—as a parent—
should have on your student’s career choice?
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2.8% said a lot
37.7% said some
35.1% said a little
21.3% said very little
3.1% said none
N=738; University of Minnesota online parent poll, August 2007
Desired Outcomes of
Parent Involvement
Families contribute to student success by
Understanding the student experience and knowing
about resources available at the University of
Minnesota.
• Communicate through print and e-mail newsletters
• List resources, FAQs, “issues of the month” on
Parent Web site
• Schedule parent events—Move-In receptions,
Parents Weekend
Desired Outcomes of
Parent Involvement
Families contribute to student success by
Supporting the University’s goals for student learning
outcomes
• Promote Student Outcomes at Orientation, in
communications
• Couch answers to parent questions in terms of
student learning
• Base parent services on Student Success, not
parent interests
• Provide information on policies, typical procedures
Desired Outcomes of
Parent Involvement
Families contribute to student success by
Knowing when to step in to help their student and
when to empower their student to take
responsibility
• Provide information on FERPA
(http://www.parent.umn.edu/ferpa.html) and HIPAA
(http://www.ahc.umn.edu/privacy/hipaa/home.html)
• Make parent access to information easy—when
students authorize it
• Provide information for parents on key health/safety
issues (examples: alcohol, mental health)
• Publicize emergency numbers, resources
Desired Outcomes of
Parent Involvement
Families contribute to student success by
Developing an affinity for the University of
Minnesota
• Acknowledge parent investment in the
institution
• Promote campus events
• Call on parents as volunteers (appropriately!)
Parent/Student Tensions
• Changing plans
• Career possibilities of selected major
• Cultural expectations
– Types of careers that are acceptable
– Decision-making as a community process
– Separation of career and personal interests
• Fear of disappointing family
First Year…In Class Message from
Career Services
• Career Professionals present in every
Orientation Class (and at Orientation)
• Get involved, try different things, set goals
that will help you figure out who you are
and what you like and what you don’t like…
First Year Parent Message
• Many students change their major, don’t
worry about it.
• Have you been to your career center to
learn more about options for you?
• Get involved on campus to help you
determine where your interests lie.
Second Year…Individual Career
Appointment by Major
Each Career Professional emails students individually to
encourage an appointment.
• Brainstorm options that fit
with your self assessment
and career ideas:
• Study or Work Abroad
• Possible Internships
• Mentor Program
• Career Fairs
• Get to Know Your Faculty
Second Year Parent Message
• Have you had your
individual appointment
with your career
counselor?
• What have you liked in
your classes?
• What have you liked
outside of class?
Third Year…Take The Strategic
Career Planning Class.
CFAN4201 Strategic
Career Planning for
Juniors & Seniors
• Line up your
Internship or
Study/Work
Abroad.
• Gain experience in
your field if you
haven’t already!
Third Year Parent Message
• Would you like me to give you
names of people I know that
work in the areas you are
considering?
• Are you taking a career
planning class?
• How does your resume look?
Fourth or Fifth Year…In The Career
Center and at Various Career Fairs
Career Professionals work
individually with students
as they fine tune their
career goals.
Identify what you are
interested in (right now)
and go for it!
• Networking
• Effective Interviewing
• Targeted Materials
Fourth or Fifth Year Parent Message
• Have you thought of how to get related
experience before you graduate?
• Have you been to the Career Center, or
looked for jobs on GoldPASS?
Sum It Up!
• Parents have a legitimate interest in their
student’s career planning
• It’s helpful to parents if we explain how we
work with students on career decisions
• They will support and reinforce our career
messages to students when they know what
we’re saying and why we’re saying it
• We all want the same thing: a mature,
responsible graduate who is career ready
Contact Information
Marjorie Savage
Parent Program Director
Phone: 612-626-9291, e-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.parent.umn.edu
Parents Guide to Career Planning:
http://www.parent.umn.edu/workshops.php#career
Heather Fredrickson
Career Professional
Phone: 612-625-9247, e-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.stpaulcareers.umn.edu