Parents as Partners: Identifying an appropriate role for parents in career exploration and planning

1
Parents as Partners Identifying an appropriate
role for parents in career exploration and
planning
Heather Fredrickson Career Professional Marjorie
SavageParent Program Director
2
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 whats next

3
Background

• Reasons for Involvement
• Parents are told to be involved
• Financial impact of a college education
• Technology makes communication easy
• Students initiate involvement

4
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

5
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

6
Background

• Parents Whose Greatest Concern is Career Planning
  

• Freshmen Parents 5.8
• Sophomore Parents 16.0
• Junior Parents 23.0
• Senior Parents 42.3

7
Background

• Q On What Topic Are Students Asking Most Advice?
  
• A Career Planning

• Freshmen 11.4
• Sophomores 15.7
• Juniors 23
• Seniors 40.5

8
University of Minnesota Parent Poll

• Who do you think has had the greatest influence
  on your student's career decisions so far?
• 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
• N337 University of Minnesota online parent
  poll, July 2007

9
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
• N685
• University of Minnesota online parent poll,
  July/August 2006

10
University of Minnesota Parent Poll

• How much influence do you thinkas a
  parentshould have on your students career
  choice?
• 2.8 said a lot
• 37.7 said some
• 35.1 said a little
• 21.3 said very little
• 3.1 said none
• N738 University of Minnesota online parent
  poll, August 2007

11
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 eventsMove-In receptions,
  Parents Weekend

12
Desired Outcomes of Parent Involvement

• Families contribute to student success by
• Supporting the Universitys 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

13
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.um
  n.edu/ferpa.html) and HIPAA (http//www.ahc.umn.ed
  u/privacy/hipaa/home.html)
• Make parent access to information easywhen
  students authorize it
• Provide information for parents on key
  health/safety issues (examples alcohol, mental
  health)
• Publicize emergency numbers, resources

14
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!)

15
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

16
First YearIn 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 dont like

17
First Year Parent Message

• Many students change their major, dont 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.

18
Second YearIndividual Career Appointment by Major

• Each Career Professional e-mails 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

19
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?

20
Third YearTake 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 havent
  already!

21
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?

22
Fourth or Fifth YearIn 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

23
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?

24
Sum It Up!

• Parents have a legitimate interest in their
  students career planning
• Its 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 were
  saying and why were saying it
• We all want the same thing a mature, responsible
  graduate who is career ready

25
Contact Information

• Marjorie Savage
• Parent Program Director
• Phone [phone], e-mail mbsavage_at_umn.edu
• Web site www.parent.umn.edu
• Parents Guide to Career Planning
  http//www.parent.umn.edu/workshops.phpcareer
• Heather Fredrickson
• Career Professional
• Phone [phone], e-mail hfredric_at_umn.edu
• Web site www.stpaulcareers.umn.edu