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Born between 1982 and 2000, they grew up with home computers, CDs, cell phones and video games. Most can’t remember a president that wasn’t named Bush or Clinton.
They also grew up under the doting eye of their parents.
And even as Generation Y heads to college or into the workforce, mom and dad continue to play much the same role, experts say.
Generation Y children rely on their parents for nearly every major decision, said Lauren Cikara, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduate assistant studying the group.
In the past, college often marked the point when students established some independence, and parents started to let go, said Paula Knudson, UW-L vice chancellor for student affairs and academic services.
Now, parents often remain actively involved in what their children — and the schools they attend — are doing as students work toward their degree.
In more extreme examples, what are termed “helicopter parents” have been known to accompany their child to job interviews or drive to campus weekly to pick up dirty laundry, Knudson said.
While most parents aren’t inserting themselves on that level, UW-L and many other colleges across the county have had to adapt in recent years to a growing parental presence, said Knudson.
‘Like little agents’
“It seems like parents are managing their student’s accounts,” said Emily Dawson, admissions counselor at Viterbo University. “They are like little agents for college students.”
In her three years with Viterbo admissions, Dawson has dealt with more parents scheduling campus tours for their children, accompanying them on those tours and following up on the application process.
“I’ve never experienced it where a student would take full control over everything,” she said. “I think kids are so busy and apply to so many schools now that they have trouble keeping track of it without parental help.”
Kathryn Kiefer, UW-L director of admissions, said she gets a kick out of the calls parents will make after her office sends notice a student has been accepted or denied.
“At the start of the conversation, they’ll personalize it saying ‘I received a letter from you,’” she said, to which Kiefer will reply, “You did?”
When UW-L students register for their first semester of classes, parents usually come along — and some have trouble splitting from their children for part of the registration session, said Jon Hageseth, director of UW-L’s counseling and testing center.
“They are not sure that their student will be able to ask all the necessary questions,” Hageseth said. “That is part of the transition process. Parents have to step back and let their student develop.”
Involving parents
This trend of greater parental interest, however, also is an opportunity to involve parents in a meaningful way, Hageseth said.
“We have to figure out how to do more of that, because I don’t think that is going to go away,” he said.
UW-L adopted a parent philosophy January 2008 that considers parents and guardians crucial to student success, said Knudson.
UW-L and Viterbo University both have a parent newsletter and a parent links on their Web sites. UW-L also has Hageseth, now point person for parents of incoming freshman.
“We know parents will call, so we need to give them a venue to call and give them a consistent message,” said Knudson.
Hageseth maintains contact with parents through the newsletter, sent out three times a year, and a monthly e-mail that includes such details as the atmosphere on campus during high-stress times and upcoming student deadlines, such as registration for classes.
All of this contact simply couldn’t have happened 10 years ago because technology such as e-mail wasn’t as popular, said Hageseth.
“The lines of communication have become electronic and that is one of the reasons we are seeing this increase,” he said.
Also, events such as the Virginia Tech shooting in April 2007 have made both campuses and parents more vigilant about safety issues and staying in contact, Hageseth said.
Other universities have created offices and programs specifically for parent relations.
UW-Eau Claire opened a family connection office in August 2007. The university has a monthly online newsletter for parents, listing upcoming campus events and important dates. Parents also have a direct phone line and e-mail address, and the office is working on a parent Web site, said Director Jennifer Lee. A parent organization is being formed, too, so parents can share resources, she said.
UW in Madison launched a parent program last June, designed to better connect parents and families to the university. Parents also have Web site specifically designed for them, a newsletter, a phone and e-mail hotline, and soon a calendar that will include deadlines for student housing, registration and other events, said Nancy Sandhu, UW parent program coordinator.
While UW long has offered parent services, this is the first time the university has taken a coordinated and centralized approach to getting campus information to parents, said Sandhu.
“We want to provide parents the tools so they can support their students’ success, because national studies have shown that oftentimes parents are student’s No. 1 adviser,” Sandhu said.
Many UW system schools are redesigning their Web sites as well to better appeal to Generation Y, Cikara said. Part of her research is analyzing the content of six UW System admissions Web sites and what draws in Generation Y and their parents.
The generation has seven primary characteristics, Cikara said, citing leading Gen Y experts William Strauss and Neil Howe.
One is Generation Y children are sheltered, protected all their lives by parents concerned about their safety, said Cikara. Web sites can cater to this by displaying images or words that indicate faculty and support services are readily available to students, said Cikara.
“Parents want to know that their special ‘Millennial’ will have all the services they need to be successful at the institution they choose,” she said.
Gen Y members also are characterized as team-oriented and confident, yet may struggle with free time and time management when on their own because they were tightly scheduled as children, according to Howe and Strauss.
Not everyone agrees the habits of this group, or their parents, differ all that much from past years. UW-L instructor Betsy Morgan said while she’s dealt with a few “helicopter parents” in her 15 years of teaching, she hasn’t seen any significant shift in overall parental involvement.
Morgan added, “I think students are staying more connected with families because of cell phones.”
Still independent
UW-L senior John Lauerman has lived with his parents in Holmen, Wis., through his four years of college. Yet he considers himself independent.
“The reason (for living at home) is financial,” he said. “I still go wherever I want, when I want.”
Lauerman admitted he’ll turn to his parents for advice on classes to take or what graduate school to attend, but said they never would make decisions for him.
“I don’t tell him what to do. I more or less listen,” said John’s father, Alan.
Lauerman could never imagine having his father sit in on a job interview or make a career decision for him, he said.
“A career decision is one of the biggest in your life,” he said. “I want a career I enjoy, not one my parents tell me to take.”
John recently decided to attend graduate school at the University of South Carolina. Alan said he will miss not having his son around, but technology will ease the transition.
“It is easier now, because we have e-mail, we can call quite easily and we have instant messaging,” said Alan. “We’ll hear from him.”
Generation Y parents were asked, “What do you do for your children that your parents didn’t do for you?”
“I think there was an expectation as our children were growing up that you attend all of their events to show support. I grew up in a family with six children, so that wasn’t even possible. I think families have become more isolated, so there is more intense pressure to take care of family and children. Generations ago, you would have felt more community, neighborhood and church support.”
— Tom Thibodeau, Viterbo University professor and father of children ages 21, 24 and 26
“I spend a lot more time with my kids. In my father’s generation, the father worked and the mother was responsible for being involved with the kids and helping them through school. In my generation, I am very involved as a father with their school, recreation or just spending time together, especially as they’ve gotten into their teen years.”
— Lewis Wilkins, of La Crosse, whose children are 8, 13, 15 and 17
“Supporting my kid in college is something that I’m helping her out with that my parents didn’t do for me. But, it is not that they didn’t want to, they just didn’t have the opportunity. She goes to University of Minnesota-Duluth, so I try to watch all of her sports events. My parents came to my sports events, too, but they didn’t have to travel that far.”
— Dan Smith, of Holmen, Wis., whose daughter is 21
“When I was growing up, high school sports weren’t what they are today. It wasn’t very competitive. When I was in school, the fans were the people that rode the bus. Now, it is all the parents. Parents are taking vacations to get to sporting events.”
— Dorothy Schutz, of La Crosse, whose children are 15 and 18
“There are more sports now. Even before high school age, children are involved in sports. Not only did I encourage my children to be involved in sports, but my husband and I became involved. My husband coached, and I ran the concessions. We did it to stay connected with our children. I didn’t like the idea of having someone baby-sit for me. Plus, the kids like having us there watching them.”
— Elise Boam, of La Crosse, whose children are 26 and 22
Generation Y college students were asked about parent involvement:
Justin Fons, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse freshman and political science major, parents live in Milwaukee.
Q: How often do you talk to your parents on the phone?
A: One or two times per week.
Q: What kind of advice do you go to your parents for?
A: If it is something out of the ordinary or something I am not familiar with, I go to my parents. When filing taxes this year, I conferred with them if I was a dependent or not and what form I should file.
Q: How much would you want your parents to be involved in your career search?
A: Minimally. I’d like to hear what they have to say about how difficult it might be and if they think I’d like the job or not.
Q: Did you involve your parents in the decision of which college to attend?
A: I mainly wanted to be far away from them, but still in the state. For college, they told me what I could expect from them financially and that influenced my decision to stay in the state. When I came up with UW-L, they had good things to say.
Q: Will you involve them in the decision of what career path or job to take?
A: They will probably not be involved to the degree they were in my college choice.
Brette Jeatran, UW-L senior and community health education major, parents live in Menominee, Wis.
Q: How often do you talk to your parents on the phone?
A: Three to five times per week.
Q: What kind of advice do you go to your parents for?
A: Questions maybe about finances or dealing with situations with roommates.
Q: How much would you want your parents to be involved in your career search?
A: My dad has many contacts that I can go to for jobs. So, I would go to him for contacts with health corporations, but I would do the job interview, calling, researching the companies on my own and ask for encouragement from parents.
Q: Did you involve your parents in the decision of which college to attend?
A: They were involved. They came on the tours with me and we talked about it, but it was my choice where I went.
Q: Will you involve them in the decision of what career path or job to take?
A: The career was my desire and inspiration and they just encouraged me because it is a great field to go into.
Ian Kane, Viterbo University sophomore and music theater major, parents live in Janesville, Wis.
Q: How often do you talk to your parents on the phone?
A: I don’t usually call them, they call me, and I don’t usually answer because I don’t have a chance with rehearsal and class.
Q: What kind of advice do you go to your parents for?
A: Advice on money, for sure — how much I should be saving and what I should be planning for financially. Also on my living situation, because I moved off campus this year and I consulted them on that.
Q: How much would you want your parents to be involved in your career search?
A: I don’t think there is anything they could do in my career search because I hope to be a professional stage actor.
Q: Did you involve your parents in the decision of which college to attend?
A: Yes, because I had a tough decision between two schools. I had a lot of discussions with them on what was the better option.
Q: Will you involve them in your decision of which career path or job to take?
A: No, I don’t think so.
Mindy Van Galder, Viterbo sophomore and elementary education major, parents live in Aniwa, Wis.
Q: How often do you talk to your parents on the phone?
A: Two to three times per week
Q: What kind of advice do you go to your parents for?
A: Money advice, if I need help with papers, what classes I should take, or if I need to vent about teachers or homework.
Q: How much would you want your parents to be involved in your career search?
A: I would say helping me find jobs, but I would not go as far as to have them go with me on a job interview.
Q: Did you involve your parents in the decision of which college to attend?
A: My mom helped me with all the paperwork. They came with me to tour colleges and they said what they liked about certain schools, but ultimately it was my decision.
Q: Will you involve them in your decision of which career path or job to take?
A: Yes, I think so, because they have good advice, they know my strengths, and I value their opinion.
David Harmann, Viterbo senior and music theater major, parents live in Algoma, Wis.
Q: How often do you talk to your parents on the phone?
A: Probably two times per week.
Q: What kind of advice do you go to your parents for?
A: Basic living situation stuff, like how long do I need to preheat the oven if I want to cook chicken, or financial advice.
Q: How much would you want your parents to be involved in your career search?
A: Probably not at all, because music theater is a lot of independent stuff.
Q: Did you involve your parents in the decision of which college to attend?
A: I searched for colleges on my own and my mom was supportive.
Q: Will you involve them in your decision of which career path or job to take?
A: I made my decision about my career in high school and my mom said, “Whatever makes you happy.”
Nicky Hilsen, Viterbo sophomore and music theater major,
parents live in Chicago.
Q: How often do you talk to your parents on the phone?
A: At least one time per week.
Q: What kind of advice do you go to your parents for?
A: Now that I’m in college, I go to them a lot about my credit card and money. I’m closer to my mom, so I talk to her about everything from philosophy to boys to religion to cooking.
Q: How much would you want your parents to be involved in your career search?
A: I want them to be supportive of that and they’ve done a good job of being supportive of what I want to do. If I need a ride to an audition, they’ll give me one, but I don’t want them to stay and watch the audition.
Q: Did you involve your parents in the decision of which college to attend?
A: Yes, they both listened to what I wanted out of college and they drove with me to visit colleges. My father helped me research the colleges. They never forced a decision, but honored my decision to come here.
Q: Will you involve them in your decision of which career path or job to take?
A: No, because I don’t think that is their job. They’ve taught me all the elements it takes to be an adult and now it is my job to use what they’ve given me and make my own decisions.
KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com.
audifan08 wrote on Apr 6, 2008 8:59 PM: