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Desired outcomes for parent involvement
From the Winter 2006 Parent Newsletter
Last year, the Office for Student Affairs developed a list
of student success outcomes, the skills and characteristics we expect
University of Minnesota students to learn as they progress through
college.
 As
we worked with student outcomes, we recognized that when students
go to college the personal transitions they make can also affect
their families. As the student-parent relationship adjusts, it
sometimes can be challenging for the student, the parent, and the
University to understand and communicate about the changing roles
they each face. To help guide the conversation about appropriate
and successful family involvement during the college years, the
University has developed a set of desired outcomes for parent involvement.
Families contribute to student success by
- Being aware of the unique challenges and opportunities facing
today’s college students, including academic and non-academic
expectations.
- Learning about student support services and understanding
how students can access these services (see “Services” at http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop).
- Supporting the University’s goals for student learning
outcomes (www.osa.umn.edu/outcomes/index.html).
- Encouraging students to set and achieve personal goals and
make responsible decisions related to academics, career planning,
social interactions, and community engagement.
- Understanding and supporting the University’s commitment
to academic excellence and integrity, ethical behavior, diversity,
and civility.
- Empowering students to examine personal values; encouraging
students to learn about and respect the values and beliefs
of others.
- Challenging students to seek new experiences for personal
and professional growth.
- Supporting students as they face conditions of uncertainty
and learn to perform in complex environments and challenging
situations.
- Allowing students to accept consequences of their actions
and responsibility for personal errors; urging students to
examine disappointments and unexpected experiences in order
to assess what caused them, what can be done, and how to avoid
them in the future.
- Knowing when to step in and when to empower students to
take responsibility.
- Understanding the role parents play as mentors to their
students.
- Knowing the limitations on accessing student records under
federal regulations outlined in FERPA and HIPAA.
- Promoting self-advocacy by encouraging students to identify
problems and work toward solutions independently.
- Being alert to signs that a student is under significant
stress, is taking unhealthy risks, or is ill; discussing concerns
openly with students and assisting them in developing a plan
to address the problem.
- Contacting appropriate campus or community authorities (www.osa.umn.edu/resources/stress.html)
if a student’s physical or mental health is endangered.
- Developing an affinity for the University.
- Understanding that parents are part of the University community
as prime supporters of their students.
- Participating in campus events; supporting and encouraging
all students as they learn, perform, lead, or serve through
campus and community activities.
- Assisting other parents in understanding the student experience.
- Promoting goodwill on behalf of higher education at the state
and federal level.
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