Family Involvement

Family Involvement

To get ahead, to be the first college graduate in the family, or to carry on a family tradition of graduating from a university, are important goals for many families. Today, many students have their own spouses and children. The shared expectations and dreams of their own family are critical for success. However, both young and older students do not always get the support from their families as they would wish.

Successful students look on their family, whether parents, grandparents, spouses, siblings, or extended family members, as important influences on their development. While the student does the work, family members act as limited partners offering everything from financial support to doing laundry, from cooking dinner to emotional support.

Successful students use their families as sounding boards for future plans, political ideas, grades, even as counselors when interpersonal relationships on campus do not go well. The kitchen table often becomes the counselor's desk for many college students and their family members.

As an instructor, counselor, or advisor, you can help students increase family involvement through guiding them through introspection and to effective institutional and intra-classroom interventions.

Questions to Prompt Student Reflection

Do you feel competitive with your spouse's education attainment?
Do you feel guilty when you are at school and not at home?
Are you able to balance school, work, and family?
What are your parents' expectations of you?
Are these expectations too high or too low?
Do you enjoy talking about your college life with your parents or spouse?

Counseling Interventions

The following are some suggested counseling interventions you can offer:

Allow a family member to accompany career exploration counseling
Attend family support groups

Institutional Interventions

The following are some suggested interventions related to competition. Encourage students to utilize one or more of these services:

Parent/Spouse college orientation and visitation programs
Parent/Souse recognition at Graduation ceremony

Ten Steps to Increase Family Involvement

Invite your family to school and college events.
Create a quiet place in your home specifically for studying.
Talk about your grades with your parents, partner, or children.
Show pride in your college work to extended family.
When creating a schedule, create a balance among course work, extra-curricular activities, and family.
Include family members in your decision making process for choosing courses, majors, and careers.
Be sensitive to the feelings of family members who may feel left out of this part of your life.
Figure class assignments within the family calendar. Discuss class assignments and deadlines with your family.
If you have young children, plan tasks for them while you are studying. Reward children after both of you complete your tasks.
If you live at home set up your short team studying during the time family might interrupt you. Save the sustained studying time for after your partner or child has gone to sleep.