Family Matters “Family Feud” Survey Results, 2017

Respondent Population Contacts between student/parent per week in 1st year

Class Year / Parents / Students
Senior/Grad student / 9% / 27%
Junior / 13% / 23%
Sophomore / 28% / 23%
Freshman / 49% / 28%

# Contacts Parent responses Student responses

Initiated by: / 0-3 / 4-7 / 8-15 / 0-3 / 4-7 / 8-15
Family / 54% / 30% / 13% / 44% / 41% / 7%
Student / 51% / 35% / 10% / 55% / 30% / 10%

What one thing your student did when home on school break that drove you crazy?
Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1.Left their things all over the house (38%)1. Slept all the time (41%)
2. Slept all the time (33%)2. Ate a lot (18%)
3. Other (undefined) (30%) Did not follow curfew, talked non-stop about Ithaca (18%)
4. Didn’t help with chores (29%) Left things all over the house (18%)
5. Made assumptions (money, car, stay out late) (16%)3. Did not share where they went or be back (17%)

What did students miss most from home?

Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1. Home cooking (food) (60%)1. Home cooking (food) (70%)
2. Family (49%)2. Family (56%)
3. Comforts (bed, room, car, laundry), Friends (37%)3. Pet (45%)
4. Pet (29%)4. Friends, Comforts (bed, room, car, laundry) (41%)
What new things did you learn about your student?

Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1. Willingness to explore new things (38%)1. Willingness to explore new things (19%)
2. How well you would perform academically (32%)2. How determined I would become (16%)
3.Ability to take initiative (29%)3. Ability to take initiative (11%)
4. Joined a student group I never thought they would join (28%) Joined a student org they would not expect (11%)
5. Ability to be independent, how determined they’d become (24%)4. How well I would perform academically(10%)
What types of situations did your student struggle with socially or academically?
Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1. Knowing how to deal with stress and pressure from classes (49%)1. Finding a friend group (24%)
2. Time and stress management (37%)2. Not getting along with a roommate (19%)
3. Feeling comfortable asking professors for help (36%)3. How to balance work, classwork, and activities (15%)
4. How to balance work, classwork, and activities (33%)4. Dealing with stress and pressure from class (13%)
5. Not getting along with a roommate (27%)5. Feeling comfortable asking professors for help (11%)
What was the most surprising thing your student told you about their first year experience?
Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1. How fast they made close friendships1. How much they grew academically
2. How involved their student got on campus2. Number of parties they attended
3. How much the campus felt like home3. Learned to take care of self, be independent
4.How many resources they found AND used4. How much the campus began to feel like home
5. Amount of partying students do5. Developed many close relationships

What new opinions or passions has your student developed after joining the IC community?
Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1. Grown politically1. Getting involved, exploring community, volunteering
2. Current passions grew stronger2. Opening mind to different political, religious, lifestyle view
3. Interest/involvement with campus TV, Newspaper, media3. Bettering lifestyle choices (diet, exercise) 4. Connection with a religious community on campus 4. Increased passion for music
5. Appreciation/acknowledgement of friends/family5. Learning about sustainability

What were the most helpful/needed resources on campus?

Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1. Health Center and CAPS1. Friends and parent support
2. Financial Services2. Resident Advisors (RA)
3. Family orientation3. Advisors, professors, mentors
4. Advisors, professors, Resident Advisors (RA)4. CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services)
5. Student Accessibility Services, Academic Advising Center5. Student organizations joined
Describe traits your student has developed this year that made you think he/she has “grown up?”
Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1. Independence (70%)1. Independence (83%)
2. Time management (56%)2. Ability to identify and use campus resources (49%)
3. Confidence (51%)3. Time management (48%)
4. Academic direction or focus (48%)4. Career interests or focus (47%)
5. Career interests or direction (47%)5. Confidence (44%)
What is one skill/attribute you hoped your student would gain in their first year of college, but didn’t?
Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1. Ability to identify and use campus resources (32%)1. Financial management/responsibility (22%)
2. Other-undefined (20%)2. Time Management (20%)
3. Financial management/responsibility (17%)3.Other-undefined (17%)
4. Confidence (8%) 4. Ability to identify and use campus resources (12%)
5. Social skills, Time management (7%) 5. Confidence (7%)

What do you wish you had known before your student entered college? (Parents)
1. Take time together as a family before move in day! (No matter how you prepare, it is difficult and empty when they’re gone)
2. More about food services, financial aid, registration processes, how hot the room would be
3. How much money they would need (food, going out, cab fare, etc.), and how much everything really costs
4. Encourage use of the academic resource center (need a boost, not mean they are not smart)
5. I would hear from my student more when upset, so won’t hear the fun, happy news as much

What is the most effective tip or piece of advice you gave to help handle roommate issues?

Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1.You (parent) are there for them (56%)1. Be open minded, different perspectives, cultures (42%)
2.Deal with problems immediately (49%)2. Deal with problems immediately (40%)
3.Go to Resident Adviser or Hall Director (28%)3. Set boundaries in the first week, discuss ongoing (29%)
Set boundaries in the first week, discuss ongoing (28%)4. Family is there for them (26%)
4. Be open minded, different perspectives, cultures (22%)5. Discuss room arrangements décor, etc. on first day (25%)

Describe the most helpful thing you did to ease your student’s transition into college life?
Parent ResponsesStudent Responses
1.Provided positive feedback/encouragement (85%)1. Gave space for students to figure things out (52%)
2.Assured I was available to talk/cry (80%)2. Provided positive feedback/encouragement (45%)
3.Gave space for student to figure things out (76%)3. Parent was available to talk/cry (41%)
4.Listened, let them talk things out (73%)4. Listened, let student talk things out (38%)
5. Did not judge/offer opinions (38%5. Did not judge/offer opinions (35%)
Referred to campus resources (38%)
What could your parents have done that would have helped you? (Students)
1. Be open minded, listen, show genuine interest and support in my pursuits, just love me
2. Trust I am making the right decisions, show confidence in my abilities, support me when I fail
3. Send care packages-even a candy bar with a note, little updates from home or picture of pets (more money)