Newswise — As another school year begins, parents will inevitably find themselves contending with the psychological issues that arise when their children go off to college. The term "helicopter parent" has become a buzz phrase in recent years as college administrators have seen an increase in parents wanting to be involved in every step of the transition.
Two college deans that deal with the issue year after year at Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) are available for comment on the helicopter parents phenomenon.
Ron Jackson, dean of students at MMC, says that "the challenge of dealing with helicopter parents is that while they feel they are being helpful to their student, they are actually doing more harm by not allowing the student to gain independence. As a result many students are not able to function on their own when independent decisions need to be made because they become reliant on their parents' intervention and/or approval. To prevent this, MMC encourages parents to have conversations with their student prior to their departure for school, arming them with the skills and background to make decisions."
Jim Rogers, dean of admissions at MMC, says, "Parents play an integral part in their son or daughter's admissions process. They do encourage the campus visit and assist in reminding the student to submit various documents to complete their admission file. The challenge we face is the timing of the transition so that it is best for students and, yes, their parents too."
Ron Jackson has been employed at Marymount Manhattan College since January 2004. He received his M.A. in Higher Education Administration from George Washington University in Washington, DC. He has also served on the Executive Council for the American College Personnel Association.
Jim Rogers has worked in the field of higher education for 12 years and has been Dean of Admissions at Marymount Manhattan College for two years. He holds an MBA from the University of Tampa.
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