Pitzer in the News 2006-2007 Academic Year

Neva Barker Quoted in International Educator

[Excerpt]

Orienting and Coaching Parents

They're referred to unflatteringly as "helicopter parents," hovering constantly over their children. Often viewed as a barrier to students' progress toward independence, a nuisance to educators, and disruptive to the educational process, and with anecdote after anecdote to support the claims, so far the parents of the millennial generation-- defined as children born from 1982-2002--haven't got the greatest reputation in the world of higher education.

But is there another side of the story? Are all of today's parents meddling, interfering, unable to let go? . . .

Conversations with several educators who shared their experiences, thoughts, frustrations, and strategies suggest that while a handful of today's parents can be difficult to deal with and can indeed impee the progress, or even in some cases completely derail their chidlren's education abroad experiences, these parents are the exception, not the rule. "It's really not that that many parents are overly involved, it's just that the ones who are so memorable," says Neva Barker, director of admissions and advising for study abroad at Pitzer College.

full story (pdf)