Nicole Nash, a civil engineering junior, is very close to her parents. She talks to her mom at least once every day.
Nash’s relationship is not so unusual — the growing trend of college students in recent years is that parents and their children are growing closer.
One reason for this stronger relationship could be that most of today’s parents attended college and understand what their own children will experience.
“I feel that they understand more, and we’ve become more like friends now that I’m in college,” Nash said. “Any problem that I have, my mom understands. She knows exactly how I feel and tells me how she felt in those situations.”
Tim Fields, a counselor at the University College Center for Freshman Year, said in the past it was seen as taboo to talk about some topics that may seem normal now.
“We never talked about majors and relationships in my house,” Fields said.
He also suggests that because so many parents attended college, they understand more and want to help with the experience. With all the competition college students face today, many look to their parents for help.
With this in mind, more students trust their parents’ advice and suggestions because they know they understand. They share more with their parents, creating a more open relationship.
As parents and their college-aged children are getting closer, more parents are getting involved and want to know what is available for the students. While students go through orientation before starting at LSU, the University provides parents with their own orientation sessions.
According to The New York Times, other universities are starting to create offices and groups for parents to become more involved in campus life. Washington University in St. Louis has an e-mail newsletter, “Family Ties,” and Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., has a parent e-mail group.
Programs at LSU such as “Parents’ Weekend” give parents a chance to meet other parents and also provide them with informational speeches from Carolyn Collins, associate vice chancellor of University College, and Paul Ivey, assistant dean and director in UCFY.
Fields notes he has seen a significant increase in parental involvement throughout the years. Parents want to know what their children are doing and what services are available to them.
“We get more parents calling and inquiring about available services,” said Fields. “If parents know the University is doing everything to take care of their child, it’s more reassuring to them.”
Ivey said some parents do “go overboard” and want to know too much. However, the Family Education and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment, protects students’ privacy.
“It provides a definition of what information can be shared about students and what requires permission from the student,” Ivey said.
With a greater understanding between parents and their college-aged children, some believe the gap between generations is narrowing.