College Faculty and Student Affairs Staff Interactions with Parents of Students

Abstract

On college campuses today, student services staff (administrators and support staff) and faculty members are not only interacting with students but also with their parents. College employee interactions with prospective students and their parents may be common during information sessions and open houses. However, outside of the recruitment season, less is known about the experiences of student affairs staff and faculty who interact with parents. Through semi-structured interviews, this study examined employees’ interactions with parents of students at four colleges of applied arts and technology in Ontario, Canada. Of the interviewees, nine faculty members and 11 student affairs staff (non-academic employees) described interacting with parents. The analysis of the interviews revealed several themes. These included college employees’ interactions with parents regarding students’ program choice and educational decision making, academic challenges, and support services. Professional practices that serve parents (and other supporters) could contribute to institutional goals, including post-secondary student persistence. This study’s research findings may inform student affairs practice and inspire new ways to support students’ college journeys in cooperation with parents and family members.