Parents as Influencers In The Faith-Based College Search Process

1. Parents as InfluencersIn The Faith-Based College Search Process Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA) Catholic College Admission Association (CCAA)

2. Presentation Outline • Emotional and Spiritual Development Expectations of Today’s College Student • Research: What Matters to Students • Communication Pattern between Parents and Students on Issues of Faith/Spirituality • What Matters to Parents • Intersection of Student/Parent Priorities • Faculty Perspective on Spirituality • Alumni Outcome Research • Discussion Questions

3. What Matters in College • Although different types of institutions tend to have particular types of environments, … it is the environment created by the faculty and the students - rather than the type of institution per se - that really seems to matter. • It is time to reassess the impact of college. - Alexander Astin, What Matters in College?

4. What Matters in College • Our review indicates two persistent themes in the research literature on college effects. The first is the central role of other people in a student’s life, whether students or faculty, and the character of the learning environments they create…The second theme is the potency of the student’s effort and involvement in the academic and non academic systems of the institutions they attend. - Ernest T. Pascarella and Patrick T. Terenzini, How College Affects Students.

5. Religiously-Affiliated Colleges/Universities • There are 4,200 degree-granting institutions. • 2,500 of these are private. • 900 are identified as religiously affiliated. U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics

6. Spirituality in Higher Education: A National Study of College Students’ Search for Meaning and Purpose • In 2003 HERI (Higher Education Research Institute) launched a study to examine the spiritual development of undergraduate students during their college years. Spirituality in Higher Education: A National Study of College Students’ Search for Meaning and Purpose • Alexander Astin and Helen Astin wrote: “The project is based in part on the realization that the relative amount of attention that colleges and universities devote to the “exterior” and “interior” aspects of students’ development has gotten out of balance….we have increasingly come to neglect the student’s inner development---the sphere of values and beliefs, emotional maturity, spirituality and self-understanding.”

7. Spirituality Survey Details • 2004 Survey: Examines student’s background, educational/occupational aspirations, and values and beliefs with respect to spiritual and religious matters. • Data collected from 112,232 college freshmen • National sample of 236 colleges and universities • 55% women, 45% men • 66% attend public colleges/universities • 17% nonsectarian private institutions • 8% “Other” Church-Affiliated • 7% Catholic • 3% Evangelical

8. Results • Today’s college students (four in five) have very high levels of spiritual interest and involvement. • They display high levels of religious commitment and involvement. (Four in five report that they attended religious services in the past year and discuss religion/spirituality with friends and family.) • Freshmen have high expectations for the role their institutions will play in their emotional and spiritual development. • 75% of the students say that they are “searching for meaning/purpose in life” and similar numbers report that they have discussion about the meaning of life with friends.

9. Parents as Influencers • Parents and high school students are “jointly” making college decisions • “Co-Purchase“ Concept: Millennials Go To College • Helicopter Parents (www. collegeboard.com/parents) • Parents play a significant role in the occupational aspirations and career goal development of their children. (www.jobweb.com)

10. Communication Pattern between Parents and Students on Issues of Faith/Spirituality • The role of parents in the admissions process • Boston College Questionnaire about the Undergraduate Experience • Religiousness and Spirituality: Parent and Student Perspectives • Discussion Items for Families

11. WHAT MATTERS TO PARENTS

12. Lutheran Parent Survey Methodology Surveys mailed to members of ELCA and LCMS churches: • Parents of 9th grade students • Parents of 10th grade students • A total of 3000 surveys mailed • Qualified families had student in 9th or 10th grade who planned to go to college; 95% qualified • Overall response rate of 30%

13. Parent Profile • Education • Not a college graduate 44% • Public college or university graduate 41% • Other private college graduate 8% • Lutheran college graduate 7% • Gender • Female 77% • Male 23% • Married 89% • Income • Less than $50,000 31% • $50,000-74,999 37% • $75,000 or more 32%

14. Extremely Important* 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% What Matters to Parents: Experiences Undergraduate Experiences Campus community Academic reputation and facilities Spiritual growth opportunities Involvement with faculty Alternative study opportunities Extracurricular involvement * % rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=“not at all important,” and 5=“extremely important”

15. Spiritual Growth Opportunities Expected at Lutheran Colleges Parents: Where Will Students Find. . . Extremely 27% 53% 27% 31% Important: Parents: Q.11, 13,16 Where do you think students would be more likely to find. . . ?

16. Most Parents Know Lutheran Colleges Promote Faculty Involvement Parents: Where Will Students Find. . . Extremely 34% 37% 27% 45% Important: Parents: Q.13 Where do you think students would be more likely to find. . . ?

17. Parents Don’t Recognize the Availability of Other Learning Opportunities at Lutheran Colleges Parents: Where Will Students Find. . . Extremely 11% 33% 9% Important: Parents: Q.13 Where do you think students would be more likely to find. . . ?

18. Parents See No Difference in Extracurricular Opportunities Parents: Where Will Students Find. . . Extremely 11% 12% 13% 8% Important: Parents: Q.11 Where do you think students would be more likely to find. . . ?

19. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% What Matters to Parents: Outcomes Undergraduate Outcomes Extremely Important* Sense of purpose in life Critical thinking and communication skills Career preparation Strong personal values Interpersonal skills Spiritual development Contributing to the community Being well-off financially * % rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=“not at all important,” and 5=“extremely important”

20. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% What Matters to Parents: Bottom Line * % rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=“not at all important,” and 5=“extremely important”

21. Of these outcomes, parents: • recognize Lutheran colleges are better at developing strong personal values and integrating faith with other aspects of life • accurately note there is no difference between Lutheran colleges and public universities in preparing graduates to be well-off financially • concluded there were no differences for all other outcome areas, even though Lutheran college graduates gave higher ratings than public university graduates on each of them

22. Faith-based colleges must: • document their academic rigor and practical value • educate parents about the importance of an involving educational experience • explain the availability of financial aid • make college more affordable through financing options

23. Intersection of Student/Parent Priorities • Parent Priorities Spiritual growth opportunities Sense of purpose in life Strong personal values Spiritual development Contributing to the community • Student Priorities Interest in emotional and spiritual development Searching for meaning/purpose in life High degree of involvement in religion Religious beliefs provide strength, support, and guidance

24. Faculty Perspective on Spirituality • HERI Survey of faculty attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors “Spirituality and the Professoriate” • 40,670 faculty surveyed at 421 colleges/universities • The spiritual dimension of life is highly relevant • 3 in 5 college professors (64%) say that they consider themselves to be “a religious person.” • Spirituality Scale: 64% of the faculty at religious colleges have high spirituality scores, compared to 33% of faculty in public universities

25. Highly Spiritual Faculty • Highly spiritual faculty express a much more positive outlook about their jobs and their lives (59%) than their less spiritual colleagues (36%). • Highly spiritual faculty support the use of “student-centered” pedagogical approaches such as cooperative learning, group projects, and reflective writing • 57% of college/university faculty disagree with the statement that “the spiritual dimension of faculty members’ lives has no place in the academy.”

26. Comparative Alumni Studies • LECNA Comparative Alumni Study in 1999, updated in 2004 www.lutherancolleges.org/research • CCAA Comparative Alumni Study 2006 • Snapshot of those results…….

27. A Comparative Advantage Alumni Study

28. A Majority of Classes Taught by Professors Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . rating “benefited very much” (top box on a five-point scale)

29. High Quality, Teaching-Oriented Faculty Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . rating “benefited very much” (top box on a five-point scale)

30. Professors Often Challenged Students, But Personally Helped Them Meet the Challenge Q.2 How often did your college experience include the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=never and 5=always)

31. Faculty Personally and Academically Interested in Students Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (rating a 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree)

32. Professor Served as Mentor or Role Model in College Q. 4 Who, if anyone, did you meet at your college who was a mentor or role model for you?

33. Extensive Classroom Discussions Q.2 How often did your college experience include the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=never and 5=always)

34. Participated in Off-Campus or International Study Q. 5 While in college, did you participate in . . . ?

35. Volunteer or Community Service Activities Q.6A Were you involved in any of the following?

36. Academic Clubs and Activities Q.6A Were you involved in any of the following?

37. Frequent Interaction with Students with Similar Values Q.2 How often did your college experience include the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=never and 5=always)

38. Friendships Often Developed from Classroom Experiences Q.2 How often did your college experience include the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=never and 5=always)

39. Integration of Values and Ethics in Classroom Discussions Q.2 How often did your college experience include the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=never and 5=always)

40. College Helped Integrate Faith with Other Aspects of Life Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (rating a 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree)

41. Writing Effectively Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop . . .? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

42. Leadership Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop . . .? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

43. Developing Moral Principles that Can Guide Actions Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop . . .? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

44. A Sense of Purpose in Life Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop . . .? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)