The Millennial Generation: The Next Generation in College Enrollment

1. The Millennial Generation:The Next Generation in College Enrollment Hawaii Strategy Institute – April 16, 2010 Terri Manning Bobbie Frye Cheryl Roberts A Study Funded by the Workforce Development Board

2. It May Take a Village to Raise a Child, but it Takes a Society to Raise a Generation Economic Conditions Societal Norms Political Events Major Crises

3. Consists of approximately a 20-year span (not all demographers and generation researchers agree on the exact start/stop dates) • Has a unique set of values • Reacts to the generation before them, looks skeptically at the one behind them. • Looks at their generation as the standard of comparison • They are either idealistic, reactive, civic or adaptive Each Generation

4. Raised by the GI Generation (civic) • Large families (3-5 children) • Strong sense of extended family (same town or home) • Grandparents in the home • Average 10-year-old spent 4-6 hours daily with a significant adult role model • Rural society, apprenticeship businesses and farming • Perception of the world as “safe” Core Values Dedication Hard Work Conformity Law and Order Patience Delayed Reward Duty before Pleasure Adherence to Rules Honor The Veterans Childhood

5. Children of the Great Depression and WWII. • Lost their childhood and adolescence to hardship, work and duty. • Returned after the war and worked hard. • The overall goal was not to change the system, but to work within it. • Were economically very successful. • Inventors of "the midlife crises.” • We are spending their wealth now through foundations and philanthropic orgs. The Veterans

6. Divorce reached a low in 1960 of 9% • Families moved due to GI Bill, GI housing and industrialization • First generation to live miles from extended family • Family size smaller (2-3 children) • Few grandparents in the home • Moms stayed home – no daycare • Children spent significant time • adult role models (mostly mom) • Perception of the world as “safe” Core Values Optimism Team Orientation Personal Gratification Health and Wellness Personal Growth Youth Work Involvement The Baby Boomers 1943–1964 (largest generation, idealist)

7. Very idealistic - banned together - a force to be reckoned with • Generation gap occurred between them and their parents • Believed one should question authority and question your elders • Weren’t friendly toward authority figures • Did not get along with their parents and swore they would not raise their kids like they were raised Baby-boomer Results

8. The Gen Xers 1965–1981 A Lost Generation… A Nomadic Generation….. Half the Size of the Baby Boom (reactive) The Late Veterans and Early Boomers Gave Birth to the Next Generation

9. Divorce reached an all-time high • Single-parent families became the norm • Latch-key kids were a major issue of the time • Children not as valued – looked at as a hardship • Families spread out (miles apart) • Family size = 1.7 children (many only-children) • Perception of the world as “unsafe” • Average 10 year old spent 14 ½ minutes a day with a significant adult role model • Core Values • Dedication • Hard Work • Conformity • Law and Order • Patience • Delayed reward • Duty before pleasure • Adherence to rules • Honor The Gen X Childhood

10. This is the conscientious, extremely pragmatic, self-sufficient generation that has a ruthless focus on the bottom-line. • Born and raised at a time when children were at the bottom of our social priorities • Learned to count on themselves. Are considered "me" oriented. • They are not active voters, nor are they deeply involved in politics in general. • Parents looked around and said “ we have to do this better.” Generation X

11. Generation Next (civic)

12. The Echo Boom/Millennials… • The Millennials are almost as large as the baby boom-some say larger - depending on how you measure them (approx. 81M). • The Millennials are the children born between 1982 and 2002 (peaked in 1990), a cohort called by various names: Echo Boom Generation Y Net Generation Millennials

13. Abortion rates peaked in 1980 - slowly declined. • Poverty rate for children peaked in 1983 and began a slow decline (Medicaid began). • US divorce rate peaked in 1981 - began a decline. • Homicide rate against children peaked in 1982 and began a • decline. • They were born into a better world, a more optimistic world than the generation before them. • Born in infertility era, parents really wanted them. Things Began to Change for This Generation

14. This generation is civic-minded, much like the previous GI Generation. • They are collectively optimistic, long-term planners, high achievers with lower rates of violent crime, teen pregnancy, smoking and alcohol use than ever before. • This generation believes that they have the potential to be great and they probably do. • We are looking to them to provide us with a new definition of citizenship. Millennials

15. Smaller families • Many only children • Born to older parents (many over 30 and in 40s) • More parental education: 1 in 4 has at least one parent with a college degree. • Mothers are better educated than their fathers by a small margin (late 90s). Demographic Trends, cont.

16. Increase in immigration • Nearly 35% of Millennials are nonwhite or Latino. • Twenty percent of this generation has at least one parent who is an immigrant. • Different holiday and family traditions in a “celebrate diversity world.” • Millennials have become the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in US History. Demographic Trends – Changing Diversity

17. Safety Issues The Safest Generation • This generation was buckled up in car seats, wore bike helmets, elbow and knee pads when skating, and were the inspiration for “Baby on Board” signs. The Well-Being of U.S. Teens • Mortality Rate for US teens aged 15–19 declined from 1960 to 1997. -Teens are having fewer accidents than Boomers

18. Their parents • The self-esteem movement • The customer service movement • Gaming and technology • Casual communication Major Influencing Factors

19. This generation is being parented by well-educated, over-involved, outcome-based adults who participate in “deliberate parenting.” • Boomers were the first generation to be thrown out in to an unsafe world. • The 60’s and 70’s were very scary and many of us felt unprepared for it. Parenting Millennials

20. Baby Boomers as Parents • Boomers rebelled against the parenting practices of their parents – didn’t want rigid structure. • They made conscious decisions not to say “because I told you so” but to explain “why.” • Boomers became more friendly” with their children. They wanted to have open lines of communication and a relationship with them.

21. They explained things to their children, (actions, consequences, options, etc.) – they wanted them to learn to make informed decisions. • They allowed their children to have input into family decisions, educational options and discipline issues. • We told them “just because it is on television doesn’t mean it’s true” or “you can’t believe everything you read.” We wanted them to question authority. Baby Boomers as Parents

22. The Result • Millennials have become “master negotiators” who are capable of rational thought and decision-making skills at young ages. • They will negotiate with anyone including their parents, teachers and school administrators. • They want what they want and parents see that they get it.

23. Helicopter Parent (n) A parent who hovers over his or her children. • Or Snowplow parent: Parents who clear the way for their children • ……these (echo) boomers are confident, achievement-oriented and used to hovering "helicopter" parents keeping tabs on their every move. Helicopter Parents (Anthony DeBarros, "New baby boom swamps colleges," USA Today, January 2, 2003)

24. Baby Boomer Parents have been their Biggest Cheerleaders • Millennials expect and need praise. • Will mistake silence for disapproval. • Millennials expect feedback. • Looking for a mentor

25. Parental Care in the Millennial Era • Today’s typical family is spending more, not less time with kids. • Smaller families mean more time with each child. • Fathers are spending more time with children. • Less housework is being done. • There is a strong connection between the social lives of parents and kids. • They get along with their parents and share their parents’ values.

26. An Associate Press/MTV poll asked millennials who they looked up to as heroes? • 50% said their parents (29% mom, 21% dad) • 11% named a friend • 10% said God • 8% named a grandmother • 7% a brother • 5% a teacher or professor Who are your heroes? CNN 8/20/07

27. This generation was the center of the “self-esteem” movement. • 9,068 books were written about self-esteem and children during the 80s and 90s (there were 485 in the 70s). • The state of California spent millions studying the construct and published a document entitled “Toward a State of Self-esteem.” • They want to feel valued and cared about. Focus on Self-esteem

28. Expect access (24/7) • Expect things to work like they are supposed to • If they don’t “that is your problem” • They want what they have paid for • Everything comes with a toll-free number or web address • Want “system-restore” options in classes Focus on Customer Service

29. Gaming has impacted children • The game endings changed based on the decisions children made (Role Playing Games [Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Chronotrigger]) impacting locus of control. • Involves a complex set of decision- making skills. • Teaches them to take multiple pieces of data and make decisions quickly. • Learning more closely resembles Nintendo, a trial and error approach to solving problems. Add the Impact of Gaming

30. We navigated our way through…..

31. They navigated their way through…..

32. Technology • This generation has been plugged in since they were babies… educational software and computer games. • Blueprint in head for how things work. • They think technology should be free. • They want and expect services 24/7. • They do not live in an 8–5 world. • They function in an international world. • Technology access is a class issues not a race issue.

33. With technology • With each other • Online • In their time • In their place • Doing things that matter (most important) Millennials Want to Learn Source: Achievement and the 21st Century Learner.

34. Students are increasingly savvy when it comes to technology. • In general, students expect faculty to incorporate technology into their teaching and be proficient at it. • At the very least, communication via e-mail, access to online resources, PowerPoint presentations, Internet activities, discussion boards and electronic classrooms are expected. • Faculty will need to balance the use of technology with their own philosophies of teaching. Technology In School

35. Technology Use Among Youth and Teens

36. Time Spent Social Networking in a Typical Day (up 82%)

38. Media Use Changes Among 8-18 Year-olds

39. Teen social networking by the numbers • 51 Percent of teens check their sites more than once a day. • 22 Percent check their sites more than 10 times a day. • 39 Percent have posted something they later regretted. • 37 Percent have used the sites to make fun of other students. • 25 Percent have created a profile with a false identity. • 24 Percentage who have hacked into someone else's social networking account. • 13 Percentage who have posted nude or seminude pictures or videos of themselves or others online. • But these are issues of income. Will a child who grows up in a low income household have these same experiences? Youth Habits…..

40. Students have never known life without the computer. It is an assumed part of life. • The Internet is a source of research, interactivity, and socializing (they prefer it over TV). • Doing is more important than knowing. • There is zero tolerance for delays. • The infrastructure and the lecture tradition of colleges may not meet the expectations of students raised on the Internet, active learning and interactive games. The “Information Age” Mindset

41. They all have cell phones and expect to be in contact 24/7. • Not a phone – a lifestyle management tool • Staying “connected” is essential. • Communication is a safety issue for parents. • Communication has become casual for students (IM, email and cell phones. Cell Phone Technology

42. Not all students will be proficient; first-generation and students from low income or working class families may have less experience. • Their experience with technology has been in arcades and minimally in school (poorer districts.) • They have not had the exposure to educational uses of technology. • We need another placement test – remedial keyboarding and technology. • Huge digital divide between the “haves” and the “have nots” based on income levels (class). • Digital divide is appearing in pre-K. What About 1st Generation Students?

43. Clear expectations, explicit syllabi, and well structured assignments. • They expect detailed instructions and guidelines for completing assignments. • They have come from K-12 systems where students are actively involved in learning and classroom activities change often. • Teachers are helpers and facilitators of learning. Millennial Expectations

44. Satisfaction with Online Courses Source: Educause

45. Ambitions • Most popular college majors: • Medicine • Education/teaching • Business and marketing • Engineering • Law and politics • Computer science • Most sought after qualities in careers: • Idealistic and committed co-workers • Responsibility • Independence • Creativity • Most common job trends : • Seek security & benefits • Stay with company that offers a challenge • Multi-taskers • Change Careers Source: Industry Week, March, 1998.

46. Difference in Values • They have witnessed their baby boomer parents coming home from stressed jobs, exhausted, falling asleep at the dinner table; and don’t want that for themselves. • They are a generation who is interested in a life with value and meaning – they do not aspire to what the “boomers” aspire to – they want something different.

47. True Multi-taskers • Millennials have lived programmed lives and are quite capable of learning several jobs simultaneously and performing them admirably. • Millennials will change careers many times. • Retooling and recycling their skills and talents will become common. • To retain them, smart employers will encourage Millennials to try out different careers within the same company.

48. Many private schools, charter schools, magnet schools – all to meet the needs of the individual child –many, many choices • School uniforms, child safety, high performance standards, character education, cooperative learning and community service • Goal oriented – outcome based education (what’s in it for me) • School is a means to an end – one must endure until the next level • Interactive, participatory and engaging – are consulted by adults • Everything 24/7 and available electronically Millennial School Experiences

49. No “grunt work” - must do “meaningful work”, participate in decisions • International flavor, celebrate diversity, different is okay • Motivated by working with bright, motivated and moral people • Student makes judgments about truth and believability of what is taught • Classroom mainstreamed – multiple levels based on ability and interest • Constantly tested and compared to peers (learned to take tests so now of little use for college admissions) • Feel pressure for high achievement Millennial School Experiences

50. Try it their way – always looking for better, faster way of doing things • Prefer graphics before text, reading of excerpts • Like small and fast processing technology – best when networked • Want instant gratification and frequent rewards (spot) How Millennials Learn