The First Year of College: Parents' Perceptions of Their Involvement in Their Students' First Year (Poster 13)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 8
  In Poster Session: Emerging Research on Society, Culture, and Change (San Diego)

Abstract

Higher education administrators’ expectations of parental involvement are based on legal implications, research regarding best practices, and student development theories. Parents, however, may hold varying perceptions of their involvement with their first-time-in-college (FTIC) students’ first year of college as they provide advice and support to their students. The purpose of this research study was to determine differences, if any, between parents’ perceptions of their level of involvement based on parents’ demographic characteristics (e.g., ethnicity, income range, etc.). Findings from this research study demonstrated that parents’ perceptions were significantly different based on the parents’ demographic characteristics, including (a) students’ status as a first-generation college (FGC) student, (b) ethnicities, and (c) students’ anticipated residence for the first year of college.

Authors

• Elizabeth Manuel, Lake-Sumter State College

• Marjorie Ceballos, University of Central Florida

• William R. Gordon, University of Central Florida