Understanding the Millennial Student MASFAA CONFERENCE May 2005 Searcy Taylor Mississippi Gulf Coast...

Understanding the Understanding the Millennial StudentMillennial Student

MASFAA CONFERENCEMASFAA CONFERENCEMay 2005May 2005

Searcy TaylorSearcy TaylorMississippi Gulf Coast Mississippi Gulf Coast

Community CollegeCommunity College

Nancy MacNeilNancy MacNeilAAmericanmerican S Studenttudent A Assistancessistance

Presented byPresented by

AGENDAAGENDA

Who are they?Who are they? What are their characteristics?What are their characteristics? What are their expectations?What are their expectations? How can you meet their expectations?How can you meet their expectations? How can you better communicate with How can you better communicate with

them?them?

When You Were Born Affects:When You Were Born Affects:

VALUES (early years mold your values)VALUES (early years mold your values) ATTITUDES (values shape your attitude)ATTITUDES (values shape your attitude) CHOICES (attitude determine your CHOICES (attitude determine your

choices)choices)

The Generational CycleThe Generational Cycle

Represent people “moving through time” Represent people “moving through time” with a distinct image of themselveswith a distinct image of themselves

Each generation has a set of common Each generation has a set of common beliefs and behaviorsbeliefs and behaviors

Each generation has a common location in Each generation has a common location in historyhistory

COMMON GENERATIONSCOMMON GENERATIONS

GI/Veteran 1901 – 1924GI/Veteran 1901 – 1924 Silent/Traditionalist 1925 – 1942Silent/Traditionalist 1925 – 1942 Baby Boomers 1943 - 1960Baby Boomers 1943 - 1960 Generation X 1961 - 1981Generation X 1961 - 1981 Millennials 1982 - TodayMillennials 1982 - Today

WHO are the MILLENIALS?WHO are the MILLENIALS?

Children of late boomers and early Children of late boomers and early GenXers GenXers

““Babies on Board” of the early Reagan Babies on Board” of the early Reagan yearsyears

““Have You Hugged Your Child Today” Have You Hugged Your Child Today” sixth graders of the early Clinton yearssixth graders of the early Clinton years

Teens of ColumbineTeens of Columbine

What has SHAPED their times?What has SHAPED their times?

Focus on children and family Focus on children and family Scheduled, Structured LivesScheduled, Structured Lives MulticulturalismMulticulturalism TerrorismTerrorism HeroismHeroism PatriotismPatriotism Parent AdvocacyParent Advocacy Globalism Globalism

Growing Up “Messages”Growing Up “Messages”

Be smart – you are special (Nickelodeon, Baby Be smart – you are special (Nickelodeon, Baby Gap, Sports Illustrated for Kids)Gap, Sports Illustrated for Kids)

Leave no one behind (taught to be inclusive and Leave no one behind (taught to be inclusive and tolerant of other religions and sexual tolerant of other religions and sexual orientations)orientations)

Connect 24/7 (learned to be interdependent-on Connect 24/7 (learned to be interdependent-on family, friends, and teachers)family, friends, and teachers)

Achieve now! (right college, right preschool)Achieve now! (right college, right preschool) Serve your community – think of the greater Serve your community – think of the greater

goodgood

MILLENIALS ARE:MILLENIALS ARE:

SPECIAL SPECIAL SHELTEREDSHELTERED CONFIDENTCONFIDENT TEAM-ORIENTEDTEAM-ORIENTED ACHIEVINGACHIEVING PRESSUREDPRESSURED CONVENTIONALCONVENTIONAL

MILLENIALS ARE SPECIALMILLENIALS ARE SPECIAL

Generation of “wanted” childrenGeneration of “wanted” children Central to their parents’ sense of purposeCentral to their parents’ sense of purpose Many Boomer parents delayed having Many Boomer parents delayed having

children until financially secure children until financially secure

MILLENIALS ARE SHELTEREDMILLENIALS ARE SHELTERED

Baby on Board signs were created for this Baby on Board signs were created for this generationgeneration

Their well being has dominated legislation Their well being has dominated legislation (child restraints, home products, (child restraints, home products, movie/video ratings, campus security)movie/video ratings, campus security)

Boomer parents tend to be over-protectiveBoomer parents tend to be over-protective

MILLENIALS ARE CONFIDENTMILLENIALS ARE CONFIDENT

Raised by parents believing in the Raised by parents believing in the importance of self-esteemimportance of self-esteem

Optimistic yet practical Optimistic yet practical Hopeful of the futureHopeful of the future Enjoy strong connections with their Enjoy strong connections with their

parentsparents

MILLENIALS ARE TEAM-MILLENIALS ARE TEAM-ORIENTEDORIENTED

They are used to being organized in teamsThey are used to being organized in teams They have spent much of their time They have spent much of their time

working and learning in groupsworking and learning in groups They have established tight peer bondsThey have established tight peer bonds They are inclusive They are inclusive

MILLENIALS ARE ACHIEVINGMILLENIALS ARE ACHIEVING

They are very much into setting and They are very much into setting and meeting goals meeting goals

They have the benefit of best-educated They have the benefit of best-educated parents parents

They are the smartest ever with rising They are the smartest ever with rising proficiency in math, science and proficiency in math, science and standardized tests standardized tests

They are subject to mandatory testingThey are subject to mandatory testing

MILLENIALS ARE PRESSUREDMILLENIALS ARE PRESSURED

They are pushed to study hard They are pushed to study hard They are pushed to succeedThey are pushed to succeed They are pushed to attend collegeThey are pushed to attend college They are pushed to choose careers that They are pushed to choose careers that

“pay off” nicely“pay off” nicely

MILLENIALS ARE MILLENIALS ARE CONVENTIONALCONVENTIONAL

They identify with their parents’ valuesThey identify with their parents’ values They feel close to their parentsThey feel close to their parents They are “rule followers” (if we give them They are “rule followers” (if we give them

clear rules they can understand)clear rules they can understand) They accept authorityThey accept authority ““Whatever” – passive approach to dissentWhatever” – passive approach to dissent

OTHER CHARACTERISTICSOTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Technology and Multitasking are a way of lifeTechnology and Multitasking are a way of life Trial and error is the key learning strategy Trial and error is the key learning strategy

(Nintendo logic)(Nintendo logic) They are used to bits and bytes, flash and colorThey are used to bits and bytes, flash and color They are racially and ethnically diverseThey are racially and ethnically diverse They want their parents involved (really They want their parents involved (really

involved)involved) There is zero tolerance for delaysThere is zero tolerance for delays

Ways to Equip Yourself for the Ways to Equip Yourself for the Millennial StudentMillennial Student

WEB USAGEWEB USAGE

Informational vs. TransactionalInformational vs. Transactional Our usage vs. Students’ usageOur usage vs. Students’ usage

ONLINE HABITS AND BEHAVIORONLINE HABITS AND BEHAVIOR

The younger the student, the more The younger the student, the more internet and computer savvyinternet and computer savvy

82% are online daily82% are online daily Average 12 hours per weekAverage 12 hours per week

THE CLASS OF 2008 ~ THE CLASS OF 2008 ~ PreferencesPreferences

Information must be individually tailoredInformation must be individually tailored Portability of information is criticalPortability of information is critical Content must be dynamically generatedContent must be dynamically generated ‘‘Lag Time’ is a foreign conceptLag Time’ is a foreign concept Web Surfing is passéWeb Surfing is passé

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THIS WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THIS INFORMATION?INFORMATION?

Know your studentsKnow your students

- trend watching; polls- trend watching; polls Determine your solutionDetermine your solution Can your web site compete?Can your web site compete?

- mobility, uniqueness, interactivitymobility, uniqueness, interactivity

1 - Mobility1 - Mobility

Mobile Web SitesMobile Web Sites Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)

PalmPalm Pocket PCPocket PC Smart phonesSmart phones

2 - Uniqueness2 - Uniqueness

Look no further than your own Look no further than your own browser…browser…

Content delivery must be relevantContent delivery must be relevant Yahoo & Amazon changed everything - Yahoo & Amazon changed everything -

for the betterfor the better

3 - Interactivity3 - Interactivity

Interactive award lettersInteractive award letters Interactive calculators and estimatorsInteractive calculators and estimators Interactive forms and electronic Interactive forms and electronic

signaturessignatures http://www.formsite.comhttp://www.formsite.com

Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) forms are Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) forms are notnot interactiveinteractive

3 – Interactivity 3 – Interactivity (cont’d)(cont’d)

Engage with technology – teach with Engage with technology – teach with contentcontent

Extend your customer service model Extend your customer service model (FAQs, email, phone, instant (FAQs, email, phone, instant messaging)messaging)

Virtual Counseling ToolsVirtual Counseling Tools http://www.liveperson.comhttp://www.liveperson.com / /

http://www.humanclick.comhttp://www.humanclick.com

Summary…Summary…

Comparison of GenerationsComparison of Generations Millennial Students’ ExpectationsMillennial Students’ Expectations Understanding YOUR StudentsUnderstanding YOUR Students Areas of concentration for web sites:Areas of concentration for web sites:

Mobility, uniqueness, interactivityMobility, uniqueness, interactivity

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

CONTACT INFORMATIONCONTACT INFORMATION

Nancy MacNeilNancy MacNeilAmerican Student Assistance American Student Assistance

(ASA)(ASA)

[email protected]@amsa.com

617.728.4677617.728.4677

Searcy TaylorSearcy TaylorMississippi Gulf Coast Mississippi Gulf Coast

Community CollegeCommunity College

[email protected]@mgccc.cc.ms.us

228.897.3886228.897.3886

REFERENCESREFERENCES GenerationsGenerations Millenials Rising: The Next Great GenerationMillenials Rising: The Next Great Generation Millenials Go To CollegeMillenials Go To College ““Look to the Web to Increase Recruitment”Look to the Web to Increase Recruitment”http://www.universitybusiness.comhttp://www.universitybusiness.com ““The Information-Age Mindset, Changes in The Information-Age Mindset, Changes in

Students and Implications for Higher Education”, Students and Implications for Higher Education”, Jason L. Frand, EDUCAUSE ReviewJason L. Frand, EDUCAUSE Review

““Understand the Millenial Generation to Manage Understand the Millenial Generation to Manage Them Successfully”Them Successfully”

http://www.digitu.com/enews/012millenials.htmlhttp://www.digitu.com/enews/012millenials.html

REFERENCESREFERENCES ““Managing the Millenials”Managing the Millenials”http://www.generationsatwork.comhttp://www.generationsatwork.com ““Whassup? A Glimpse Into the Attitudes and Beliefs of Whassup? A Glimpse Into the Attitudes and Beliefs of

the Millenial Generation”the Millenial Generation”http://www.collegevalues.org/seereview.cfmhttp://www.collegevalues.org/seereview.cfm ““Digital Community Colleges and the Coming of the Digital Community Colleges and the Coming of the

‘Millenials’” ‘Millenials’” http://www.thejournal.comhttp://www.thejournal.com ““The Millenial Generation Comes to College”The Millenial Generation Comes to College”http://www.itc.virginia.edu/fall02http://www.itc.virginia.edu/fall02 ““Boomers, Gen-Xers, and Millenials: Understanding Boomers, Gen-Xers, and Millenials: Understanding

the New Students”, Diana Oblinger, EDUCAUSE the New Students”, Diana Oblinger, EDUCAUSE ReviewReview

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