Understanding the Millennial Generation: Understanding the Millennial Generation The A, B, C’s of Student Affairs PASSHE Conference May 25, 2005


Slide2: Welcome to the 21st Century Indiana University of Pennsylvania Rhonda H. Luckey, Ed.D. Melvin Jenkins, Ed.D. Tedd Cogar, M.Ed.


Slide3: A vignette – “the call home” Characteristics of the Millennials Student Affairs Plans and Responses


Slide4: Parent Baby Boomers 50’s & 60’s education Democratic and unmet social needs Boomers liked school Right brain dominant Creativity was enforced Independent study Concentration on middle of bell curve The Millennials (DOB 1982+) 90’s education Back to basics Values Standards School/teacher accountability Dislikes school, but sees value Left brain dominant Science & Math emphasis Collaborative learning Flattening bell curve Mainstreaming gifted and disabled


Slide5: Parent Baby Boomers Thinks outside the box Inner driven Ideal cultivating Enjoyed defying authority Less structured Individualist Drug culture The Millennials (DOB 1982+) Behaviors inside the box Colors inside the lines Outer driven Dualism reinforced Seldom questions authority More structured Team oriented Tends to suppress impulses


The Class of 2008: The Class of 2008 1986-birth year. Year that Chernobyl melted down. The Challenger explosion. Clint Eastwood elected mayor of Carmel, CA. Iran-Contra scandal was preoccupying the nation. Out of Africa won an Oscar. We Are the World won record & song of the year. US has always been a Prozac nation. They never had a chance to drink 7-UP Gold, Crystal Pepsi or Apple Slice. Alan Greenspan has always been setting the nation’s financial direction. Comedy Channel has always existed.


The Class of 2008: The Class of 2008 These students have never been tempted by smokeless cigarettes. Robert Downey, Jr. has always been in trouble. Martha Stewart has always been cooking up something with someone. They’ve always been comfortable with gay characters on TV. Mike Tyson has always been a contender. There have always been night games at Wrigley Field. Politicians have always used rock music for theme songs. Toll-free 800 numbers have always spelled out catchy phrases. Bethlehem has never been a place of peace at Christmas. Episcopal women bishops have always threatened the foundation of the Anglican Church. AZT has always been used to treat AIDS. They’ve been spared the TV ads for Zamfir and his panpipes. Castro has always been an aging politician in a suit. Cher hasn’t aged in a day.


The Millennials: The Millennials Have close ties and relate well to parents Highly dependent Less likely to venture out on own Parents referred to as “helicopter parents” always hovering Demanding of a secure, regulated environment Respectful of social conventions and mores


The Millennials: The Millennials Trained to be doers and achievers Eager to be involved Busy with extracurricular activities Focused on grades and performance Interested in math and science, less interested in humanities


The Millennials and Consumerism: The Millennials and Consumerism Voracious consumers Very brand-oriented Co-purchasing trend (with parents) E-Commerce totals $1.2B annually 41% have made an on-line purchase last year Clothing, computers and airline tickets represent 60% of total on-line spending


The Millennials and Consumerism: 80%+ have a general-purpose credit card (80% of cards are not co-signed) 33% have 4+ credit cards About 20% of students carry balances of at least $10,000 29% rely on cash for payments $122B spending power $24B in discretionary spending The Millennials and Consumerism


The Millennials at Work: The Millennials at Work 87% of students work during the summer 62% during the school year Annual earnings--$4,860 Discretionary spending - $165 per month Money from home - $283 per month for 59%


The Millennials and Cell Phones : The Millennials and Cell Phones 77% own a cell phone 62% utilize their cell phone for text messaging 41% access internet with their cell phone Expect instant communication and gratification


The Millennials and Technology: Grew up with computers 90% own a computer Technologically sophisticated and savvy 86% of college students use the Internet in comparison to 59% of overall US population College Internet users are twice as likely as other users to have ever downloaded music files The Millennials and Technology


The Millennials and Technology: Students say Internet is crucial to academic and social lives 79% say Internet has had positive impact on their experience 79% go on-line at least once per day 73% use Internet for library research 72% check e-mail daily 72% with friends 10% with family 7% with professors 60% think Internet has improved relationships with classmates 56% believe e-mail has enhanced relationship with professors 46% say e-mail enables them to express ideas to a professor that they would not have expressed in class The Millennials and Technology


Slide16: Millennial Generation Student Behavior and Technology TheFacebook.com Thefacebook is an on-line directory that connects people through social networks at colleges. You can use Thefacebook to:  •  Search for people at your school  •  Find out who is in your classes  •  Look up your friends' friends  •  See a visualization of your social network


IUP’s Planning and Accountability Culture : IUP’s Planning and Accountability Culture Practicing Stewardship Fostering Citizenship Stimulating Intellectual Growth Enhancing the Learning Environment Student Affairs 2004-05 Business Plan System Strategic Plan 2004-2009 University 2004-05 Goals Performance Enhancement Funds System Accountability Matrix Demographic Trends PASSHE Student Affairs Team


Leading the Way – PASSHE: Leading the Way – PASSHE Five Core Areas: Student Achievement and Success University and System Excellence Commonwealth Service Resource Development and Stewardship Public Service


IUP’s Student Affairs Priorities: IUP’s Student Affairs Priorities Stimulating Intellectual Growth Managing recruitment and retention Spearheading integrated marketing Sponsoring learning environments Practicing Stewardship Optimizing our resources – financial, human, physical plant, equipment, and technology Assessing our effectiveness Fostering Citizenship and Social Responsibility Mentoring our African American students Building a Student-Centered Service Culture Shaping campus culture


Helping Millennial Students Succeed : Helping Millennial Students Succeed Student-Centered Learning Environments CUSP Project ROCS and PARATUS Living-Learning Environments Service Learning Internships


Helping Millennial Students Succeed : Students decide within the first six weeks whether they are going to stay at college Encourage involvement RHC, Student Organizations Students enter with a wide variety of skill levels and readiness for college Tutorial services Peer mentors Supplemental Instruction Helping Millennial Students Succeed


Helping Millennial Students Succeed : Responsive and Caring Support Services Civility Statement Civic Engagement Chacivity Award Safe Zone Helping Millennial Students Succeed


Understanding the Millennial Generation: Understanding the Millennial Generation Discussion


Student (human) development is the principal aim of higher education and its accomplishment is the overarching obligation of all college educators.  Creamer, 1990: Student (human) development is the principal aim of higher education and its accomplishment is the overarching obligation of all college educators.  Creamer, 1990


Slide25: References Beloit College Mindset List for the Class of 2008, from http://www.beloit.edu/%7Epubaff/releases/mindset_2008.htm. Broido, E.M. (2004). Understanding diversity in millennial students. In M.D. Coomes and DeBard, R. (eds.), Serving the Millennial Generation. New directions for student services, no. 106. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Coomes, M. D. (2004). Understanding the historical and cultural influences which shape generations. In M.D. Coomes and DeBard, R. (eds.), Serving the Millennial Generation. New directions for student services, no. 106. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Coomes, M. D. and DeBard, R. (2004). A generational approach to understanding students. In M.D. Coomes and DeBard, R. (eds.), Serving the Millennial Generation. New directions for student services, no. 106. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Creamer, D. G. “Progress Toward Intentional Student Development.” In Creamer, D. G and Associates. College Student Development Theory and Practice for the 1990s. Alexandria, VA: American College Personnel Association, 1990. DeBard, R. (2004). Millennials coming to college. In M.D. Coomes and DeBard, R. (eds.), Serving the Millennial Generation. New directions for student services, no. 106. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Drexel University Orientation (2005). Dunleavey, M. P. (2005). Young, carefree…and deep in debt. Retrieved February 22, 2005 from http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CollegeandFamily/Moneyinyour20s/P105691.asp.


Slide26: References Harris Interactive. (2003). Students returning to campus with high tech war chest. E-mail retrieved August 27, 2004. Howe, N., and Strauss, W. Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation. NY: Vintage Books, 2000. Information please: 1986, from http://www.infoplease.com/yearbyyear.html. Institutional Research. Data Warehouse. Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Institutional Research. The 2001 Freshman Survey. Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Kuckuck, S. (August, 2002). Who is the IUP Student? Lewin, T. (2003, January 6). Parents' Role Is Narrowing Campus Generation Gap. New York Times. Retrieval Date Unknown, from http://www.nytimes.com. Lowery, J. W. (2004). Student affairs for a new generation. In M.D. Coomes and DeBard, R. (eds.), Serving the Millennial Generation. New directions for student services, no. 106. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Madden, M., & Jones, S. (2002).The Internet Goes to College: How Students are Living in the Future with Today's Technology. Pew Internet and American Life Project, Retrieved September 16, 2002, from http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=73 NRCCUA. (January, 2003). Building Educational Bridges. Retrieved August 5, 2004, from http://www.nrccua.org/hsrpt/srvstntl.asp?State=PA&GradYear=2004 Research Office. Enrollment Data. Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Post-Secondary Planning Survey Analysis. (2003). An In-Depth Look at Current Trends and Preferences Among College-Bound Students. Washington, DC. http://www.thefacebook.com Retrieved May 23, 2005 Toppo, G. (2004, January 25). Survey: Freshmen more political-and more conservative. USA Today. XPLORE Communications, from http://www.xplorecommunications.com/resources/studfacts.htm. Young, J., (2003, January 31.). A new take on what today's students want from college. Chronicle of Higher Education.