Why Family Experience Is Key to Your College Student's Success with William & Mary's Heather Deere E153
Your student isn't the only one at college who has someone in their corner, you might too, if you know who to call.
Heather Deere spends her days on the other end of the phone calls families make when they can't tell if their student is really doing okay three states away. She's the Director of Family Engagement & Student Affairs Communications at William & Mary. In this episode, she walks Rick and Clancy through her coaching model, the shift from directing a student to consulting with one, and why she tells every incoming family that senior year is a sweet chapter nobody should rush through.
What you'll learn in this episode:
- Why William & Mary uses a coaching model for their family engagement approach
- The most common calls Heather fields from families in the first six weeks
- How Heather's own first-gen college experience shapes her advice to families today
- Why she tells families to let their student take their foot off the gas senior year
- The one question to ask before stepping in to handle something for your student
Want to learn more about William & Mary's family engagement approach? Visit wm.edu/families or follow along on Instagram at WM_families.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introducing Heather Deere and William & Mary
01:11 What a coaching model means for families
04:15 Day-to-day calls families actually make
06:26 How differently each kid communicates
08:04 Being a first-gen student shapes her approach
12:10 Encouraging families to enjoy senior year
16:33 What families really feel during move-in
21:14 Common issues in the first semester
23:44 Retroactive guilt over old advice26:31 The question to ask before stepping in
31:55 Where to learn more about William & Mary
Want to be a guest on The Loud Quiet - Empty Nest Living? Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethost
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).
