ExpectationsExpectationsExpectationsExpectations of the Millennial Student Dave Reed Department of Horticultural Sciences Texas A&M University

Expectations Setting Expectations for Freshman 2004 Freshman Convocation “Become the Best You Can Be”

Expectations Courses and Grades Courses and Grades Experience Experience People Skills and Networking People Skills and Networking Teamsmanship and Leadership Potential Teamsmanship and Leadership Potential

Student Leaders of Tomorrow Spring 2005 What are your “Expectations” of “College”? What should “College” give you that will allow you to become the “Best You Can Be”?

Student Leaders of Tomorrow List 4 of your “Expectations” of College To develop your list, think about the following: What do I hope to get out of college? What skill, characteristic or attribute do I need to start a career? What will make me employable? 1) __________________________________________ 2)___________________________________________3)___________________________________________ 4) ___________________________________________

Student Leaders of Tomorrow The “Millennial’s Expectations” of College 17% Get a degree or good education 14% Meet people, make friends or have fun 12% Develop maturity, responsibility or character 10% Gain Knowledge 9% People Skills* 8%Experience* 8% Develop specialized skill or degree 7%Leadership* 6% Become more independent, self-confident or learn self 4% Good grades* 4%Networking* * Reed’s Baby Boomer Expectations

Expectations I have come to realize that these are “My Expectations”, which reflect the Expectations of the Fading “Baby Boomers” & Current “Generation X”. Therefore, I am imposing the Expectations of “My Generation” on that of the current “Millennial Generation” the current “Millennial Generation”

Expectations We must ask the question: What are the Expectations of the “Millennial Generation”? And, where they “clash”: We must resolve the conflict!

Generations What is the “Millennial Generation”? They are the kids, primarily of Generation X, born since 1980, and who currently are infusing colleges. “Millennials” “Generation Y” “Echo Boomers” “Generation Dot Com”

Baby Boomers (40s-50s) Generation X (60-70s) MillennialsMillennialsMillennials Millennials (80s+) Generations Change

Millennials Let’s Characterize the “Millennials” primarily from Neil Howe & William Strauss, Millennials Rising – The Next Generation

A Little Bit About the Environment and Times in Which Millennials Grew Up most watched over generation in history most watched over generation in history most protected generation in history most protected generation in history came along at a time when adults started re-valuing kids came along at a time when adults started re-valuing kids came along at a time when parents made time to spend with their kids came along at a time when parents made time to spend with their kids have been exposed to advanced technology in every aspect of their life have been exposed to advanced technology in every aspect of their life have been exposed to an internet world with no boundaries have been exposed to an internet world with no boundaries Millennials

Millennials Experiences and Characteristics? Let’s outline what they have experienced in life and the characteristics these experiences have imparted in them.

Millennials Experiences and Characteristics? Heavily programmed activities by parents, guardians, teachers, coaches, organizations, etc. Heavily programmed activities by parents, guardians, teachers, coaches, organizations, etc. Like working on projects and activities in teams. Like working on projects and activities in teams. Like team based rewards/grades/recognition. Like team based rewards/grades/recognition. Don’t like to keep score. (no “winners” or “MVP”, rather the reward is in the “participation” and “experience” gained) Don’t like to keep score. (no “winners” or “MVP”, rather the reward is in the “participation” and “experience” gained)

Millennials Experiences and Characteristics? Like immediate recognition (star on helmet or at-a-boy for good play versus end of season, activity or class reward) Like immediate recognition (star on helmet or at-a-boy for good play versus end of season, activity or class reward) Consider their parent or guardian your “friend”. Consider their parent or guardian your “friend”. Believe their parent or guardian “values” you and enjoys spending time with you. Believe their parent or guardian “values” you and enjoys spending time with you. Like to please their parent, guardian, coach, teacher, etc. Like to please their parent, guardian, coach, teacher, etc.

Millennials Experiences and Characteristics? Their parents like to “play” with them, and they like to play with their parents. Their parents like to “play” with them, and they like to play with their parents. Easily bored if “nothing to do” Easily bored if “nothing to do” Not worried about what their life will be like 20 years from now. Not worried about what their life will be like 20 years from now. Respectful of authority figures (parents, guardians, teachers, policemen, fire fighters, the President, etc.) Respectful of authority figures (parents, guardians, teachers, policemen, fire fighters, the President, etc.)

Millennial’s Experiences and Characteristics Surveyed responses from 2005 SLOT Program – 80 High School Students YesSomewhatNo Experience or Characteristic 71%24%5% Heavily programmed activities by parents, guardians, teachers, coaches, organizations, etc. 44%49%6% Like working on projects and activities in teams. 35%49%16% Like team based rewards/grades/recognition. 12%42%46% Don’t like to keep score (no “winners”, “MVP”; reward “participation” & “experience”) 37%47%16% Like immediate recognition (star on helmet, at-a-boy for good play versus end of season) 55%36%9% Consider your parent or guardian your “friend”. 90%9%1% Believe your parent or guardian “values” you and enjoys spending time with you. 88%12%0% Like to please your parent, guardian, coach, teacher, etc. 51%41%9% Your parents like to “play” with you. 43%31%26% Easily bored if “nothing to do” 19%27%54% Not worried about what your life will be like 20 years from now. 86%14%0% Respectful of authority figures (parents, guardians, teachers, policemen, fire fighters, the President, etc.) 52%32%16% % Response Score (Sum 1 point for each check in column)

Millennials Expectations Let’s determine how these experiences have molded their expectations.

Millennials Millennial’s Expectations? Expect instant gratification and satisfaction. (When I do it and want to feel good about it right now) Expect instant gratification and satisfaction. (When I do it and want to feel good about it right now) Expect immediate feedback. (I want to know my score, grade, reward, right now.) Expect immediate feedback. (I want to know my score, grade, reward, right now.) Expect to be rewarded for participation, not individual accomplishment. (I want rewards based on the team’s accomplishment.) Expect to be rewarded for participation, not individual accomplishment. (I want rewards based on the team’s accomplishment.) Expect a reward for everything they do. (I expect a star or trophy for my contributions.) Expect a reward for everything they do. (I expect a star or trophy for my contributions.)

Millennials

Millennials Millennial’s Expectations? Expect to rise to the top quickly. (I expect to make a good salary and be the “boss” while I am still young and can enjoy it.) Expect to rise to the top quickly. (I expect to make a good salary and be the “boss” while I am still young and can enjoy it.) Expect to work with teams, friends and positive people, and have fun. (I want to like and be liked by my co-workers.) Expect to work with teams, friends and positive people, and have fun. (I want to like and be liked by my co-workers.) Expect to be respected by teachers, boss and peers. Expect to be respected by teachers, boss and peers. Do not expect job to control their life and other activities. Do not expect job to control their life and other activities.

Millennials Millennial’s Expectations? Expect to be challenged and learn new skills. Expect to be challenged and learn new skills. Expect technology to increase and am very comfortable with it. Expect technology to increase and am very comfortable with it. Optimistic expectations about the future. Optimistic expectations about the future. Expect to volunteer and be civic minded. Expect to volunteer and be civic minded.

Millennial’s Expectations Surveyed responses from 2005 SLOT Program – 80 High School Students YesSomewhatNoExpectation 30%48%22% I expect instant gratification and satisfaction. (When I do something, I and want to feel good about it right now) 61%26%13% I expect immediate feedback. (I want to know my score, grade, reward, right now.) 16%56%28% I expect rewards for participation, not individual accomplishment. (I want rewards based on the team’s accomplishment) 4%19%77% I expect a reward for everything I do. (I expect a star or trophy for my contributions) 34%34%32% I expect to rise to the top quickly. (I expect to make a good salary and be the “boss” while young) 87%12%1% I expect to work with teams, friends, positive people, and have fun. (I want to like and be liked by my co-workers.) 90%9%1% I expect to be respected by my teachers, boss and peers. 67%27%6% I do not expect my “job” to control my life and other activities. 95%5%9% I expect to be challenged and learn new skills. 78%16%6% I expect technology to increase, and I feel comfortable with it. 65%33%2% I have optimistic expectations about the future. 70%27%2% I expect to volunteer and be civic minded. 58%26%16% % Response Score (Sum 1 point for each check in column)

Clash of Expectations Due to different expectations, there is a Clash of Expectations between the “Baby Boomers” & “Generation X” “Baby Boomers” & “Generation X” and the “Millennials”

Clash of Expectations Examples of the “Generation Clash” Millennials Expect: expect a grade based on how hard they worked, hence expect a grade based on how hard they worked, hence expect grade inflation expect “teamwork” & “organized activities”, and do not consider “helping each other” as wrong, hence expect “teamwork” & “organized activities”, and do not consider “helping each other” as wrong, hence do not understand the “Our Generation’s definition of scholastic dishonesty

Millennials Let’s not end on negatives about the “Millennials”

Millennials - Positives Positives about these “Millennials” violent crime is down violent crime is down tobacco and alcohol use are down tobacco and alcohol use are down teen pregnancy is down teen pregnancy is down aptitude test scores are up aptitude test scores are up optimism about the future is up optimism about the future is up trust of mom & dad, authority and government are up trust of mom & dad, authority and government are up they are the best well educated, technologically advanced, and technologically comfortable generation in the history of the universe (as we know it)! they are the best well educated, technologically advanced, and technologically comfortable generation in the history of the universe (as we know it)! Some feel they may become the Next Great Generation

My New Expectations It is our job to help you achieve this potential! “We must learn” how to “teach them” without sacrificing “our academic standards”!

Their “Realistic” Expectations They must realize: ”My Generation” will assign their grades. “My Generation” will hire them. “My Generation” will promote them. They must learn how to live and function in “My Generation’s System” until They Become the “Established Generation” and start setting the “Rules”