1. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Helicopter Parents

2. Elizabeth Preston Moderator Henry Ford College

3. Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Erin Macioce
Assistant Director,
Financial Aid
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kara Marcusse
Assistant Director, Financial Aid
Cornerstone University

4. Assistant Director for Outreach University of Michigan
Steven Foster
Assistant Director for Outreach
University of Michigan
Linda Berlin
Director, Financial Aid/Enrollment
Northwestern Michigan College

5. What are Helicopter Parents?

6. How does this make our jobs as Financial Aid Professionals more difficult?
FERPA and security policy
Students that do not understand their financial aid obligations, rights, and responsibilities
Parents signing online loan agreements
Parents filling out forms
Parents accessing students s and student portals and/or online course information

7. Are there any good qualities associated with Helicopter Parents?

8. What challenges are associated with Helicopter Parents?
Parents not allowing students to thrive
Students need to fail in order to learn
Student’s are dependent on others
Poor coping strategies
Student’s are ill prepared for college
Student’s do not learn necessary life skills
Future Student financial woes
10 years later

9. Tips for working with Helicopter Parents
Include student in all conversations as often as possible
Make sure to talk to the student directly even if parent is there
Work cooperatively with parent to encourage self sufficiency.
Educate parent and student the importance of student understanding of own financial aid obligations
Tips for working with Helicopter Parents

10. How would you handle a Helicopter parent?
Remain polite and calm
Always follow FERPA and Institution Policy
Discuss financial aid options or concerns only when student is present
Make sure that both student and parent understand the financial aid processes and obligations

11. Experiences Share your most difficult helicopter parent
Share how you worked with them? What strategies worked best?
What are things to avoid?

12. Thank you!