Summer 2002
Rodney Johnson and Parent Services
Advice for Freshmen and Their Parents
ByGeorge!: What
can parents expect from the Office of Parent Services?
Rodney Johnson: Our mission is service
and communication. We make sure parents have as much information as
we can give them concerning the University. There is no way we could
mail parents all the information about the University because it would
cost us an unbelievable amount of money. What we can provide, however,
is a trained staff available Monday-Friday from 9 am – 5:30 pm
to take phone calls from parents. We never leave our office with unattended
voicemail messages. Additionally, we host information sessions during
Colonial Inauguration. One theme is, “Parents Are A Priority,”
where we talk about issues and services of the University. I also do
a session on “letting go” to try and help ease the transition
parents have when sending their child to college. What parents ultimately
receive from us is a place where they can come with questions, concerns,
or if they need some advice.
ByG!: What are some of the basic communication
resources you offer?
RJ: We have a Web page at gwired.gwu.edu/parents.
In addition, we also have a newsletter, The Colonial Connection Newsletter,
that we publish three times a year, once in the fall, spring, and summer.
Our newsletter can also be found on our Web site. Each year we send
to every parent of a new student a copy of the University handbook/planner.
Our staff works closely with the staff of Colonial Inauguration and
during the days of CI, parents receive a plethora of information about
the University and the Office of Parent Services.
ByG!: Freshmen will be leaving home for
the first time and both students and parents must deal with this transition
on different levels. What are some coping strategies for both groups?
RJ: One of the best coping approaches that
parents and students can use to help facilitate their transition is
communication. In addition, parents need to understand there is a learning
curve that students are going to have when they go off to college, not
only on the academic side, but on the social and personal aspects as
well. I talk with parents about how to be there for their children,
because we have found that students whose parents are involved, but
not intrusive, do better in college. We want parents to be involved,
we want them to know what is taking place here at the University. It
is a big investment for parents to pay for their son’s or daughter’s
education. On the other hand, they have to understand this is their
child’s experience. The students are the ones going to college
and living in Washington. Parents cannot stay up half the night worrying
whether Johnny or Mary is in at midnight because they will not be. Parents
cannot become overly anxious wondering if their child is going to get
up and go to class, eat the right foods, or go to the library and study.
It is imperative that parents trust that what they have done up to this
point as a caregiver will carry over and make a difference. Students
will make mistakes, but the ultimate goal is for them to learn how to
maintain their lives and make the best decisions for themselves.
ByG!: Many parents might be concerned about
their children living in Washington, especially in light of Sept. 11.
What will your office be doing this year and how will you help calm
the concerns of parents?
RJ: I have lived in Washington for 16 years,
and I was afraid on Sept. 11. I was concerned immediately after and
I am still concerned now. While I have my apprehensions, I refuse, and
I tell parents as well, that they should not allow the events of Sept.
11 to affect where they allow their child to attend school. I had an
interesting conversation with a parent from New Mexico in which she
told me that she wanted her daughter to come home. I asked the parent
how far they live from Los Alamos, and she replied that they are only
45 minutes away. I said to her, “And you’re concerned about
your daughter living in Washington, DC?” She answered back with,
“Oh, Mr. Johnson, I had never thought of that.” The point
of that story is that I did not try to undermine the apprehension of
that parent, but to help her see that tragedy can take place anywhere.
The George Washington University has a wonderful administration that
recognizes there are things we now need to do that we did not even have
to think about before Sept. 11. The University has hired John Petrie,
assistant vice president for public safety and emergency management,
and we also have Dolores Stafford, our chief of police. We have a lot
of personnel who focus on safety and security. Washington is a big city,
and it must be approached in that manner. People do not come to DC and
act the same way they would in my hometown of Asheville, NC. Common
sense is a must. Many parents have fears because of our proximity to
the White House, Pentagon, and State Department, but those distinguished
institutions contribute to the overall GW experience. Students come
to GW for the opportunities that Washington, DC has to offer. The government
is not going to pack up and move out of Washington, and neither is GW.
All the University can do is be vigilant in making sure that everything
is in place to ensure the safety of its students and employees. Unfortunately,
I do not think that anyone was prepared for Sept. 11, and consequently,
we have to look at things differently now. The University has made great
strides to accomplish that.
ByG!: Who are the Parents’ Association
volunteers, and what is their role?
RJ: The Parents’ Association volunteers
are parents who are either on the Parents’ Association Advisory
Council (PAAC) or who are members of the Parents’ Association (PA).
These parents come to DC during the summer to help with CI. They man
our information tables, talk during our information sessions, help out
my staff, and help give parents another parent’s perspective. There
are only four people who work for me, so during CI there is no way that
we could talk with every parent, so our PA volunteers help us tremendously
by being there to answer questions. It is my belief that parents of
new students feel more comfortable talking to a parent of a current
student than an administrator. At times just talking with another parent
who has a child at GW can help relieve a lot of their anxieties.
ByG!: You have been here 16 years. In what
ways has GW changed that has had the most impact on parents or on your
office?
RJ: The principal change that I have seen
is that Vice President Robert Chernak and President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg
had a vision that the University needed to do a better job communicating
and serving parents. I created this office 10 years ago and the PA eight
years ago. I think GW’s commitment to making sure parents are informed
about what takes place and feel a part of the community has had a profound
impact on parents and their relationship with GW. When I go to other
universities and conferences and talk with families and administrators,
they all just shake their head in awe when I tell them the kinds of
initiatives we have at GW. I’ve also seen our physical plant change
tremendously. Our academic programs have grown. Parents and students
are only here for four to six years. They want everything right now.
When I introduced President Trachtenberg last year at Family Weekend,
I said to the families that if you walk around this campus and look
at all of the changes that are going on now, what you have to understand
is that the man I’m going to introduce started making plans for
these when your sons and daughters were in the second or third grade.
These just didn’t happen last year. I had a parent come up to me
after and say they hadn’t thought of that. Everything that’s
going on now was thought of a long time ago.
ByG!: Are all parents member of the Parents’
Association?
RJ: Yes, they are.
ByG!: What are some of the events planned
for families in 2002–03?
RJ: The main event for next year is Colonials
Weekend, which is Oct. 11–13. Colonials Weekend is the only time
when we can invite parents and alumni back officially. This year for
Colonials Weekend we have Jay Leno coming to give two performances on
Oct. 12, one is at 8 pm and the other at 10 pm. We also host the annual
meeting of the Parents’ Association.
Overall the University has done and continues to do an outstanding job
of service and communication to parents, and we are going to continue
to keep working at it. When we first formed this office, Vice President
Chernak said to me that he wanted every parent to know that there is
at least one place and one individual they can call who will call them
back, listen to them, and give them guidance. The Office of Parent Services
has grown to be much larger than just myself, but if you get back to
the basics, that is what it is all about — helping parents understand
the University and helping parents to help their son’s and daughter’s
be successful.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
