College Parent Central has just turned two!  We began this website on April 1, 2009 — somehow April Fool’s Day seemed appropriate for something that launched us into the unknown.  Two years later, we continue to believe even more firmly than ever that college parents are an important part of student success.

After two years of writing about college parenting, talking to college parents, working with college students, and working and speaking with professional colleagues, we have learned much and continue to feel that we have a place in helping parents.  We are grateful to those people who have shared their stories and wisdom and helped us as we continue to reach out to parents who may find our information helpful,

Our purpose

We began College Parent Central two years ago with five basic principles.  Two years later, these basic beliefs still hold true for us.

• We believe that parents can be important partners in their child’s education from pre-school through college.
• We believe that most parents want to be involved in their child’s college experience.
• We believe that parents do have a place in their child’s college experience.
• We believe that many parents don’t know how to be involved in their child’s college experience.
• We believe that many parents don’t understand today’s college experience. (Those of us who attended college ourselves need to learn how the college experience has changed in the twenty-first century.)

Insights gained

Although our basic beliefs have not changed over the past two years, our understanding of and respect for the complexity of college parenting has continued to evolve.  We hope that some of the insights and understanding that we have gained will continue to help us evolve into new areas as well as dig even deeper into some key issues.  It is impossible to itemize our growing educational process, but highlights must include the some of the following:

• We believe even more firmly than we did two years ago that good communication between parents and their college students is the key to success.  Good communication is not easy, but it is a skill that can be improved.  It is a continuing theme in our articles.
• We’re fascinated and we find compelling the work that is being done to understand this generation of students as emerging adults and millennials.  Some of the work of Dr. Jeffrey Arnett and his colleagues has given us insight into the eighteen to twenty-nine year olds who make up today’s college students.
• We’ve seen a tremendous hunger on the part of college parents for down-to-earth, specific information and suggestions to help them help their students.  The parents with whom we’ve talked and worked want practical advice.
• We believe more strongly than ever that colleges need to reach out to and work with parents to help them help their students.  Parents are going to be involved in their student’s lives during the college years.  If colleges can help parents learn how to be most productively involved, everyone will gain.
• We see more clearly than ever the evolving role of parents throughout their student’s four (or five!) year college career.  Parental support is essential throughout the transition to college, but is equally important, although different, throughout the remaining years.  It is important that parents understand the changing experiences and needs of their college students all through college.

Milestones reached

During the past two years, we have:

• Published nearly 270 articles.
• Had nearly 83,000 visits to our website.
• Attended the inaugural conference of the Association of Higher Education Parent Program Professionals. This marks an important recognition of the growing field of interest in college parenting.
• Entered a partnership with College Parents of America to provide content for their website.
• Participated in several institutes and conferences to share information about college parenting.
• Been fortunate to meet with and learn from countless parents through our workshops.

Most popular posts

Looking at the most popular posts over a two year period may help us to understand what information and support college parents need most. Since we find it impossible to choose our favorite posts, we’d like to share with you the most popular posts over the past two years.

• What To Do If Your Student Is Academically Dismissed from College
• What To Expect From Your College Student’s First Semester Grades
• Should My College Student Have a Car on Campus?
• Should My College Student Live Off Campus?
• Should My College Student Consider Withdrawing from a Class?
• Be Prepared for the ”Meltdown” Phone Call from Your College Freshman
• Should My College Student Consider Retaking a Class?

Moving forward

We hope that parents will continue to find College Parent Central helpful and a place where they feel validated in the importance of their role in helping their student succeed.  As we said when we began, ”We hope that you will find information, support, and a celebration of the amazing experience of having a child in college.”  This is an incredible journey.

Please consider leaving us a comment and letting us know about your thoughts.  Are there topics you’d like to see us explore?  Posts you’ve found particularly helpful?  Ideas which especially speak to you or with which you disagree?  Let us know what you’re thinking!