Finding Balance: Staff Members’ Beliefs About Parental Contributions to College Students’ Independence

This multiple case study draws from interview and observation data from nine institutions to reveal the role that orientation and parent and family programming staff members believe they and parents should play in facilitating students’ independence development. Key findings include the importance of balance in involvement and partnering with parents to support students’ independence. Results reveal conflicting messages within institutions provided to families about challenge, support, and when and how parents and staff should intervene.