College of Education News

'Pathways to Success' Informs, Prepares Parents to Motivate Children for College and Beyond

November 15, 2009

By Erica Yuenger

It's never too early to start thinking about college, but sometimes planning for the future can be a daunting task. While college may be the last thing on middle school and high school students' minds, parents can guide them in the right direction, as long as they have the right information. But where to get information on college readiness and tips on motivating their children to think to the future is a mystery to some parents.

That's why I-Parents, a University of Illinois collaborative spearheaded by the Center for Education in Small Urban Communities within the College of Education, is hosting Pathways to Success, a resource fair focused on helping parents of middle and high school students plan for their child's future.

The event will be held at the Champaign Public Library's Robeson Pavilion, rooms A and B, on Monday Nov. 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and will feature representatives from college admissions, financial aid, career counselors and more.

"This particular event responds directly to requests from parents... about information that parents wanted," said Anne Robertson, Director of the Office of School-University Research-Relations. "That really is a fundamental principle of what we're trying to develop here; to be responsive to requests from parents within the community as well as school districts and other community groups about the types of information and resources that are most important to parents at all stages of their child's growth and development."

I-Parents is a collaborative that strives to educate the community about critical issues important to parents and to exchange information in response to these issues. The group involves various campus units, local schools, parent-teacher organizations and community groups who seek to improve the lives of area children by sharing time and resources.

"We're very excited about the events that we've done so far and about the potential of 'Pathways to Success'," said Robertson.

During the event, parents may participate in 20-minute café table discussions with three speakers who will answer questions about motivating students and preparing them for college and beyond, said Lila Moore, Program Coordinator at the Center for Education in Small Urban Communities. After these table discussions, parents may also visit other resource tables to collect information they find helpful.

In addition to career counselors and representatives from college admissions, the resource fair will also incorporate representatives from the armed forces, minority programs, and leadership and enrichment oriented clubs such as United Way, 4-H and the Boys and Girls Club.

Robertson said the main goal is for parents to come away from the event more informed and prepared to help their children think about college and their future career. A long-term goal is for parents to continue wanting to help their children succeed by staying connected with the I-Parents collaborative.

For more information about the College of Education, contact our Communications Office at 217-244-8335 or email communications@education.illinois.edu