Why Family Experience Is Key to Your College Student's Success with William & Mary's Heather Deere E153

Your student isn't the only one at college who has someone in their corner, you might too, if you know who to call. Heather Deere spends her days on the other end of the phone calls families make when they can't tell if their student is really doing okay three states away. She's the Director of Family Engagement & Student Affairs Communications at William & Mary. In this episode, she walks Rick and Clancy through her coaching model, the shift from directing a student to consulting with one, and why she tells every incoming family that senior year is a sweet chapter nobody should rush through. What you'll learn in this episode: Why William & Mary uses a coaching model for their family engagement approach The most common calls Heather fields from families in the first six weeks How Heather's own first-gen college experience shapes her advice to families today Why she tells families to let their student take their foot off the gas senior year The one question to ask before stepping in to handle something for your student Want to learn more about William & Mary's family engagement approach? Visit wm.edu/families or follow along on Instagram at WM_families. 📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest https://www.theloudquiet.com Join the conversation in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet 🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here: https://www.theloudquiet.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Introducing Heather Deere and William & Mary 01:11 What a coaching model means for families 04:15 Day-to-day calls families actually make 06:26 How differently each kid communicates 08:04 Being a first-gen student shapes her approach 12:10 Encouraging families to enjoy senior year 16:33 What families really feel during move-in 21:14 Common issues in the first semester 23:44 Retroactive guilt over old advice26:31 The question to ask before stepping in 31:55 Where to learn more about William & Mary Want to be a guest on The Loud Quiet - Empty Nest Living? Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethost Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).