by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
Student Ariel Dubyk said it is not the University's responsibility to foster a relationship between students and parents.
"The University isn't like a high school or a mid school anymore," Dubyk said. "They're (parents) not supposed to be keeping track of us."
The Division of Student Affairs opened the Parent Relations Office on Monday.
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It is an experimental program that aims to increase parent involvement and support for students, said Eliseo "Cheo" Torres, vice president of student affairs.
The program will include a Web site for parents with information about deadlines, academics, campus functions, financial aid and scholarship information.
Laurie Mellas, who coordinates parent outreach and communication, will be running the office and Web site. The plans for the program include an electronic newsletter, a Listserv for parents to receive informational e-mails and a Web log where they can discuss issues, Mellas said.
Student Gina Torres said the program is a good idea, because it lets students know their parents are there to support them.
"It kind of helps bridge the gap with the parents and the students," she said.
Gina's father, Ray Torres, agreed.
"Any time you have parental involvement in student's academic efforts, it could only help," he said.
Eliseo said the program is important because family involvement leads to greater academic success.
"If there are strong parent-student partnerships, we believe that student retention and graduation rates will improve significantly," he said.
Mellas said parents and students should communicate as much as possible.
"It's important they (parents) know what their student's going through, because they're moving out of the disciplinary role and into a mentor role," Mellas said.
Dubyk said the program can be helpful, but students need to learn to be responsible.
"It could be kind of a crutch for some students, because they're saying, 'Well, if I'm doing badly, then I don't really have to worry about it. I'll just know I'm doing badly when my parents yell at me,'" she said.
Student Micayla Jeantete agreed.
"It'd be a good idea, but students need to have their own motivation to help themselves succeed in life and not really rely on their parents to be doing it for them," she said.
Eliseo said the University should take advantage of a new generation of parents who want to be involved in their children's education.
"The commitment of attending a university is a major commitment, not just for the student, but for the family," he said. "We need to figure out a way to support the family and parents and make them a part of the University experience as much as possible."
Patty Black, mother of student Matthew Black, said she likes the idea of UNM communicating with parents.
"I think it would kind of neat, because I'd like to know what's going on at the University," she said. "Anytime you can get communication between kids and adults, it's a good thing."
Matthew said the program is good, because it can give parents the opportunity to help students, even though it's not the University's responsibility.
"I don't think it's necessarily taking you from the teat, but it's still nice to get a little milk every once in a while from your parents," he said.
