Opinions vary on whether it’s good that college students today are much more connected to their parents.
But questions of independence and maturity aside, the trend toward what some call “helicopter parents” for their hovering tendency has been demonstrated by national studies. In fact, a survey by College Parents of America this year showed that 30 percent of college students communicate with their parents once a day and 73 percent do so two or three times per week, by phone or e-mail.
So University of Wisconsin-Madison officials decided to get into the act — with improved communication efforts and support services for parents.