Generation Z Goes to College

Say Hello to Your Incoming Class—They're Not Millennials Anymore Generation Z is rapidly replacing Millennials on college campuses. Those born from 1995 through 2010 have different motivations, learning styles, characteristics, skill sets, and social concerns than previous generations. Unlike Millennials, Generation Z students grew up in a recession and are under no illusions about their prospects for employment after college. While skeptical about the cost and value of higher education, they are also entrepreneurial, innovative, and independent learners concerned with effecting social change. Understanding Generation Z's mindset and goals is paramount to supporting, developing, and educating them through higher education. Generation Z Goes to College showcases findings from an in-depth study of over 1,100 Generation Z college students from 15 vastly different U.S. higher education institutions as well as additional studies from youth, market, and education research related to this generation. Authors Corey Seemiller and Meghan Grace provide interpretations, implications, and recommendations for program, process, and curriculum changes that will maximize the educational impact on Generation Z students. Generation Z Goes to College is the first book on how this up-and-coming generation will change higher education.

About This Book ix About the Authors xi Acknowledgments xiii Preface xv Introduction xxi Chapter 1: Who Is Generation Z? 1 Chapter 2: Beliefs and Perspectives 25 Chapter 3: Communication Platforms and Preferences 57 Chapter 4: Social Media Use 65 Chapter 5: Friends, Family, and Romance 87 Chapter 6: Cares and Concerns 97 Chapter 7: Engagement and Social Change 129 Chapter 8: Leadership Styles and Capacities 151 Chapter 9: Maximizing Learning 173 Chapter 10: Working with Generation Z 191 References 229 Index 267