The Empowered Parent

A master course on how to support your child and ensure their success in college and in the future.

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Improve your child's chances of college success in just few short weeks.

The Empowered Parent master course is designed to help parents understand the student journey from high school to college to graduation and career, providing them the tools and insights they'll need in each stage of student development. Parents learn what to expect at key intervals, how to be supportive without compromising student independence, who are the best point people for academic and developmental concerns, how to navigate higher ed policy and processes, and how to play a pivotal role on your student’s support team. After completing this course, you’ll know how to be engaged, supportive, and encouraging in ways that will foster your child's success.
Become an Empowered Parent!

What's Included in The Empowered Parent?

A wealth of information alongside incredible tools, supports, and assessments.

  • 35+ Video Lessons w/ Supplemental Mateirals

    The course is structured around 35+ entertaining and informative video lessons covering everything from your student's personal adjustment and academic development, to college logistics, finances and career planning. You'll learn what to expect in each phase of the student journey, as well as skills and strategies to set healthy expectations, deal with setbacks, and strengthen your relationship with your adult child.

  • 40+ Worksheets and Resources 3 Proprietary Assessments

    Each lesson includes helpful worksheets, informative resources, and opportunities for deeper learning. And at key points in the course, you'll be directed to 3 of our proprietary assessments. Units are designed to be broken up into short, high-impact learning engagements, giving you the freedom to learn on your schedule, and the ability to process information, make connections, and build deeper understanding.

  • Direct Access to Instructors Open Discussion Forums

    Learning works best when people have the opportunity to engage with the material in different ways. Each unit is structured around a video lesson and backed up with worksheets, resources, and other activities, but your learning doesn't end there. This course also includes direct access to instructors and discussion forums, giving you the chance to ask questions, build context, and dive deeper into each topic.

Why Become an Empowered Parent?

Whether you're preparing your first child for college or you've been through the process before, you want to do everything in your power to help them build a vision of their future and reach their dreams. To do this you need the knowledge, insights, supports, and strategies that will help you and your student navigate the college landscape with ease. The Empowered Parent master course makes this dream a reality.

  • Research has shown that college students with appropriately engaged and involved parents tend to:

  • Adjust to the demands of their college environment with greater ease and efficacy

  • Acquire a strong personal and social identity during the early stages of their transition to college

  • Maintain a higher level of social competence and psychological wellbeing during their first and second semesters

  • Set robust academic and professional goals, explore academic and career options, perform better academically, and persist toward graduation at higher rates than their peers

Get 25 FREE Parent Tips!

Supporting college-bound students can be a real challenge, but these tips will help you start off in the right direction! Enter your name and email and receive 5 tips each week for the next 5 weeks! ...And a few BONUS tips, too!

How long does it take?

Only 20 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week!

We’ve yet to meet a parent who wasn’t juggling loads of competing priorities, and we know how difficult it is to focus on just one thing. To make your life easy, we've designed this course to be completed in small blocks over 6-8 weeks. You'll spend about 10 minutes on each video lecture, and 10-20 minutes on other course materials (Worksheets, Resources, Quizzes, & Assessments). And you'll have the chance to journal, engage with discussion boards, and access supplementary materials when you see fit.
Become an Empowered Parent!

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome to The Empowered Parent!

  • 2

    Educational Challenges

    • The Educational Gap (11:25 min) (+5 Additional Materials)

    • Student Dynamics (10:07 min) (+3 Additional Materials)

    • Obstacles to Student Success (9:22 min) (+3 Additional Materials)

    • The Value & Purpose of College Education (10:05 min) (+3 Additional Materials)

    • Test your learning!

  • 3

    The Empowered Parent

    • Know Your Role (13:56 min) (+4 Additional Materials)

    • Know Your Institution (11:00 Min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • Institutional Resources (10:18 min) (+4 Additional Materials)

    • Point People 1 - Personal Adjustment (7:23 Min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • Point People 2 - Academic Development (11:05 min) (+3 Additional Materials)

    • Process & Perspective (6:49 min) (+4 Additional Materials)

    • Test Your Learning!
  • 4

    The Summer Before

    • The Summer Before (10:08 min) (+3 Additional Materials)

    • Voicing Expectations (11:20 min) (+5 Additional Materials)

    • Building a Communications Plan (5:26 min) (+4 Additional Materials)

    • What About Life Skills? (4:55 min) (+4 Additional Materials)

    • Understanding College Finances (12:55 min) (+15 Additional Materials)

    • Taking a Gap Year (9:54 min) (+4 Additional Materials)

    • Taking an Alternative Path (6:30 min) (+4 Additional Materials)

    • Understanding Disability Support (10:08 min) (+3 Additional Materials)

    • Test Your Learning!
  • 5

    Orientation & Drop-Off

    • Orientation & Drop-Off (12:13 min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • About Choosing a Major (10:03 min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • Career Planning for Parents -Introduction (11:56 min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • Understanding FERPA (6:30 min) (+4 Additional Materials)

    • Diversity on Campus (11:04 min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • Test Your Learning!
  • 6

    Freshman & Sophomore Years

    • The First 6 Weeks & The Ramp-Up to Midterms (11:05 min) (+3 Additional Materials)

    • Midterms, Thanksgiving, & Finals (11:54 min) (+3 Additional Materials)

    • Academic Integrity (14:59 min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • Transferring (7:41 min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • Winter Break, The Spring Semester, & Summer (11:29 min) (+1 Additional Materials)

    • Breaks, Vacations, & Shifting Norms (13:13 min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • The Sophomore Year (11:48 min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • Experiential Learning (8:06 min) (+3 Additional Materials)

    • Study Abroad (8:41 min) (+4 Additional Materials)

    • Living Situations (10:46 min) (+6 Additional Materials)

    • Test Your Learning!
  • 7

    Junior & Senior Years

    • The Junior Year (9:51 min) (+2 Additional Materials)

    • The Senior Year (10:36 min) (+4 Additional Materials)

    • The Great Becoming (11:33 min) (+1 Additional Materials)
  • 8

    Next steps

    • Congratulations! Here's what's next...

    • Before you go...

The Empowered Parent

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Meet Your Instructors:

Founder & Executive Director

Colin David Pears, PhD

Dr. Pears was formerly the University Director of Academic Support and Advising, and Co-Director of The Center for Academic and Career Success at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is an expert on student success and retention and has teaching experience at the primary, secondary, and university levels of education. As a higher education administrator he has developed support frameworks and retention initiatives for high-risk, under-represented, and underserved students, served as a professional consultant, and trained faculty, advisors, and academic coaches in important aspects of student engagement and pedagogy. He holds an MA in Political Science and an MA in Philosophy from Boston College, and a PhD in Philosophy from The Catholic University of America.

Senior Coaching Strategist

William Buracker, PhD

Dr. Buracker is the Associate Rector of All Saints Church in Chevy Chase, MD, and the former Associate Dean of the Metropolitan School at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He oversaw the development and operation of a cutting-edge Academic Coaching and Assessment program, which continues to serve as a premier retention initiative for high-risk students. He is an expert on adult and continuing education with a background in student development, retention, and academic advising for both traditional and non-traditional student populations. He holds an MA in Mathematics from NC State, an MA in Theology from Edinburgh University, and a PhD in Biblical Studies from The Catholic University of America.

Senior Learning Architect

Lisa Weaver, PhD

Dr. Weaver is Assistant Professor of Worship at Columbia Theological Seminary, and Executive Director of Women Working on…Well. Lisa has taught at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels, and has over 20 years of experience teaching, advising, coaching, and counseling traditional, adult, and second career learners. Additionally, she has over 20 years of ministry experience as an ordained clergy person. She holds an MA in English and Language Arts Education from Columbia University, an M Div. in New Testament and Christian Origins from Union Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Liturgical Studies from The Catholic University of America.