ALBANY — Colleges will need to repackage themselves if they are going to attract and hold members of the “millennial generation” that are leaving high schools and headed into the higher education pipeline.

That’s what researcher and author Neil Howe told more than 500 Linn-Benton Community College staff members Tuesday during the college’s annual in-service program.

Howe and his writing partner William Strauss have written about generational relationships and change since 1991. Their latest book is called “Millennials Go to College.”

Millennials are people who were born since 1982. They have been sheltered and protected even before their first breath of fresh air, Howe said.

Their parents drove minivans with bumper stickers that read “Baby on Board.” Their Generation X and late Baby Boomer parents have surrounded them with rules and regulations to keep them safe from the outside world. They couldn’t ride a bicycle without a helmet. They couldn’t play alone at the city park for fear of abduction.

To reduce the risk of being affected by bad influences, their daily lives have been rigorously scheduled since kindergarten. They have been told that they are “special” and “good kids” — and in fact, statistics indicate they are.

“They are a generation that expects to work as a team,” Howe said. “They like to work and succeed in groups. They are not individualists like Baby Boomers.”

They are also the most ethnically diverse generation in nearly 100 years, Howe said. Many of them come from a family with at least one parent who is an immigrant.

Colleges must recognize the special needs of the millennials, Howe said. They are connected technologically through cellular phones and laptop computers. They share information on cell phones, via e-mail and by text messages. They want to belong so badly that they create their own Web pages and share them with people around the world.

Because they have a strong bond with their parents, colleges will need to co-market to both parent and student, Howe said. “These students have a lot and expect a lot,” Howe said. “You will need to treat them special.”

Other factors that colleges will need to consider to woo millennials will include:

• Making students feel safe on campus.

• Providing a competent health staff and counselors.

• Promoting a small-school feel and banishing anonymity.

• Showcasing group projects and creative service links in the community.

• Stressing long-term life planning skills.

• Providing instant feedback and assessment of student achievements.

• Developing a cutting-edge computer networking system that empowers students.

Albany Democrat-Herald reporter Alex Paul can be reached at alex.paul@lee.net or 812-6076.