Student Parents: Do Universities Provide Adequate Support?

Student parents face unique challenges, from financial and time constraints to psychological stressors. While universities often fail to address these issues, there are ways they can support student parents. This can include offering flexible course options, on-campus childcare, and part-time study routes. Additionally, universities can provide pastoral and academic support, financial guidance, and signposting to relevant benefits and grants. Some universities also offer family accommodation and peer support networks. These provisions can help student parents balance their academic and family responsibilities, improving their overall university experience and increasing their chances of success.

Flexible course options and childcare

Flexible Course Options:

• Asynchronous learning opportunities: Asynchronous learning allows student parents to review course content at their convenience. This flexibility is especially beneficial for those who work full-time or have family commitments during regular class hours.
• Evening and weekend classes: Universities should offer courses at various times, including late evenings and weekends, to accommodate student parents' busy schedules. This enables them to balance their academic pursuits with parenting responsibilities.
• Flexible attendance policies: Instructors can implement flexible attendance policies, understanding that student parents may need to prioritise their children's needs at times. Creating a supportive and empathetic environment can alleviate the guilt student parents often feel when they have to juggle school work and family commitments.
• Online or blended learning options: Online or blended learning programs provide student parents with the convenience of studying remotely or through a combination of online and in-person classes. This flexibility can help them manage their time more effectively.

Childcare Support:

• On-campus childcare centres: Universities can establish on-campus childcare centres, providing convenient and affordable childcare options for student parents. These centres can offer priority enrollment and discounted rates for students, making it easier for them to access quality childcare while attending classes.
• Lactation stations and nursing rooms: For nursing mothers, dedicated lactation stations and private nursing rooms on campus are essential. These spaces provide privacy and support, ensuring that nursing mothers can continue their education without additional barriers.
• Childcare scholarships and financial aid: Many student parents struggle with the financial burden of childcare. Universities can offer scholarships or financial aid packages specifically for student parents to help cover these expenses, making their academic pursuits more feasible.
• Family housing: Universities can provide dedicated family housing options, creating a stable living environment for student parents and their families. This not only sends a message of being family-friendly but also fosters a community of student parents who can support each other.
• Childcare resources and referrals: Universities can maintain an up-to-date database of off-campus childcare options, including licensed childcare centres, in-home care providers, and childcare subsidies. This information can be easily accessible to student parents, helping them make informed decisions about their childcare arrangements.

By implementing these flexible course options and providing comprehensive childcare support, universities can significantly contribute to the success and well-being of student parents, enabling them to pursue their academic goals while also caring for their families.

Family-friendly syllabi and classroom policies

Flexible Attendance Policies

Faculty can create flexible attendance policies that take into account the unique needs of student parents. This includes promoting open communication so that student parents feel comfortable discussing their childcare and parenting emergencies with their professors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, professors may allow students to participate and earn attendance points through discussion board posts, individual or group projects, and electronic surveys.

Normalize Help-Seeking Behaviors

Faculty should encourage students to ask questions, attend office hours, and seek assistance when needed. This helps to reduce the guilt that student parents may feel when they have to prioritize school work over spending time with their children.

Provide Holistic Information in Syllabi

In addition to academic content, professors should include mental health resources, information on student clubs and activities, financial aid details, and childcare resources in their syllabi. This demonstrates an understanding of the holistic needs of student parents and helps them feel supported.

Create Opportunities for Connection

Faculty can play a crucial role in connecting student parents in the classroom by providing opportunities for students to share their stories and experiences. This can be done through in-class discussions or by creating virtual spaces where students can discuss their lives and cultural experiences.

Accommodate Parenting Responsibilities

Instructors should consider how they can accommodate student parents when their children are sick, have a snow day, or when childcare arrangements fall through. This may include making course materials and projects accessible outside of class, such as providing access to PowerPoint presentations or creating expectations for group projects that allow for participation outside of class.

Offer Support and Resources

Universities can offer various types of support for student parents, such as conference funding, childcare subsidies, and on-campus resources like play areas and art supplies for children. Additionally, department chairs should be knowledgeable about resources for student parents to save them time and provide much-needed assistance.

Implement Family-Friendly Leave Policies

Universities should have clear and consistent parental leave policies in place to support student parents. This helps to ensure that students can take the necessary time off without worrying about the impact on their academic progress.

By implementing these family-friendly syllabi and classroom policies, universities can create a supportive and inclusive environment for student parents, contributing to their academic success and well-being.

Support services for student parents

Student parents often face unique challenges in their academic journey, and universities play a crucial role in providing support to help them succeed. Here are some ways in which universities can offer support services to student parents:

Flexible Admission Policies and Course Options

Flexible admission policies can be a lifeline for student parents, especially those with preschool-aged children or those without prior higher education qualifications. Universities should offer part-time, online, or blended learning options to accommodate the busy schedules of student parents.

Academic Skills Guidance and Support

Universities should provide additional academic support services tailored to the needs of student parents. This can include guidance on essential academic skills like referencing, mentoring programmes, and support groups to help them stay motivated and engaged in their studies.

Financial Support

Financial challenges are common for student parents. Universities can help by clearly signposting scholarships, bursaries, discretionary funds, and governmental support available to student parents. This support should be consistent throughout their academic journey, from undergraduate to postgraduate studies.

On-Campus Childcare and Family Housing

The availability of on-campus childcare services and dedicated family housing can significantly benefit student parents. Family housing sends a message that the university is family-friendly and helps build a community for student parents, providing them with a stable living environment and reducing their stress levels.

Peer Support Networks and Community Building

Creating peer support networks specifically for student parents can offer tremendous benefits in terms of academic coaching, mentorship, and social support. Universities can also foster a sense of community by organising family-friendly events where student parents can meet and connect with each other.

Understanding Intersectional Identities

Student parents come from diverse backgrounds with intersecting identities, including race, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural backgrounds. Universities should recognise these differences and provide corresponding support. For example, student parents from the LGBTQ+ community may benefit from building connections with LGBTQ+ support networks or student spaces.

By implementing these support services, universities can help student parents balance their academic and family responsibilities, leading to improved academic performance and increased graduation rates among this unique group of learners.

Asynchronous course options

Southern New Hampshire University, for example, offers asynchronous classes where there are no mandatory log-in times and typically just two assignment deadlines each week. Students can access all the materials they need for their courses at any time, not just when a building is open. Asynchronous learning also tends to be better for students' budgets than in-person courses.

However, asynchronous learning requires students to be self-motivated and have good time management skills to complete their coursework. Asynchronous courses can also make it more difficult for students to network with classmates and there is no face-to-face interaction with instructors.

Universities can support student parents by offering a mix of asynchronous course content with synchronous discussion or connection time. This allows students to have the flexibility they need while also fostering relationship-building.

Financial support

In the US, there is no obligation for parents to financially support children through college. However, according to Finaid, current federal law does not provide many options for students who want to attend college but whose parents refuse to help. The federal government and schools consider it the family's responsibility to pay for school and only provide financial assistance when the family is unable to pay.

In the UK, however, parents earning above a certain amount are required to contribute to their children's university fees and living costs up to a certain age, typically 25. If parents refuse to pay, the student will have to make up the difference, as the school and government will not help.

In the US, student loans are divided into two parts: the Tuition Fee Loan and the Maintenance Loan. The Tuition Fee Loan covers the cost of the university course and is paid directly to the university by the government, while the Maintenance Loan helps cover living costs such as rent, utilities, and groceries. The amount of the Maintenance Loan is means-tested and depends on household income.

In the UK, student loans also play a significant role in covering university costs, particularly at the undergraduate level. The amount a student is entitled to in maintenance loans varies depending on their living situation, from up to £7,324 for those living at home to up to £11,354 for those living away from home in London. Similar to the US, the amount of the loan depends on household income, with students from higher-income households receiving a lower amount. While it is not explicitly stated, the government unofficially expects higher-earning parents to top up the rest of the costs.

In addition to student loans, there are other sources of financial support available for student parents. These include grants, bursaries, scholarships, and hardship funds, which can provide extra money to students in need and do not need to be paid back. These funds may be offered by universities, subject departments, local charities, or businesses and often have specific eligibility criteria or are targeted towards students from underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.

Student bank accounts can also provide benefits such as interest-free overdrafts and freebies. Additionally, students can take advantage of various discounts offered by retailers, travel companies, and other organisations.

Frequently asked questions