The needs of students are influenced by their intersectional identities, and for a significant number of students in the United States—nearly 1 in 5—that identity includes being a parent.
New research has found that students who are also parents require specific supports to successfully care for their children and perform well academically. Researchers implemented the New Mexico College Student Experience study, which aimed to collect data on what supports student parents are lacking, as well as inform policymakers on further action.
Brief highlights from this research include:
- Student parents prefer flexible courses, with options for online components (40%) or hybrid learning (25%)
- Student parents have needs, including childcare availability, that are not met regularly
- Student parents would appreciate and prefer services that are reflective of their needs, including family events/activities (60%), campus childcare (40%), and increased tutoring options (40%)
Policy recommendations by Child Trends center around improving the flexibility of learning environments and expanding services to cater to individuals with mental and financial needs. Download the full article from Child Trends here.
Utilizing the framework’s strengths-based focus, students can create and engage with opportunities for themselves to thrive in a university setting and in their parenting role.
This HOPE framework interfaces with students to help infuse their everyday life with meaningful connections that improve their holistic experience as a student. SDSU students can utilize SPI’s HOPE at SDSU Building Block series to learn how they can utilize the building blocks as an SDSU student to improve their access to resources and supports.
Each building block is addressed in a series of posts found here:
Visit our HOPE at SDSU page to learn more about how SPI is driving this work forward.
Ryberg, R., Rust, K., Balén, Z., Morimoto, Y., Allred, C., & Kutcher, R. (2024). Survey of Parenting Students in New Mexico Helps Us Understand Their Needs. Child Trends. DOI: 10.56417/9938y9431c
