Supporting Student Parents: Strategies for Colleges to Improve Graduation Rates
In today’s higher education landscape, one in every five college undergraduates is also caring for a dependent child. This significant portion of the student population faces unique challenges that can hinder their ability to complete their degrees. Student parents, who are predominantly women over 30 years old raising children on their own, often struggle to balance the demands of parenthood, work, and academics. The financial and time pressures they face make it difficult to stay on track to graduation, with fewer than 40 percent of student parents earning their degrees within six years.
The story of Abby Bediako, a student parent who overcame numerous obstacles to earn her associate degree in criminal justice from Howard Community College, serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of individuals in similar circumstances. Abby’s journey highlights the importance of targeted support programs for student parents, as well as the impact of a supportive college environment in facilitating their success.
Recognizing the need to better support student parents, colleges and universities must implement strategies to improve graduation rates among this population. By addressing financial barriers, providing flexible scheduling options, and offering tailored support services, institutions can empower student parents to achieve their academic goals and create a better future for themselves and their families.
Financial Support: A Key Factor in Student Parent Success
One of the primary challenges faced by student parents is the financial strain of pursuing a college education while also supporting a family. Tuition costs, childcare expenses, and the need to cover basic living expenses can create significant financial barriers that prevent student parents from staying enrolled and completing their degrees. To address this issue, colleges must prioritize financial support for student parents, including scholarships, grants, and emergency aid programs.
At Howard Community College, Abby Bediako received essential financial assistance that enabled her to cover her tuition and fees for two years. The availability of scholarships and emergency grants relieved the financial burden on Abby, allowing her to focus on her studies without worrying about how to make ends meet. By investing in financial aid programs specifically tailored to student parents, colleges can remove a major obstacle to their academic success and increase graduation rates among this population.
Flexible Scheduling: Balancing Parenthood and Academics
Another critical factor in supporting student parents is providing flexible scheduling options that accommodate their responsibilities as caregivers. Juggling parenting duties, work commitments, and academic requirements can be overwhelming for student parents, making it challenging to attend classes at set times or maintain a consistent study schedule. Colleges can help alleviate this burden by offering online courses, evening classes, and other flexible learning formats that allow student parents to balance their academic pursuits with their family obligations.
Howard Community College’s flexible schedule allowed Abby to take the majority of her classes online at night, after finishing her job and putting her son to bed. This flexibility was instrumental in Abby’s academic success, as it provided her with the opportunity to pursue her degree without sacrificing her parental responsibilities. By implementing similar scheduling options, colleges can empower student parents to continue their education while fulfilling their roles as caregivers, ultimately improving graduation rates among this population.
Tailored Support Services: Meeting the Unique Needs of Student Parents
In addition to financial assistance and flexible scheduling, colleges must offer tailored support services that address the specific needs of student parents. Academic and career counseling, childcare resources, mental health services, and other forms of support can make a significant difference in the academic success and well-being of student parents. By providing comprehensive support programs, colleges can create a more inclusive and accessible educational environment for student parents, helping them overcome barriers to graduation and achieve their academic goals.
At Howard Community College, Abby benefited from the Career Links program, which offered one-on-one academic and career counseling tailored to the needs of single parents. This personalized support helped Abby stay on track to graduate, select her major, and plan for her future, enhancing her overall college experience and increasing her chances of success. By offering similar support services, colleges can empower student parents to navigate the challenges of higher education and reach their full potential.
Conclusion: Empowering Student Parents for Academic Success
Supporting student parents is essential for improving graduation rates and promoting equity in higher education. By implementing targeted strategies such as financial support, flexible scheduling, and tailored support services, colleges can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for student parents, enabling them to overcome barriers to graduation and achieve their academic goals. The success stories of student parents like Abby Bediako demonstrate the transformative impact of dedicated support programs and highlight the resilience and determination of individuals in similar circumstances.
As colleges strive to improve graduation rates among student parents, it is crucial to prioritize their unique needs and challenges, recognizing the importance of creating a supportive and empowering educational experience for this population. By investing in the success of student parents, colleges can not only increase graduation rates but also foster a more inclusive and equitable higher education system that benefits individuals, families, and communities as a whole.
