Title: Beyond the Roster: Cultivating Belonging for Student Parents
Presenter(s):
Kendyl Oliver (she/her)
Amaya Johnson (she/her)
Room: Pyon Su 2108
Session Block(s): Session II
Time: 11:35 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Duration: 45 minutes
Program Abstract:
This session will explore the structural and social barriers student parents face while completing four year degrees, as well as the unique strengths they bring to an institution. Throughout the session, presenters discuss best practices that student affairs professionals can implement to support student parents. Finally, the session will cover insights from the newly developed student parent club created at the UMDCP campus and provide a framework to create similar organizations at different institutions.
Program Description:
It is estimated that 1:5 college students in the United States are caring for at least one dependent (Anderson et al., 2023). Within this population of four million, the majority of student parents are women and people of color (Griffin, 2024; Manze et al., 2024). Although student parents often perform better academically than their non-parenting peers (Carr et al., 2023), the six-year graduation rate remains well below the national average at 28% (Manze et al., 2024). Supporting student parents at the institutional level has the potential to increase retention and graduation rates (Roy et al., 2023). For student parents, earning a four year degree leads to improved socioeconomic outcomes for themselves and their families (Brown & Nichols, 2012; Carr et al., 2023). One of the biggest challenges to supporting student parents is data collection, which to date is only mandated in several states, not including Maryland (Anderson, 2025). Without this information, institutions are limited in the scope of programming that can be implemented for student parents. Four year institutions have the ability and responsibility to help student parents navigate the structural and social barriers that exist on their academic journey. This session will explore those barriers, as well as how student parents are currently navigating them, often with sheer willpower. Participants will also learn about Title IX protections for parenting students, as well as resources available at the state (MD) and federal level. Lastly, information will be shared about current interventions created at the University of Maryland, College Park campus, including a newly formed student parent club.