Community colleges lead the charge in educating a diverse population of students with varying goals and backgrounds. This includes parenting students. About half of all undergraduate student parents attend community colleges. Given that community colleges offer more accessible, affordable, and speedy paths to workforce credentials and degrees than other institutional options, it is not surprising that so many parenting students choose this path. But do community colleges have the information they need to adequately support this student population?
A new report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement attempts to answer this question. Among its findings: When asked if their college supports them as a parent or caregiver, one-third of students who care for dependent children disagreed. Additionally, the report suggests that colleges should consider why many students who care for dependent children are not using the resources that could benefit them the most.
The study also includes a section on various ways some colleges are supporting parenting students.