The average age of a college student is 26.4 years old, according to a study by New America1. That means students are often working, parenting, or even taking care of parents or other loved ones. It's important to recognize and remember that a college system designed for an 18-year-old living with their parents may not be the college system that will ensure success for every learner. The most recent data show that about half of all college students earn a degree or certificate within six years of enrolling, while only a third of student-parents complete school, with the rate even lower for single parents, according to Higher Education Today2.
Resources
The Parent Pathways Learning Network (PPLN) was established as a cross-agency collaboration utilizing grant funding from Ascend at the Aspen Institute. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice established a Parent Pathways Learning Network where six institutions could learn about the issues of parenting students and establish a recommendation report to better serve these learners. The recommendation report is available on the PPLN website. Efforts to scale this work are being considered by other institutions.
Pittsburgh Scholar House is an example of a two-generation model for parenting students. An affiliate of the Family Scholar House in Louisville, KY, this program – which will eventually have an on-site housing component – offers parenting students academic supports and financial resources to engage with postsecondary education, continue in their program of study, reengage with postsecondary education, or upskill to find different or better employment.
The Accelerating Recovery through Credentials Adult-Ready Playbook – A comprehensive framework of the most promising strategies for serving post-traditional learners. The resources include a self-assessment and several action guides that provide detailed strategies and key action steps.
Equity Made Real: Promising Strategies for Addressing College Student Basic Needs – this report outlines a series of promising practices that can be replicated by other institutions to strengthen support for adult students as well as policy changes that are likely to help reduce student basic needs insecurity.
How To Go Back To College – Graduate Philadelphia! advisors provide guidance on filling out and filing financial assistance forms, getting academic support, navigating work and family schedules, completing paperwork, improving study skills, and staying in school.
The Hope Center Student Basic Needs Survey – The Hope Center for College Community and Justice administers the #RealCollege Survey, the nation's largest, most well-established assessment of students' basic needs. More than 500 colleges and universities participated and over 500,000 students completed the #RealCollege Survey in 2021. Read the most recent report.
Basic Needs Implementation Toolkit – provides tools for measuring basic needs insecurity and other tools to help address basic needs.
MassReconnect – is a model program in Massachusetts that gives Massachusetts residents 25 years of age or older the opportunity to earn an associate degree or certificate for free at any of their public community colleges.
Adult Students Degree – Ramapo College of New Jersey has flexible scheduling policies that provide options that take adult students' needs into consideration.
Basic Needs Assistance – Bunker Hill Community College has a comprehensive student support website called Single Stop that connects students with basic needs resources like food, housing, childcare, transportation, healthcare, or financial support.
Resources for students – Seattle Central College has a webpage listing local resources for college students. It is one example of an easy way to start gathering resources for your adult students.
Priority Enrollment Program for Undergraduate Students with Children – UC San Diego offers priority enrollment for single parents to alleviate complications related to scheduling conflicts that single parents may have.
Child Care Subsidy – University of Michigan offers a childcare subsidy to assist students with the cost of childcare.
Student Parent Help Center – University of Minnesota's website devoted to assisting parenting students.
Earning High School Equivalency – Adults wishing to earn their high school equivalency can learn more and register for exams at The GED Test or The HiSET.
Thinking strategically about Adult Student Needs
- Are childcare options provided on campus?
- Does your campus have online course offerings to allow students to remain home with their children while completing their degree?
- Do you have emergency funding for unexpected situations?
- Have you conducted a campus climate survey to address adult student needs and offer wrap-around services?
1 Perception vs. Reality: The Typical College Student (newamerica.org)
2 Building Family-Friendly Campuses: Strategies to Promote College Success Among Student Parents