WHEREAS, Student parents face significant challenges in balancing academic responsibilities with parenting duties—resulting in increased stress, financial strain, and limited study time [1];
WHEREAS, Nearly one in five undergraduate students are parents, many of whom experience inflexible class schedules, lack of affordable childcare, insufficient financial support, and limited access to academic and mental health resources [2]; and
WHEREAS, Current support services at California Community Colleges are inconsistent and inadequate, hindering the academic success and overall well-being of student parents [3];
WHEREAS comprehensive, uniform support measures—such as flexible attendance policies, on-campus childcare, enhanced academic tutoring and mental health support, and targeted financial assistance—can improve retention, graduation rates, and student success while aligning with broader legislative initiatives [4][5]; Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office to create a state-wide uniformity contract for student parent services including flexible attendance policies and tailored class schedules to accommodate the unique needs of student parents [6];
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourage California Community Colleges to establish affordable and accessible on-campus childcare services to alleviate financial burdens and enable student parents to better balance their academic and family responsibilities [2];
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges to encourage California Community Colleges to expand academic tutoring and mental health support services specifically designed for student parents, thereby addressing additional stressors and promoting improved academic outcomes [7]; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Collegesactively encourage California Community Colleges to pursue additional funding through federal and state grants, private foundations, corporate sponsorships, and community fundraising, and engage in legislative advocacy at both local and state levels to secure sustainable support to expand on campus childcare services [8].
Citations:
[1] U.S. Department of Education. (2023). Student Support Services Program. Retrieved from https://www.ed.gov
[2] Institute for Women’s Policy Research. (2020). Parents in College By the Numbers. Retrieved from https://iwpr.org
[3] SSCCC. (2023). Resolutions Documentation. Retrieved from https://ssccc.org/documents/ssccc-resolutions.html
[4] NewAmerica. (2023). Five Ways to Support Student Parents During and Beyond Higher Education. Retrieved from http://newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/five-ways-to-support-student-parents/
[5] The College Post. (2024). 7 Awesome Ways Colleges Support Student Parents. Retrieved from https://thecollegepost.com/college-support-student-parents/
[6] Stanford Office of Accessible Education. (n.d.). Attendance Flexibility. Retrieved fromhttps://oae.stanford.edu/students/academic-accommodations/attendance-flexibility
[7] EffectiveStudents. (2024). How to Evaluate Academic Support & Student Success. Retrieved from https://effectivestudents.com/articles/how-to-evaluate-academic-support-student-success/
[8] BoardEffect. (2023). How To Write a Board Resolution: Best Practices. Retrieved from https://www.boardeffect.com/blog/best-practices-for-writing-a-board-resolution/