Courtesy of Bowie State University
Data on student parents at Bowie State is being collected to learn more about their special needs and provide them with more support as they work toward completing their degrees while caring for their children.
The university, which received a $75,000 grant from Ascend at the Aspen Institute’s Black and Native Family Futures Fund to support the project, is one of only eight HBCUs and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) across the nation participating in the program.
There are a plethora of student parent data elements that can be analyzed to determine levels and types of need including racial identities, marital status, academic progress and performance, gender identity/sex, income/pell grant eligibility, immigration characteristics, military/veteran status and parenting status (number and ages of children).
“Our student parents all have individual situations that are unique to them,” said psychology professor and BSU Student Parent Association advisor Dr. Erica Hernandez. “Gathering this data is very important because it will help shape future policy, practice and ultimately people’s lives here at Bowie State.”
A recent research report shows that many student parents enrolled in four-year institutions face basic needs insecurity with 43% food insecure, 55% housing insecure and 16% experiencing homelessness. Data also indicates that 70% of single parent students cannot afford childcare and that 30% experience moderate anxiety or depression.
“What’s also alarming is that student parents are nearly twice as likely to leave a college or university after attending for six years without a degree as students without children,” said Dr. Hernandez. “That’s why Sydney Barnes, a Generation Hope Scholar, senior biology major and president of BSU’s Student Parent Association, has an advisory role in the project and will be called upon for her expertise.”
“Collecting data on Bowie State student parents is long overdue,” said Barnes. I believe that improving the services provided to student parents will benefit not just the institution and students, but also impact the communities where students live and work. This research will be very helpful in addition to the funding we receive for childcare support.”
Presently, Bowie State University is the only four-year institution in Maryland to receive a $350,000 childcare subsidy grant to provide student parents with up to 90% funding for their childcare services.