Research on rural student parents remains limited, leaving policymakers and program designers unsure about how to address their challenges. This brief explores the experiences of student parents at public rural-serving institutions in California, highlighting their stories through their own voices. Rural student parents face the overlapping demands of coursework, parenting, and employment, but without the institutional infrastructure more commonly available in urban and suburban settings. The research addresses the critical question: How can California’s rural-serving institutions better support student parents in higher education?
Findings
Motivation to Pursue Education as a Parent
- Personal and professional growth
- Family and community
- Adaptability to adversity
Rural Community Benefits
- Intimate support and connection
- Access and convenience
- No benefit
Rural Community Challenges
- Lack of child care availability and accessibility
- Transportation, rural barriers, technology, and online learning
- Limited physical access to campus resources
- Time management and overwhelm
Institutional Challenges
- Administrative struggles
- Institutional and systemic barriers
- Financial aid struggles
- Access to needed courses
- Scheduling misalignment
- Transfer and credit issues
- College resistance to structural changes
Mixed Supports
- Lack of awareness about resources
- Mixed support and understanding from faculty
- Mixed support and guidance from counselors
- Lack of student parent community support
- On-campus support and resources
- Community collaboration
- Basic Needs Centers
- Awareness and outreach
- Limitations to access
- Fully supported when accessed
Recommendations for Better Support
- Affordable child care
- Mental health and well-being
- Housing and transportation
- Advocacy, communication, and resources
Benefits of Stronger Supports
- Financial relief and stability
- Mental health and well-being
- Benefits to children
- Academic focus and performance