Nearly one in five undergraduates are parents—disproportionately female, low income, and people of color. Despite achieving academic performance comparable with or better than their peers, parenting students graduate at much lower rates owing to structural barriers such as unaffordable child care, inflexible academic policies, food insecurity, and housing insecurity. Federal laws provide only fragmented protections. But colleges can narrow governmental policy gaps through clearer accommodation policies, improved data collection, faculty and staff training, and expanded campus and community supports.
This article is based on part of Heather’s doctoral dissertation and is written in the author’s personal capacity. The views expressed are the author’s own and should not be taken as the views of the University of California Office of the President or the University of California.