Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) has received a $250,000 student success acceleration grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to aid students with children. The Islanders Caring for Parenting Students program aims to provide essential support services, emergency aid, and resource connections to help student-parents remain in school and complete their degrees.
Addressing the Needs of Student-Parents
National data from the American Council on Education highlights that approximately one in five undergraduate students is a parent. Of these, 88% are 25 or older, and 74% are women. However, only 18% of student-parents earn an associate or bachelor’s degree within six years, a significantly lower rate than non-parenting students.
Recognizing this challenge, TAMU-CC has implemented an online self-identification form for pregnant or parenting students. Claudia Ayala, Associate Dean of Students, noted that many universities have only recently begun tracking student-parent enrollment.
Legislative Efforts and Institutional Commitment
The initiative aligns with state legislation introduced two years ago, which mandates Texas universities to designate liaisons for student-parents and provide early registration rights and additional protections. While TAMU-CC had already begun supporting parenting students, the new grant funding allows for an expansion of services, including emergency financial aid.
“Students who are parents often struggle with child care expenses, which may impact their class schedules,” Ayala explained. Beyond tuition, costs like textbooks, testing fees, rent, and transportation create additional financial burdens. Emergency aid mini-grants will help students cover these unexpected expenses, ensuring they stay on track toward graduation.
Real Impact: A Student’s Perspective
The university featured Sarita Llamas, a health administration student, as an example of how these resources make a difference. While balancing full-time work as a CT technician and raising four adopted children, she emphasized the importance of finding financial support and academic accommodations.
“Balancing a job, school, and four little ones isn’t easy, so finding resources like this is invaluable,” Llamas shared in a university statement.
Additional Support and Resources
TAMU-CC’s Parent Liaison Team, led by Ayala and Kristeen Baum, Assistant Director and Student Ombuds, includes two caseworkers dedicated to assisting parenting students.
Eligible students who are legal guardians of children under 18 can access priority registration and request excused absences and academic accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation. The university also offers several lactation rooms on campus for nursing mothers.
The grant funding is set to last two years, with the potential for renewal. As TAMU-CC continues expanding these initiatives, the university remains committed to helping student-parents overcome barriers and achieve their educational goals.