Students who are Parenting
Balancing the dual roles of parent and college student can be difficult at best, with time management, financial concerns, and challenges finding community. These challenges can be compounded for single-parent college students, and parents with young children. Despite the challenges they face, a 2018 study by the Institute for Women's Policy Research shows that parenting students earn consistently higher GPAs than their non-parenting counterparts and that 44% of these parents are working full-time in addition to attending college.
If you are a parenting student, we see you, and want you to know that support is available! Click here to would like to connect with counseling services and resources. The resources below are also designed to help parenting students succeed and feel included and supported on campus.
Resources
Within VCU
- Map of Lactation Rooms on MPC and MCV campuses for students, faculty, and staff.
- Single Parents Scholarship The VCU Single Parents Scholarship has been established to assist single, divorced or widowed VCU students who are simultaneously raising one or more children under the age of 18 and attending school. The amount of this scholarship is up to $5,000.
- Students may be eligible for accommodations if experiencing impairments related to pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, or miscarriage. If you would like to pursue accommodations, reach out to the Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity office.
- VCU Equity and Access Services provides support if facing discrimination due to pregnancy or parenting status.
Outside of VCU
- Urban Baby Beginnings A local organization that offers community supports and a diaper bank for pregnant and newly parenting families in Virginia.
- Completely Kids: Raising Kids in the Richmond Area
- Resources for Single Parents in Richmond