BREAKOUT GROUP: Elevating Parents In College: Fostering Success For Mason's Student-Parents

Abstract

Session LOCATION: George's (3rd floor of Johnson Center) Student-parents are often overlooked as a distinct, high-need student population in higher education. As a result, faculty may be unaware of structural barriers impacting student-parents in their courses, from course policies to student access of campus services and resources, and how Title IX policies apply to pregnant and parenting students in higher education. Student-parents are often overlooked as a distinct, high-need student population in higher education. As a result, faculty may be unaware of structural barriers impacting student-parents in their courses, from course policies to student access of campus services and resources, and how Title IX policies apply to pregnant and parenting students in higher education. In this breakout discussion, faculty will be challenged to consider student-parents as a distinct high-need student population, and that Mason can do more to support our student-parents both inside and outside of the classroom. Participants will learn from Mason’s student-parent population and identify supports, needs, and resource gaps. Faculty will receive an overview of services and resources available for student-parents at Mason, a primer on Title IX as it pertains to pregnant and parenting students, discuss strategies to enhance equity for student-parents, and review best practices to build student-parent social capital and accessibility. Faculty will also hear from current student-parents on the challenges they face in balancing education and parenthood, and how faculty can help our student-parents thrive at Mason.