Exploring the needs of parents at post-secondary institutions: Findings from a cross-sectional survey capturing parenting-related experiences on campus

Abstract

Problem/Issue
 Student parents attending and working within post-secondary institutions have low visibility and high needs, as they balance scholarly and parenthood responsibilities. The Queen’s University Child Friendly Campus initiative (QUCFC) was established in 2015 to improve access to resources, as well as cultivate a sense of community for parents at Queen's University. The initiative is multi-faceted and targets three key pillars: community, advocacy, and sustainability.
 Methods 
 A needs assessment survey was conducted from May to December 2017. Its aim was to capture parenting-related experiences on campus by posing the research question, “How can Queen’s University become a child friendly campus?”. Students, faculty and staff who self-identified as parents of dependent pre-school aged children were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey delivered through Qualtrics. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling, descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data. Ethical compliance was obtained from the Health Sciences Research Ethics Board of Queen’s University. 
 Results 
 Fifty-five responses were obtained from the survey (n=50 female, n=5 male). The median age of respondents was 34 years, students consisted of 53% of the sample and the majority reported having one or two children (68%). Those who felt unsupported (n=21) provided qualitative recommendations for increasing inclusivity. The themes included physical infrastructure resources, accessible childcare, and financial benefits. 
 Conclusions 
 These findings can inform future interventions offered to student parents on Queen's campus and be shared with the larger academic community to promote dialogue about the unique needs of student parents.