by Chelsea Julian
Low-income college students enrolled at the University of Oklahoma who are parents of young children will soon have additional support services, including high-quality, campus-based childcare, additional financial aid and more, thanks to a four-year research project funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
According to estimates by the National Center for Education Statistics, more than one-fifth of all college students are parents. This is a challenge that college students who are also parents must face in addition to their classes and associated demands. Further, research indicates that a college degree remains a major benefit for raising low-income families out of poverty. For example, a recent needs assessment survey led by the Happy OU Project team showed there is an urgent need for high-quality and affordable early childhood education programs located on campus and with extended hours, especially for low-income student families.
Principal investigator Kyong-Ah Kwon, Ph.D., for the Happy OU Project, said, “Through establishing a support system with various campus and community partners, we expect that this project will help OU low-income students complete their schoolwork and successfully prepare for a career, reduce financial and parenting stress, promote child and family well-being, and improve the rate of students’ retention and completion of a degree at OU.”
