COMPASS (Childcare On campus Maximizing Parents' Academic Support and Success)

In 2021, there were 20,530 traditional students (24 and younger) and 7,491 adult learners (25 and older) enrolled at East Carolina University (ECU). Forty percent of these students received need-based aid; $35,610, 492 of which was in Pell Grants. Of those students receiving Pell grants, 985 of them in 2021-22 were parents. Student parents face many barriers to achieving academic success including access to quality and affordable childcare, difficulty balancing work, family, and school demands, and emotional, social and financial support that aligns with their unique needs (Dayne et al. 2021; Kensinger & Minnick, 2017). Best practices suggest that in addition to childcare, student parents benefit from a holistic approach providing comprehensive services such as parenting education and support (Pendelton & Atella, 2020). Therefore, we propose a three-pronged model of support for low-income student parents that will foster university-level systemic change to address their needs. Specifically, our model includes a) providing slots in the existing 5-Star quality Nancy W. Darden Child Development Center to low-income students on a sliding-scale fee; b) developing a campus-based drop-in childcare program with evening and weekend hours, and c)?providing comprehensive wrap around services that support low-income student parents in achieving academic success. ?

Scholars @ ECU