Establishing Family-Friendly Spaces within On-Campus Libraries

New America: What brought you to the student parent field?

Kelsey Keyes: During shifts at the reference desk back in 2014, I noticed that people would come into the on-campus academic library with young children in tow. My interest was piqued; then, one day, I saw a female student was using a library computer, struggling to type while also dealing with a wiggly toddler sitting on her lap. On the floor next to them was a baby in a car seat who was babbling happily. They were not being loud, and they were on the first floor, which was not a quiet zone. I decided to see if I could help her. She noticed me walking toward her, and she started to panic and type faster. “I’m really sorry about him,” she said quickly, indicating the chatty baby. “I’m almost done here. We’ll get out of here soon, I promise. I just need to get this paper printed and turned in.” She was so apologetic and frantic; I rushed to reassure her that I was coming over, not to chastise or shush, but to make sure she knew she (and her children) were welcome in the library and that I was there to provide her with assistance.

Her relief was palpable, and I realized just how unwelcoming the library can seem (or can be) to student parents. She assumed she was in trouble for simply trying to complete a task dozens of students do in the library every day: finishing a paper and printing it before class. After that encounter, I resolved to learn more about student parents and their unique needs in higher education and to find ways to support them in the academic library.

New America: What is most important for advancing equity for student parents and pregnant students?

Kelsey Keyes: The data tell us that this woman in the library with her children is not alone. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) found that women make up 71 percent of all student parents, and roughly 2 million students—43 percent of the total student parent population—are single mothers. In addition, the 26 percent of students trying to balance a college workload with parenthood are disproportionately likely to be low-income, first-generation students, and/or underrepresented students (i.e. African American, American Indian, and Hispanic/Latino). Thus, providing resources for student parents coincides with ongoing university efforts to support diversity, equity and inclusion.

Parenting students face numerous challenges in successfully completing their studies. For example, they often experience “time poverty” when they are working, taking care of children, and going to school. And when student parents feel that they aren’t meeting expectations, they may try to reduce the demands on their time, which too often means dropping out of school. A survey found 42 percent of single parenting students said that their parenting responsibilities would make it likely or very likely that they would have to stop attending college. Other analysis indicates that 53 percent of parents, compared to 31 percent of nonparents, left college after six years without a degree. Attrition rates are even worse for low-income parenting students: they are 25 percent less likely to earn a degree than low-income students without children. Furthermore, research suggests that student parents feel unwelcomed on campus—like they don’t belong or are invisible—which can also lead to them not completing a credential.

Supporting student parents has a positive multi-generational impact. A lot of research has found that a child’s future educational achievement is most likely to mirror that of their mother and that when parents balance achieving educational goals, such as completing college, with working and childcare, they are serving as positive role models for their children. IWPR research confirms that parenting students’ education benefits both students and their children and that a parent’s education has many lasting economic and educational benefits for children.

New America: What resources, programs, and research are needed to advance policy for student parents and pregnant students?

First and foremost, institutions of higher education need to start gathering data about the parenting status of their students. One of the ways that our society discounts student parents is by not counting them at all. Right now, almost no higher education institutions collect data about students' parenting status. (Oregon is leading the way in changing this! And others, like the SPARK Collaborative’s Data-to-Action Campaign for Pregnant and Parenting Student Success, are actively working on the issue as well.)

This lack of data is one of the first—and major—barriers to providing student parents with the critical services and support they need. This data deficit is notable, mainly because higher education institutions, encouraged and compelled by federal and state governments, collect so many other metrics. Behind the scenes, data about student age, ethnic background, parental level of education, years since completing high school, and many other items are collected and carefully recorded by colleges and universities across the country. We often start by counting what matters to us, and over time, these practices become embedded such that what matters to us are those things that we have counted. Student parents aren’t being counted, and the result is that they don’t count. They are often a population overlooked and underserved in higher education.

New America: What should higher education leaders and policymakers know to better support student parents and pregnant students?

After several years of research and work, Albertson’s Library at Boise State opened a Family Study Room in January 2022 to support parenting students’ ability to balance school and caregiving responsibilities. The Family Study Room is intended for student parents and their children under the age of 12. The space features computers, toys, books, and more. A student parent must have their child with them when they check out the key for the study room, and children must be supervised by a guardian at all times.

The space is the first of its kind on campus and has already earned positive reviews. One student parent wrote, “I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the [study room]. This is the first effort I have seen supporting the adult learner. It has always felt like resources are geared towards traditional freshmen. It is hard to feel included when our families are not. Thank you for your efforts and support.” Another wrote, “I was overjoyed to see something like this established on campus. Thank you for your research and work in addressing a real problem. This has an impact way beyond four walls.”

As creative learning hubs on campus, academic libraries are ideally situated to lead the way in building a friendlier environment for student parents. Library use is associated with higher GPAs and retention rates, regardless of whether students receive library instruction or use library spaces or collections, which means that academic libraries and librarians can make a big difference for student parents. By creating family-friendly spaces—such as a Family Study Room—the academic library can make student parents not only feel seen but also feel welcome on campus.

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