Student parents at MU look for support

The Student Parent Center is taking steps to find and connect parents.

By Laura Swan

Published April 20, 2009

Student who also have children are often overlooked on campus, Student Parent Center Director Julie Shea said.

She said that is because administrators don't know how many students have children, what their needs are and how well these needs are being met. Although MU has a center to cater to the needs of student parents, it is an issue being raised at universities across the country.

"The powers that be just don't realize how great this need is," Shea said.

There is no system in place to record statistics regarding student parents.

In order to gather information, SPC's Web site offers a survey for MU students. Shea said she hopes to determine definite numbers and an idea of what resources students use and need with the results of the survey.

Shea has been at the center for 15 years and said it has evolved from a babysitting facility to a licensed program that services 52 children at any one time, with numbers fluctuating depending on part-time applicants.

Junior Kristy Ensley uses SPC for her children, 4-year-old Jasmine and 19-month-old Jayden.

"I use the kid excuse a lot," Ensley said about balancing parenthood with schoolwork. "I think professors who have grandkids are usually more understanding, but a lot basically just say 'It's just gonna get harder, suck it up.'"

Ensley also works at Chili's and said she appreciates how accommodating SPC is with students. She said the teachers work well with children with allergies and students who struggle to pay. She said she wishes MU had more resources available for student parents.

"I wish we could get students with kids together and talk about things to do," Ensley said.

Shea said she hopes to accomplish creating such a support system through Facebook.

Students of any major can work at the center, which Shea said teaches them about various cultures and languages as well as organization, time management and child care strategies.

Senior Heather Siegmund has worked at the center the past four years.

"Nobody knows where you can go to find things like cheap things to do with kids," Siegmund said. "It can be overwhelming for parents who don't know where to start."

The SPC is planning to launch a Web site that will compile a list of resources in the community. Siegmund said with some marketing, the site could get information out there for students.

The site will include resources for getting special financial aid. Siegmund and Shea both noted inadequacies with cooperation from the Student Financial Aid Office. The Facebook group also includes a thread about the child care extension loan MU offers to parents, of which Siegmund said many students aren't aware.

Siegmund also said she's very close with the other teachers and the parents. She spends about 25 hours a week at SPC, but also baby-sits for some students during her free time.

She said she loves how the center balances structure with freedom.

"We're very down to earth here," she said.

Blythe Bradford has taught at the SPC for 28 years. She said students appreciate the program and MU needs more resources like it.

"We've had parents push and petition to keep us open," she said, while keeping one eye on the toddlers running around.

The director and teachers at the center are adamant about focusing on student parents and their needs.

"We just want parents in college to know there are people rooting for them," Shea said. "We offer a safe place for children so their parents can go to class and focus their brainpower on school."