FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fresno State is expanding support for student parents with the help of a new California State University grant, as the campus continues its efforts to help students balance higher education and family responsibilities.
According to university officials, Fresno State is home to nearly 25,000 students, including roughly 2,000 who are pregnant or already raising children. Those students are recognized as “parent scholars,” a designation intended to acknowledge the unique challenges they face while pursuing a college degree.
“Being a student is tough. Being a parent is tough. But trying to juggle both of those worlds at the same time is really heavy,” said Melissa Norris, a health educator at Fresno State.
To help meet those needs, the university offers several programs and services designed specifically for parent scholars. These include priority registration, family-friendly campus events that foster connection and community, and a diaper distribution program.
“We partner with the food bank and are able to provide diapers for free monthly,” Norris said.
The efforts are part of the CSU system’s broader Pregnant and Parenting Students Initiative, which provides campuses with resources, guidance and funding to better serve students who are raising children.
Carolyn O’Keefe, director for student wellness and basic needs, said one of the primary goals is helping student parents connect with peers facing similar experiences.
“Helping people find their community, find their fellow students, so that they know that they’re not alone in this, so they can feel a sense of that community,” O’Keefe said.
Recently, Fresno State was one of 11 CSU campuses selected to receive a $5,500 microgrant funded through the Michelson 20MM Foundation.
At Fresno State, the grant will support a Fall Harvest Festival for student parents and their families.
Norris said the event will feature seasonal activities such as games and pumpkins while also connecting students with campus and community resources.
“So that was really the gap we wanted to fill: to ensure that in the fall semester, as all these students are incoming, they’re connected to campus resources, but also that they can get to know some of our community resources,” Norris said.
University leaders believe helping student parents succeed in college can have a lasting impact that extends beyond one individual.
“And so, what we’re hoping is that then changes the trajectory of not only that student, but then of their children and of their children’s children,” O’Keefe said.
September is recognized as National Student Parent Month, and Fresno State officials say they remain committed to ensuring pregnant and parenting students have access to the support systems they need to thrive both in the classroom and at home.
Students interested in learning more about Fresno State’s Parent Scholar programs and services can find additional information through the university’s dedicated Parent Scholar website.
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