College Parenthood: Balancing Family and Education
By Aniyah Robinson
Staff Writer
At 19, Andrea Scales faced a life-altering moment the summer before her sophomore year at Langston University. During what was supposed to be a routine check-up, Scales found out she was pregnant. Additionally, Scales was told she only had a few weeks to prepare, as her son, Xavier Holiday, would arrive soon. She was about to become a college parent.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than one-fifth of all college students are student parents, almost half of them being single parents. Between balancing textbooks and bedtime stories, student parents are often unable to have a traditional college experience. For student parents, the financial stress of pursuing an education is compounded by the financial stress of raising a child. As a result, more than 70 percent of student parents work low-wage jobs to make ends meet. With free time being virtually nonexistent, student parents battle the effects of mental, physical and emotional exhaustion.
Scales already faced many difficulties as a first-time college student; however, her greatest challenge would be navigating her sophomore year as a single mom. With her child’s father not being receptive of the pregnancy and being five hours away from home, Scales had to grow up fast. “Not everyone can be as mature as you. Not everyone can attend to the call like you can. Not everyone can step up to the plate and do what they have to do for their child like you can,” Scales said.
The Langston University office of public relations recently announced that the CCAMPIS program (Child Care Access Means Parents in School) is now taking applications for the 2024-2025 school year. This is the fifth year Langston University has offered this program since it was awarded in fall 2019.
The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and the school of agriculture & applied sciences department of family & consumer sciences. Students participating in the program receive funds to assist with childcare expenses while attending school. To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate student and be able to provide your enrollment schedule and Pell Grant award summary.
“This is just another layer of support to ensure that parents that parents are able to complete their degree,” said Dr. Emisha Maytubby, the department chair for family and consumer sciences and project director for CCAMPIS.
To begin the process of facilitating childcare through CCAMPIS, Maytubby works with the parent’s childcare center to establish them as a Langston University vendor. The two-week process includes filling out an application and submitting a W-9 form before being approved. This allows the invoice to be sent directly to Langston rather than to the parent. From the initial phase, it takes four to six weeks until the first payment.
Langston University used to offer childcare on campus. Last year, Langston University said goodbye to the Bro Hall dormitory as part of its 10-year plan. In-between the dorm towers sat a building formally known as the LU Early Childhood Laboratory. The once-vibrant child educational space served the community for over 20 years before it was left abandoned after its permanent closing July 31, 2019. The laboratory provided students and employees with convenient access to childcare. Children aged six weeks to 12 years old could learn in a safe and engaging environment while their parents worked or attended classes. In a statement released by the Langston University school of agriculture and applied sciences, the reason for the closure was because of the lack of funding needed to provide quality childcare.
“This decision was not made lightly… through the feedback from the forums the ultimate conclusion was that the center was no longer financially or operationally sustainable.”
At the time of the closure, students and children were saddened by the loss of the day care. “The day care impacted everyone. My son lost his friends, great educators. They were a family, and the family was broken up,” said Shayvon Timmons, a senior psychology major in an October 2019 Gazette article. Now almost five years later, students are still feeling the repercussions of losing the nearest childcare facility.
Maytubby has been overseeing the CCAMPIS program since fall 2020. While reflecting on those she has served as CCAMPIS project manager, Maytubby said, “There’s no question about the impact. It’s just being able to maximize and really support everybody. That has been our biggest challenge.” With this being the last year of available funding, Maytubby wants to award as many families as possible with the CCAMPIS stipend before it ends.
One limitation to receiving stipend is having proper transportation to and from the childcare center. Last year, only four of 23 families were awarded the CCAMPIS stipend due to lack of transportation. To balance the stress of lack of transportation, students who qualify for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) can receive free trolley rides to select locations. Parents would apply through DHS; if awarded, the service would be set up through the trolley service.
Another barrier parents face is the limited availability of childcare in Logan County. The nearest childcare center is in Guthrie, however, many of the spots for children three-and-under are full. Meaning, many parents must either make the twenty-minute drive to Stillwater or find other means of childcare.
“It hard to pay a bill or even go to class with a baby with no day cares nearby,” Scales said. Because of this, most of her childcare comes from friends she has met while participating in campus organizations. To stay organized, scheduling plays a crucial role in Scales’ routine. At the beginning of the school year, Scales gathers everyone’s schedule to determine who can baby-sit while she attends class. These individuals are friends she completely trusts and have known her and her son for years. However, with students having busy campus lives sometimes scheduling doesn’t always work out. “They’re human, sometimes they fall sick. Sometimes they have stuff they need to prioritize,” said Scales. Despite the challenges, Scales remains grateful for her friend and their support.
Balancing the demands of education and the responsibility of parenthood is no small task. Despite the obstacles, many student parents are driven by the desire to create a better future for themselves and their family. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, one-third of student parents have a 3.5 or higher GPA. However, the challenges of parenthood can become overwhelming as approximately 52 percent drop out before obtaining a degree. By understanding the challenges and experiences of student parents, society can work towards creating a supportive network around them. This network would allow them to lean on resources for help and support them on their journey to graduation. “…sometimes support means you know, holding a baby while they go get their lunch… just saying hi… or allowing them to bring their child to class,” Maytubby said. “It’s not the ideal situation, but it’s a level of support that I think our families will really appreciate.”
For more information on the CCAMPIS program and other childcare resources, contact Dr. Maytubby at emisha.young@langston.edu.
Aniyah Robinson is a Junior Broadcast Journalism major
