Parents as Students: Assessing the Childcare Needs of Nontraditional Students at Minnesota State University, Mankato

As a public institution, Minnesota State University, Mankato offers many services to make the life of a student easier. Severely lacking, however, is a major resource for parents who are returning or attending college for the first time. Concerns regarding childcare can be detrimental to a non-traditional student\u27s completion rate. This paper addresses statistical information given by Minnesota State University, Mankato parents and its implications. It gives recommendations for action including grants from the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program and constructing a facility specifically for parents on campus. It also looks to the Student Parent HELP Center at the University of Minnesota as a model for implementation on our campus