Back in School

Fifty years ago, students who were parents were a rarity in college classrooms. By the beginning of the twenty-first century, over a quarter of all undergraduate students were parents. A. Fiona Pearson explores how these student parents navigate cultural norms and institutional resources, forging pathways as parents and students.

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Fifty years ago, students who were parents were a rarity in college classrooms, but by the beginning of the twenty-first century, over a quarter of all undergraduate students were parents. In Back in School, A. Fiona Pearson explores how these student parents navigate cultural norms and institutional resources, forging pathways as they journey to become better parents and successful students. Back in School examines how policy makers, professors, college administrators, counselors, and social workers provide or deny access to child care, tutoring, financial aid, or other campus- or community-based resources. Pearson further explores how social norms and governmental and organizational policies influence access to these resources and student parents’ experiences on campus and at home.