By Damariz Arevalo, Aug. 27, 2024
Student parents are getting themselves and their children ready to return to school by prepping school lunches, clothes, supplies and organizing a schedule. Student parents must time everything from dropping off their children at school or daycare to arriving on campus early to find parking and be in class on time.
Student Parents are defined as a student who has a child or children under 18 years of age who receive more than half of their support from that student, according to Parenting Student Support. Here is over seven resources Cal Poly Pomona offers to student parents:
Student Parents Priority Registration
Student parents priority registration allows student parents to register early for classes before the upcoming semester. A California law AB2881, passed on July 1, 2023, mandating that all student parents receive priority registration across the California State University system.
Student parents can verify at the Parenting Student Support website. To sign in, student parents need to sign in with their Bronco ID and password. The application will ask for name, email and youngest dependent’s date of birth. After, there is a box to upload acceptable documents state of California tax forms, federal tax forms, birth certificate and government-issued documents such as Cal Fresh, TANF, WIC or court documents such as adoption, kinship, family placements and so on. Student parents must submit by Sept. 9 to be eligible for the next spring registration.
Broncos Family Space
The University Library has a Bronco Family Space located on the third floor. The Space is designed to help students, faculty and staff use the library while the child or children play in a safe designated area.
Nearby are men’s and women’s restrooms that each include a changing table. During the semester, the Cal Poly Pomona Children’s Center takes enrolled children to the family space. With adult supervision by teacher aides, the children have activities to choose from such as reading books, playing with toys, a play kitchen, blocks and coloring. If a student parent is with their child or children at the same time they are allowed to play as well but the parent must stay with them.
CPP Children’s Center
The CPP Children’s Center in Building 116, southeast of the Bronco Bookstore, offers preschool childcare for children aged 18 months to 5 years old. It is offered to students, faculty and staff. Potty training is not required, and children with special needs and disabilities are welcome.
“We are enrolling throughout the year; it doesn’t matter if it’s fall, winter, spring or summer,” said CPP Children’s Center Student Office Assistant Desiree Camacho. “We do a majority of enrollments during the summer months. Enrollment depends on the space when a child leaves or ages out, but there is a waitlist.”
The waitlist does not have a definite time of how long the wait will be. It all depends on children aging out or leaving the program. It is not first come first served. Enrollments are open throughout the year, but most occur during summer.
To begin the process, an interest form must be filled out and turned in by email or in person at the Children’s Center. After receiving the form, the child will be placed on a waitlist, the children’s center will look for a space and once available the staff will be in contact with the parent to continue the enrollment process.
The cost for CPP Children’s Center rates and fees depends on the parent’s income, child’s age and the length of time the child will be there such as half time or full time. Being a student, staff or faculty at CPP does not change the rates. There is an annual registration fee of $100. There is subsidized care for income eligible families according to the Children’s Center.
Womxn’s Resource Center
The Womxn’s Resource Center is located in Building 95 across from the Career Center, and is a resource for all students. There is a volunteer board, a mini kitchen, sleeping pod, computer lab and services for student parents, according to WRC Assistant Coordinator Dora Lopez.
“We have a little section for parents or even anybody who might just bring their siblings to campus,” Lopez said. “We have a little children’s corner. It has toys, coloring pages and children’s books. We tried to be inclusive in that area because we also know that it might be difficult for parents to be managing academics and childcare.”
Parenting Broncos Club
The WRC collaborates with the Parenting Broncos Club. It is a community of student parents that can bond over the challenging situations of understanding the struggles of being a parent, student, working and other responsibilities, according to Stephanie Sanchez, co-chair of the Parenting Broncos Club.
PBC hosts monthly meetings that will begin in September, starting with celebrating National Student Parents Month. PBC will be showcasing the Broncos family space the first week. The second week is a meet and greet at the Arabian Horse Center. The third focuses on parenting student allied training and it ends in September with a carnival at CPP hosted by PBC. It will include student parent organizations to provide information and advice.
Empowering student parents to come to campus and feel involved is important to PBC and their goal is for student parents to feel included and be part of the campus community, according to Co-President of the Broncos Parenting Club Yoanna Ruiz Melendez.
“Definitely get involved; put yourself out there; join the club,” Melendez said. “When we have events, even though it could be a little nerve wracking, just go for it and you know that’s the only way that we’re going to get comfortable.”
Lactation Stations
CPP also provides Lactation Stations in several locations around campus for students, staff and faculty. It is a room to express milk in a safe, private and clean space. It is a first come first serve basis. On their website is a campus map showing where the stations are located, such as a lactation station next to the WRC. To get access sign in at the WRC and they will provide a key pass. The spaces have a place to sit, place your belongings and access to plug in your electric devices, according to CPP Lactation Support.
Native American Student Center
Another student parents’ resource is the Native American Student Center, it has a beading and arts corner and a TV lounge area for children to be entertained, so the parent can focus on assignments or any other tasks.
“We need to start associating education as fun, pleasurable and as creative with arts,” said Native American Student Center Coordinator Madi Garcia. “Associating higher ed at a young age with things that are enjoyable.”
Other Resources
Other CPP student parent resources include the Poly Pantry, which offers all students free groceries, CAPS for mental health and the Care Center which provides help and information about food, housing or financial needs. To stay updated with services the Parenting Student Support page has more information for student parents.
Feature image courtesy of Damariz Arevalo