FamilyU Online Learning Center

Across the United States, nearly 25% of college students are raising children while pursuing their education. Despite their determination and resilience, student parents often face systemic barriers that make navigating higher education significantly more challenging. The Student Parent Ally Certificate, developed by Generation Hope, equips higher education professionals and nonprofit leaders with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to better support student parents and create more inclusive institutional environments. This self-paced professional learning experience guides participants through six courses, exploring areas that influence the student parent experience: Intro to Student Parent Work: Build foundational knowledge about student parents in higher education and explore the importance of belonging, mattering, and asset-based approaches to support. Data:  Learn how institutions can make student parents visible through data collection and analysis, and how data can inform decision-making, advocacy, and resource allocation. Policy:  Examine how institutional policies can unintentionally create barriers for student parents and explore strategies for developing more inclusive and accessible policies. People: Identify and cultivate student parent champions across campus who can build momentum and strengthen institutional commitment to supporting student parents. Culture:  Explore how institutional culture shapes the experiences of student parents and how small shifts in practice and mindset can foster belonging and mattering. The certificate culminates in a Student Parent Action Plan, where participants identify key stakeholders, opportunities for impact, and practical next steps they can implement within their role or organization. By the end of the program, participants will be prepared to: Recognize systemic barriers affecting student parents Use data to inform advocacy and institutional decision-making Identify policies that influence student parent success Build networks of champions and collaborators Foster a culture where student parents are visible, valued, and supported Read more

This course examines the cultural dimensions of supporting student parents, highlighting the importance of creating inclusive and culturally responsive environments. Participants will explore how cultural backgrounds and identities influence the experiences of student parents, including the challenges they face and the resources they need. The course covers strategies for fostering a culturally inclusive atmosphere, addressing biases, and promoting equity. By understanding and respecting the diverse cultural contexts of student parents, participants will be better prepared to support their educational journeys and contribute to a more inclusive campus community.   This course is included in the Student Parent Ally Certificate program. Read more

This course is designed for anyone interested in learning how to better support student parents by leveraging data-driven insights. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the student parent demographic through data analysis and interpretation. The goal of this course is to highlight the importance of intentional support from higher education administrators, faculty, staff, and students, using data to inform and improve practices. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the skills to analyze relevant data and apply findings to create effective support systems for student parents. This course is included in the Student Parent Ally Certificate program. Read more

This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about how to better support students that are parenting while in college. The goal of this course is to help build a better understanding of the student parent demographic and the need for intentional support from higher education (and adjacent) administrators, faculty, staff, and students. * This course is included in the Student Parent Ally Certificate program. Read more

This course delves into the human aspects of supporting student parents, emphasizing interpersonal skills and cultural competency. Participants will explore the diverse backgrounds and unique challenges faced by student parents, learning how to create empathetic and inclusive environments. The course covers effective communication, relationship-building, and advocacy techniques to better support student parents. By understanding the personal experiences and cultural contexts of student parents, participants will be equipped to foster supportive networks and enhance the educational experience for this vital student population. This course is included in the Student Parent Ally Certificate Program. Read more

We all interact with policies, every single day. As they are written or enacted, some policies are made specifically to address one or more of our identities, whereas others may serve to include or exclude certain identities or lived experiences from larger systems. The same goes for students on our campuses and some of our policies may negatively impact or exclude student parents. Over this course, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on federal, state, and campus-level policies from a student parent lens. As a result of this course, we hope participants will gain awareness and practical skills related to analyzing institutional policy from a student parent perspective. This course is included in the Student Parent Ally Certificate program. Read more