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Keeping the Seat Warm: A Parenting Student鈥檚 Journey at CSUDH

Chauncey Williams is pursuing dual majors in Health Science, with concentrations in Healthcare Management and Psychology. As the proud mother of two sons, she brings a unique perspective to college life, and it鈥檚 a perspective that looks very different from the experiences of many college students.聽聽

鈥淓very late night of studying, every class I show up for鈥攊t鈥檚 also for them,鈥� she explains.聽聽

For Williams, and the hundreds of other parenting students at CSUDH, leaving campus after a full day of classes isn鈥檛 the end of a long day. Instead, it鈥檚 often just the beginning. There鈥檚 homework to check, lunches to pack, and toddler tantrums to calm.聽聽

鈥淚t鈥檚 been both humbling and empowering,鈥� Williams says. 鈥淏alancing textbooks and bedtime stories isn鈥檛 easy, but it has taught me resilience in a whole new way. I remind my sons that I鈥檓 keeping their seat warm here at Dominguez Hills.鈥澛犅�

Williams鈥� long-term goal is to earn a PsyD, fusing her background in managed care with her passion for mental health equity. She also hopes to expand her nonprofit, For Her, With Love, a sanctuary for Black women to heal, gather, and thrive. But, like most parenting students, her greatest need right now is simple: time.聽聽

鈥淭here never seems to be enough of it,鈥� Williams says. 聽聽

Parenting students like Williams often juggle multiple challenges at once: raising children, pursuing an education, and managing finances. In recent years, CSUDH has taken steps to proactively assist parenting students, so they aren鈥檛 left to deal with these challenges on their own. 聽聽

Established in 2023, the university鈥檚 Parent and Family Programs takes a holistic approach in how it supports parenting students. 鈥淥ur program is dedicated to supporting both the parents and families of our students as well as the parenting students themselves,鈥� explains Lorena De La Cruz, Parent & Family Coordinator. 鈥淚 intentionally use the term 鈥榩arenting student鈥� because I recognize that they are parents first before being students, and that perspective is at the heart of the work we do. Supporting parenting students creates space for their children, showing them that they too can follow their dreams and pursue higher education. This is the foundation of multigenerational success.鈥濃��聽聽

Candace Manansala, Director of CSUDH鈥檚 Child Development Center, underscores the barriers that are specific to parenting students.聽聽鈥淢any parenting students struggle with scheduling classes around caregiving responsibilities, and unexpected emergencies with their children can make it harder to stay on track academically. In addition, some student parents may feel isolated, as their college experience looks very different from their peers without children. 聽聽

CSUDH has built a network across divisions and departments鈥攆rom Financial Aid to Academic Affairs, and beyond鈥攁ll collaborating to help parenting students persist toward their educational goals. 聽聽

鈥淎t the Child Development Center, we provide safe, enriching, and developmentally appropriate care for children.鈥� Manansala says. 鈥淥ur program directly supports parenting students at CSUDH by giving them reliable childcare during their classes and work hours. We also build partnerships with families, offering guidance and resources that support both their children鈥檚 growth and the parents鈥� academic journey by hosting monthly parenting workshops, providing academic support, and giving them a space to work or study.鈥澛犅�

These efforts matter. For Williams, resources like the Student Success Center and Toro Health Pathways have often been lifelines. In addition, faculty members who see her not just as a student but as a parent, as well as peers in the Public Health Toros Association, and friendships with other parenting students have all contributed to her positive experience.聽聽

鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing like talking to someone who gets it,鈥� she says.聽聽

Williams鈥� decision to join the (CoP) reflects her conviction that representation matters. 鈥淧arenting students often feel invisible,鈥� she says. And I wanted to be part of this community so that parenting students, especially Black mothers like me, have a seat at the table where decisions are made.鈥澛犅�

Through , CSUDH was selected to participate in the CoP. The initiative convenes faculty, staff, and administrators across Student Services, Academic Affairs, Financial Aid, Institutional Research, and the Child Development Center to strengthen systems of support.聽聽

鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to design policies, practices, and systems that create lasting change,鈥� says Dr. Mayra Soriano, Associate Vice President for Belonging & Engagement.

聽鈥淧arenting students often feel excluded from traditional programming and overwhelmed by financial strain,鈥� adds Dr. Marisol Cardenas, Director of Student Affairs Assessment. 鈥淭his work allows us to move from isolated efforts to coordinated, data-informed action.鈥澛犅�

And while the barriers parenting students face are all very real, so is the determination they have to break them down. Williams embodies that balance of challenge and resilience.聽

鈥淚鈥檝e discovered my capacity for patience, creativity, and perseverance,鈥� she says.聽

Her hope is simple but profound: 鈥淚 want parenting students not just to survive here. We deserve to thrive here. Every sacrifice I make isn鈥檛 just for me鈥攊t鈥檚 showing my sons that this space belongs to them too. One day, they鈥檒l sit in their own classrooms and pursue their own dreams. For now, I鈥檓 showing them the way forward.鈥澛�

Exciting news for parenting students!

California has recently passed groundbreaking legislation in support of parenting college students! This pioneering law, known as AB 2881, mandates that all public colleges and universities in the state must implement priority registration for parenting students. Furthermore, these institutions are required to inform parenting students about vital resources and support services necessary for their success. extends its coverage to both undergraduate and graduate parenting students, making it the inaugural law of its kind in the country. This achievement marks a significant triumph for parenting students.