Painting a picture: Understanding our student parent profile on campus

Little information or research exists regarding the profile of student parents on campus even though increasingly more non-traditional and mature students access post-secondary education. This study presents information generated through a telephone survey of students conducted by a research lab on one Canadian campus. The purpose of the research was to uncover more information about this student group with the intent that the data would inform the development of guidelines for allocation of additional childcare spaces on campus as soon as a new childcare centre was completed. Better information on their needs as students and parents would be helpful in determining the needs of this particular population on campus. The study was located within the research on access and persistence of post-secondary students and used a pragmatist worldview whereby the research approach that is taken best meets the criteria for the project.