Student Parent Experiences: School, Childcare, Finances, Miscarriages

An average of undergraduate student debt, one year after graduation by gender and parent status

Student Life vs. Private Life

At every university, the faculty and student bodies are made up of many differing and varying circumstances. For instance: there are students who are parents, students who suffer personal losses during their semester, students from different nations, mature students, and many more; whilst professors also fall into these categories. Although there is a common perception that faculty members and students engage in a separate life from the 'outside' world, it can be assumed that every individual within the institution lives a unique life with multiple responsibilities, both in the 'outside' world and within the university setting. The University of British Columbia is no exception to this reality and, as an institution, has committed to providing resources to students who need it through Access and Diversity, where students are encouraged to reach out for additional help when needed and can be given the tools that are necessary to "thrive" within their environment . In addition, student parents must divide their time between working, household chores, school, parenting and personal time (when allotted). It is important to note that personal time for hobbies and/or reflection are invariably important for individual mental health and self-care.

Parenting and Access and Diversity

Access and Diversity offers many solutions for student parents, including:

• Childcare and School Registration
• How to look after your child
• Support on Campus
• Financial Support

Yet, some argue that the financial services offered to parents are inadequate. Although scholarship and bursary opportunities are offered to student parents, the application processes tend to be lengthy and the process can seem daunting, often cause additional stress in the student's life. Beyond this, the student is often required to share sensitive personal information with the institution and, due to the nature of these financial aids, the competition can be grueling, so there is no guarantee that you will receive funding.

UBC's Daycare facility

UBC's Daycare facility

Childcare

In Vancouver, most daycare's offer services between the hours of 9-5. For student parents, these hours can sometimes cause angst and anxiety, as university classes can occur both early in the morning and late into the evening, outside of this allotted time slot. In these situations, when parent's are unable to find adequate childcare, the student's academic and at-home success can be compromised . In British Columbia, student parents are privileged to be offered the largest amount of financial support for childcare, when compared to any other province within the country -- $510 / week , and the students are eligible to receive up to $200/month for childcare subsidy. However, once money has been loaned to a student parent from the government, the student will be required to pay the money back at the end of their education, increasing their debt-load when compared to a student living without a dependent and adding stress to their lives. The cost for childcare at the University of British Columbia is $1365.00 / month for an infant (under 2 years old) and above 2 years old, $1255.00/month. Prices do drop for children as they age, but there are no part-time care options for students taking less than three classes per semester, and the prices are subject to sudden increases .

Financial Assistance

As the majority of student parents are young individuals with little-to-no work experience, it can be assumed that many of these students will require financial aid through their province's financial loan institutions, such as BC Student Loans.

A graph comparing where individuals seek support in their every day lives

Emotional Support

Student parents require additional emotional support and understanding from other students, from professors, and from the university as a whole. It important for these individuals to receive support, as they are depended on by their child/children, to ensure that their family maintains positive emotional and physical wellness. Often, student parent's are forced to stay home to take care of their child and can sometimes be called away from lectures or group work to tend to their child's needs. In many cases, students and professors who do not have children are unable to identify with student parents, causing them to feel isolated or misunderstood.

Compassionate Care Leave

UBC offers compassionate care leave to its faculty members, a service that allows for up to 8 weeks of leave for the purpose of supporting a family member who is seriously ill, yet no services like this are offered to students

Risk of miscarriage during pregnancy, by week

Miscarriage

Often times in student-parent’s lives, unexpected events arise, causing disarray and difficulty, as in the case of student-parents who are sexually active, conceiving another baby or in the more unfortunate cases, have a miscarriage. A miscarriage occurs when a pregnant woman suffers the loss of her pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation, for more information, go to Miscarriage. According to the Miscarriage Association, approximately 25% of pregnancies result in a miscarriage . Although some women find it easy to emotionally recover from a miscarriage, some women are unable to move beyond the devastation of losing a child and feel guilt, questioning their own involvement in the tragedy; however, often times parents could not have avoided the miscarriage. It is very important throughout the process of experiencing and grieving a miscarriage that the student parents receives support from their family, friends, and from their peers and faculty members within their institution. This sense of grief has the potential to influence the student's academic success, drastically affecting their abilities to attend classes and communicate with their peers – women who experience miscarriages are also predisposed to depression, anxiety or other psychological disorders such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) . . The physical process of a miscarriage is experience by the mother, and often times, the father's grief is not discussed, data supports findings that male partners are often left out of the support process, whilst most women depended on them for support throughout the medical visits . However, it is important to understand that men are impacted by trauma such as miscarriages, and that they need resources and support as well.

Support

• Websites:
  • Miscarriage Association
  • Pregnancy and Infant Loss Network
  • Abbotsford Hospice Society
  • BC Childloss Support Network
  • BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre
  • Conceivable Options
  • Empty Cradle
  • Family Services of Greater Vancouver
  • Well Woman Counselling

• Phone Numbers:
  • If you think you are suffering from a miscarriage, call your doctor or call 9-11 immediately
  • The Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Clinic: (604) 875-3628