Making Student Parents Visible: Data Collection, Policy, and Outcomes

Session Abstract: Student parents are a substantial but often hidden population—making up about 1 in 5 undergraduates nationally—whose success influences enrollment, transfer, and completion outcomes. States are increasingly passing mandates for colleges to track students' parenting status, yet practices are inconsistent. This session will show how stronger data collection can unlock new insights: first, by enabling institutions to identify and describe student parents and design supports that meet their needs; and second, by connecting those data to transfer and degree outcomes. Drawing on two new studies, presenters will share actionable strategies for collecting student-parent data and highlight national evidence on transfer and bachelor’s completion. Participants will learn how to align institutional practices with policy requirements and leverage the power of data to both understand and improve student trajectories.

Keywords: Student Parents, Data Collection, Transfer and Completion, State Policy