For Immediate Release:
November 8, 2024
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
Laurel Ridge is part of a growing movement recognizing the extra challenges faced by college students who are raising children, and actively working to help overcome those barriers.
“The foundation recently received a gift of $10,000 from the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) to support parenting students,” said Liv Heggoy, executive director of the Laurel Ridge Foundation. “Hopefully, this will be the first of many gifts the foundation receives to support this important project for parents who are students.”
Noting the 20-percent nationwide rate of college students raising children, the VFCCE launched CAPS in 2023 with the hope the movement spreads to other states.
The program was initially launched at five community colleges – Brightpoint, Central Virginia, Germanna, New River and Tidewater –in a bid to help low-income single mothers receive funding to attend college and receive coaching. Other components of the pilot program included providing emergency funds to help students finish their degree or certificate, offering childcare assistance and helping put students into relevant internships.
“We’re all united in the belief that reaching out to our students who are parenting is really important,” said Spanish Professor Polly Nesselrodt, who is part of the effort to support parents at Laurel Ridge. “They’re a vulnerable population, but a really, really important one. They have higher GPAs than their peers, but they need some support because it’s a lot to pursue an education and continue to parent. The challenges are just constant.”
Many are single parents, added Professor Lori Killough, the Education Program lead. And, often, these parents are part of the population the United Way refers to as ALICE – asset limited, income constrained, employed.
“When the rubber meets the road, you’re always going to pick your child,” said Professor Nesselrodt, who is the assistant dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. “If you have to choose between taking care of your sick children, or going to class, you’re always going to take care of your kid.”
About one-fourth – 24 percent – of Laurel Ridge students are parents, said Professor Nesselrodt. She noted single parents are more likely to be attending community colleges, rather than four-year schools.
Professor Nesselrodt has been working on a report on student parents at the college as part of her Ph.D. coursework. It explains the current state of student parents at the college, the academic literature on student parents in general, and a tiered approach to supporting parents. Tier 1 is free or low cost, and involves making them feel seen by faculty and staff.
Laurel Ridge President Kim Blosser has made it a priority to bring in non-traditional age students to the college, said Professor Nesselrodt, and it’s important for parents to know the college can help them overcome barriers to attaining their education.
“Helping them to connect with one another is really huge,” she said. “We have an organization on Canvas, Students Who Parent. Students can connect with each other there and share stories.”
This semester, there have been two family movie nights at the college, which included popcorn and free family portraits.
Laurel Ridge’s social worker, Tiffany Matthews, said the Canvas group was started in the fall 2023 semester, and now about 50 students are part of it, a mix of single and two-parent families. There are more mothers, but there are some fathers. She said she thinks the student parents enjoy sharing their educational goals with each other.
Tier 2 is about having dedicated space for parenting students, and would involve some costs since a dedicated space would be created. Higher tiers would include things such as a playground on campus, stipends to help with childcare costs, and even having a childcare center on campus or nearby.
Professor Killough said it would be her dream to incorporate these ideas into the early childhood development program, and have students do observations and practicums working under a master teacher.
VCCS Chancellor Dr. David Doré is very attuned to the needs of parenting students, said Professor Killough.
“I believe our state officials also see this as a need that needs to be addressed,” she said.
The state’s preschool initiative has seen some preschools go into public school buildings.
“There’s support in that respect,” said Professor Killough. “It needs to go beyond preschool. It needs to go younger and across the board, and not just for financially-needy families. It benefits the children. It benefits the parents. It benefits the college and the community. It’s a win for everybody.”
Quality childcare has a great impact on childhood development, she said. Professor Nesselrodt agreed.
“I think that’s what’s so exciting about this entire endeavor – you’re really helping two generations,” she said.
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Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines, in addition to providing access to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs offered on site by a four-year institution. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.
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