Student Parent Success Program at UW-Milwaukee

Celebrating all student- parents 🎉

The Student Parent Success Program has had the privilege of supporting student parents on their journey through higher education since student parent programming was first established at UWM in 2005.

We are incredibly humbled, proud, and inspired by the students who chose to pursue higher education every day, despite the challenges that come with being a student AND a parent.

During the month of September we celebrate , taking time to recognize all of the students who are working their way through degree programs with children in tow. What you do every day is no easy feat. We see you, and we celebrate you! 💛🐾

🍿Family Movie Night!🍿

🍿Date: September 5th
🍿Location: UWM union cinema (UWM student union, 2nd floor)
🍿Join us at 4pm for bracelet making, photo opportunities, and snacks! 🍿Inside Out 2 begins at 6pm, followed by a discussion with UWM’s educational psychology department.

CALLING ALL CAREGIVERS: We want to hear about your experience on campus! If you’re a student and a caregiver, take the survey today. The results will help UWM strengthen resources and support for caregivers on campus.

tinyurl.com/studentcaregiversurvey

Now through October 31st the Boerner Botanical Gardens is FREE on the last Thursday of every month!

Our Family Resource Center summer program is in full swing! 🌞 Parents/caregivers with children ages 0-5 can drop in Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm for free play, snack time, art projects, field trips and more! Visit https://www.coa-yfc.org/frc/ or check out the flyer below for more info.

AMAZING! So much good stuff in the UWM Food Center and Pantry!

Not sure what the pantry has to offer or how much you might be able to receive? Here's an example of the amount you can receive weekly!

The UWM Food Center and Pantry is open and operating this summer!

Did you know that they carry items for student parents, like diapers, wipes, formula, toddler snacks, and other family friendly food options?

They also will often have additional family supporting supplies like breast milk storage bags, pedialyte, and more!

Bring your student ID and check it out on Tuesdays from 8:30am-12:30pm, on the ground floor of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Student union!

Check out this report from the Urban Institue. This new report estimates the monetary benefits to taxpayers if state policymakers invested in supporting student parents.

Universities should consider:

* Establishing a comprehensive student parent support program on each campus, which includes an on-campus office, dedicated benefits navigators, early registration and flexible scheduling options, tuition waivers, and support groups. In Virginia, this policy would return $5.35 per $1.00 spent, for an estimated $1.86 billion in net benefits by 2035.

* Distributing grant aid. Increased grant funding for student parents in Virginia would result in net benefits totaling $559 million by 2035 after a return on investment of $1.73 per $1.00 spent.

* Expanding on-campus child care. Creating an on-campus child care system in all Virginia public colleges would yield a net benefit of $500 million through 2035 after a return on investment of $1.24 per $1.00 spent. This policy produces the largest number of graduates of the three options, though it would take higher investments to implement.

“State policymakers could assess the feasibility of each option—or multiple options—to determine the best approach,” the researchers write. “Overall, our analysis supports investment in student parents as a sound economic decision that is likely to improve the long-term competitive outlook in the state.”

The Taxpayer Benefits of Supporting Student Parents This brief analyzes the benefits to taxpayers of supporting student parents, who make up about one in six undergraduates and graduate students in public colleges and universities in the United States.

Join us on June 19th for Yoga with Kids! RSVP at QR code or link below!

"I wanted people to see that mothers and sons – we have a special relationship. But also mothers can be high achievers," she said. "They can have goals outside of the home, outside of motherhood and there's room for all of that.

Mom Receives Master’s Hood from 3-Year-Old Son at Princeton Graduation: 'A Moment I Will Never Forget' A recent graduation ceremony turned out to be an extra memorable experience for New Jersey mother Natasha S. Alford, who celebrated getting her master’s degree with the help of her adorable 3-year-old son.

Register now for Summer Academy 😎
Sign up now for safe and free summer programming for Milwaukee students! Summer Academy is for all students who want to have fun learning and start strong in fall!

🌞 Grades K5-8 can take part in a five-week camp with weekly themes in art, music, math, science, and literacy. Session runs June 24 to July 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
🌞 Middle and high school students can catch up on credits or get ahead. Two sessions are available: June 13-July 2 and June 24-July 25. mpsmke.com/summeracademy

We're extending the hours of our career closet for the end of the semester! Thanks to all the great donations, we have plenty of selection for UWM students choose from. Available to any student, and the clothing is free to keep!

Pay attention to student parents, & support student parents!

"Experts say there are several factors driving the new efforts to serve student parents:"

*They are a huge potential market for colleges and universities looking for ways to make up for the plummeting number of 18- to 24-year-olds. "If you want to serve adult learners, which colleges see as their solution to enrollment decline, you have to serve student parents," said Su Jin Jez, CEO of California Competes, a nonpartisan research organization that focuses on education and workforce policies.

*They offer a potential solution to the need in many states for workers to fill jobs requiring a college education.
Many parents already have some college credits. More than a third of the 40.4 million adults who have gone to college, but never finished, have children under age 18, according to the Institute for Women's Policy Research, or IWPR.

*A new body of research has also drawn attention to the benefits for children of having parents who go to college. "The greatest impact on a child's likelihood to be successful is the education of their parents," said Teresa Eckrich Sommer, a research professor at Northwestern University's Institute for Policy Research.

College is hard enough — try doing it while raising kids More than 5 million college students are also parents. But many colleges do little to support them. Most don't even offer child care.

All community members are invited to join Milwaukee Recreation at our inaugural May Day Celebration at Hawthorn Glen! From 12-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, celebrate spring by learning about plants that are native to the area, exploring nature trails throughout the Glen, and seeking out treasures left by the fabled Hawthorn Fairy.

Participants will also craft a handmade flower crown to take home, and can join in the traditional maypole celebration. Visit mkerec.net/MayDay to learn more and register today!

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How cool! Happening this Friday!

Join the Multicultural Student Offices (UWM Southeast Asian American Student Center, UWM Roberto Hernández Center, UWM-Black Student Cultural Center) the UWM Student Success Center, and UWM MAVRC, and the UWM Inclusive Excellence Center on April 25th from 12-3pm for one final FAFSA Completion help day for the Spring 2024 semester!

Free pizza while supplies last! Opportunities for raffle prizes for all who attend!

See flyer below for location details!

Happening today!

FREE! The UWM Planetarium will be hosting a solar eclipse viewing party on April 8, 1-3 p.m. Have kiddos who will be off school? or littles at home? Come to this FREE and FUN event on campus!

🌒 Experience a partial solar eclipse visible from 1-3 p.m., with peak visibility at approximately 2 p.m.

🌒 Special glasses will be available for safely viewing the solar eclipse.

🌒 Visitors can witness the solar eclipse on the UWM campus in the Cunningham Parking Lot

🌒 There will also be FREE pizza and eclipse-related activities in the Union Ballroom (rain or shine) and the Spaights Plaza (weather permitting).

🌒 Stay after the eclipse for a 30-min show at the planetarium.

Find MORE eclipse viewing events at www.mkewithkids.com/events.

CALLING ALL CAREGIVERS: We want to hear about your experience on campus! If you’re a student and a caregiver, take the survey today. The results will help UWM strengthen resources and support for caregivers on campus. Link In bio.

Need help completing your 2024-2025 FAFSA form? Stop by Bolton Hall today, the UWM Inclusive Excellence Center, or UWM MAVRC from 12-3pm for expert assistance. Plus, enjoy free pizza and a chance to win cool raffle prizes! 🍕✨

Check out these Saturday matinee shows at the UWM Planetarium! Great for families with children over the age of 4.

The Northern Lights! What are they? How do they work? How can I see them in the sky?🔭
Find out the answers to all these questions and more at our upcomming matinee show, Northern Lights!🌟

Saturday matinees
March 23, 30, 2024
April 6, 13, 20, 2024
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
$6 General, $5 UWM Students

Get your tickets today➡️ https://uwm.edu/planetarium/series/northern-lights-4/

Happening this morning! Hope to see you there!

Join us Tuesday morning for a chill coffee hour curated just for our amazing student parents at UWM!

Our Milwaukee Community Highlight featuring the African American Breastfeeding Network!

AABN provides supportive and educational services throughout the whole pregnancy journey from prenatal to postpartum.

They offer doula support for labor and delivery, newborn case basics and more.

Their Healing Waters program is led by a Perinatal Loss Counselor to provide support for families who have experienced the loss of their baby. These sessions are held one-on-one.

Their breastfeeding support and services include Community Breastfeeding Gathering and in-office one-on-one support for people who are having concerns and/or challenges breastfeeding and/or expressing human milk with a Lactation Consultant.

They are located in the Sojourner Family Peace Center.