Transforming Postsecondary Systems for Black and Native Family Futures: Key Learnings

The Postsecondary Success for Parents initiative established the Black and Native Family Futures Fund to build capacity and provide financial support and expert technical assistance to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) committed to improving the success of their student parents. With institutional cultures that are rooted in family, community, and holistic supports, HBCUs and TCUs are uniquely positioned to identify and address the needs of Black and Native student parents. Ascend selected five HBCU and three TCU partners to participate in the Fund over 18 months.

Fund Partners implemented several promising practices outlined in Tapping the Talent of Student Parents, a playbook created to help postsecondary leaders better support student parents at institutions across the United States. These practices help institutions build pathways toward the systemic changes needed to ensure access and success for student parents. 

To share learnings from the Fund, Ascend convened student parents, postsecondary leaders, and our philanthropic partners for a webinar hosted on November 14th, 2024. During the event, panelists illuminated what’s working, where changes are needed, and why ensuring student parents achieve their educational aspirations is essential for intergenerational prosperity.

A National Model

In addition to supporting the eight institutions selected to participate in the Fund, Ascend designed the project to ultimately serve as a resource for HBCUs and TCUs, postsecondary experts, practitioners, and policymakers across the country. 

“Our hope is really that the learnings coming out of this project will make a difference for students at all types of institutions,” said Naomi Farabee, Program Officer, Teachers & Students, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. “Being student-focused and student-ready is really the key to weathering changes that are coming.”

“The efforts of the campuses involved in this work of Ascend and of the student parents involved in these projects are so important for us to continue building momentum and ensuring that student parents are front and center on the minds of campus leaders,” said Rob Shorette, Strategy Officer, Student Success, Lumina Foundation.

Family-Friendly Campuses

When asked what institutions can do to ensure student parents feel like part of a college or university family, Carmelita Lee, student parent and grandparent at Diné College, recommended “having resources like family-friendly spaces to accommodate both the parent and student in their responsibilities, like having a lactation or nursing room, family study area, and dining areas.” She also suggested that institutions host family-friendly activities and offer child care to allow student parents to participate in campus events.

“The institution can play a huge role in making us feel like we matter,” said Samantha Dimmer, student parent at Grambling State University, highlighting the need for college campuses to host activities that both student parents and their families can enjoy. “Kid-friendly events at homecoming or any type of engagement would be a plus,” she said.

“We’ve always allowed children on campus, but just creating that space just for the children, I think that was an eye-opener for us. We weren’t creating these spaces for them even though we were allowing them on campus,” said Cory Sangrey-Billy, President, Stone Child College. “We’ve been able to have created that special space for them so that we’re including all students,” she said.

Engaging Student Parents

To become even more inclusive, Samantha suggested that colleges and universities seek input from student parents. “We could use alliances or a committee or advisory board for student parents to provide feedback to the institutions,” she said. “Me and the director of the child development center are creating a student parent organization or alliance where we are bringing student parents together to do great things.”

As part of their work with Ascend, all Fund partners surveyed student parents and held focus groups with student parents to learn from them and create solutions alongside them.

“One of the things that worked for us was doing the focus groups…just sitting with our students, getting to know their needs, what’s helping, and how we can better provide service for them,” said Dr. Sangrey-Billy. 

Building a College-Going Legacy

Samantha urged colleges and universities to consider how student parents can help grow future enrollments. “I have five children that could all be potential Grambling State University students,” she said. “Just imagine how many student parents we have right now that are raising children.”

“They [student parents] bring a wealth of life experiences — they are an initial start for recruiting future Tigers. We believe that college begins in preschool, and so there is an intergenerational connection of how we celebrate student parents, how we support them, and how we ingrain them in the fabric of American higher education, particularly at minority-serving institutions,” said Martin Lemelle, President, Grambling State University. “We’re building futures — futures of students like Samantha — so that’s why we do it.”

The panelists covered several other topics during the conversation including the importance of being strategic, leveraging community partnerships, and making the most of limited resources. 

To explore more takeaways from the Black and Native Family Futures Fund, visit our learnings resource page.

Link not working? You can also watch our recorded webinar on the Fund here.