Students who are parents Home > FAQ
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- What housing resources are available for student parents?
- What financial aid is available to me?
- What child care resources are available?
- Who can I talk to about scheduling classes around my specific scheduling needs?
- What services are available to me through Health Services?
- What academic support is available to me?
- Where are the diaper changing stations on campus?
- Where are there locations for nursing and/or pumping?
- Is there funding available to help with my day care expenses?
- When is tuition due, and how can I make payments?
- Are there any emergency funds available to students?
- What should I do if my child is ill and I can not attend class?
- What other parenting resources exist on campus?
Q. What housing resources are available for student parents?
A: Staff members of the Commuter Center & Off-Campus Services can provide you information about housing options in the area. Please visit lower level Murray-Herrick Campus Center or call the office (651-962-6138), or check their on-line housing listings or the "Commuter Center & Off-Campus Services."
Q. What financial aid is available to me?
A: You can find useful information at the Financial Aid web site.
Q. What child care resources are available?
A: The University of St. Thomas Child Development Center offers full and part time year-around programming to the children of UST students, faculty and broader community. Located on campus in the west wing of Christ Child Hall, the Center serves children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. For more information about Child Development Center, call 651-962-5040. You may also be eligible for Child Care Grants.
Q. Who can I talk to about scheduling classes around my specific scheduling needs?
A: An academic counselor can help you plan classes around your needs. It is helpful to make a degree plan and plan several semesters ahead, because not all classes are offered each semester. Please call 962-6300 to set up an appointment with a counselor. Academic Counseling is located in room 119 O' Shaughnessy Education Center.
Q. What services are available to me through Health Services?
A: You can find useful information at Health Services.
Q. What academic support is available to me?
A: There are many academic support services on campus. Most departments have tutors for introductory level courses. Other important resources include the Writing Center, the Math Resource Center, the Academic Support Center and Academic Counseling.
Q. Where are the diaper changing stations on campus?
A: There is a convenient diaper changing station in the first floor women s bathroom, Murray-Herrick Campus Center, just around the corner from the Grill.
Q. Where are there locations for nursing and/or pumping?
A: There are a few places where nursing mothers have been comfortable nursing their children and aspirating milk for the future.
- The women s restroom on the first floor of Murray-Herrick Campus Center, around the corner from the Grill.
- The women s restroom on the second floor Murray-Herrick Campus Center, across from the Faculty/Staff dining room.
- The women s restroom on the first floor of John Roach Center just outside of JRC 126.
- The Meditation Room on the 1st floor of Murray-Herrick
Some women, depending on their comfort level, have found nursing their children in the first floor Commuter Lounge and the Commuter Center, LL17 Murray-Herrick to be good, peaceful places. Some other options, depending on availability, are the Luann Dummer Women s Center, 103, and the foyer outside of OEC auditorium. Some students have found the student lounges in the Owens and O Shaughnessy Science complex to be comfortable places to nurse.
Q. Is there funding available to help with my day care expenses?
A: The Post-Secondary Child Care Grant Program helps low income undergraduate students who have young children pay for child care while the student attends classes.
- Who is Eligible?
Minnesota residents who have a child 12 years old or younger (or 14 or younger if the child is handicapped) and whose family size and income qualify for the program. To qualify, students also must:
- Be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
- Be Minnesota residents.
- Be enrolled for at least six credits per term.
- Not have completed five years of post-secondary education.
- Not have defaulted on a student loan.
The student must not be receiving assistance from the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). Individuals receiving MFIP at this time should contact their County Social Services Office to get additional information about child care assistance.
- How is the Award Determined?
The amount of child care assistance depends on:
- The number of children under 12 in the family.
- The number of day care hours necessary to cover education and work obligations.
- Income of the applicant and spouse.
- The availability of funding.
- The student's enrollment status.
- How Much Money Can You Get?
The maximum available to a full-time student is $2,200 for each eligible child per academic year. Assistance may cover up to 40 hours of child care per week for each eligible child.
- What Is the Application Process?
The student should apply to the financial aid office at his or her school.
Q. When is tuition due, and how can I make payments?
A:You can find useful information at the business office.
Q. Are there any emergency funds available to students?
A: You can find useful information at Dean of Students - Emergency Loan.
Q. What should I do if my child is ill and I can not attend class?
A: It is important that you understand the attendance policies on your course syllabi. If you need to miss a class due to your child being ill, you should contact your professor immediately to notify him/her of the reason for your absence.
Q. What other parenting resources exist on campus?
A: The Commuter Center has a lending library of donated children's videos, books-on-tape, or music tapes/CDs for student-parents to use. Simply stop by the Center to check out any of these items.
