PHOTO/REBECCA ZENEFSKI, BY REBECCA STUDIOS
OFFICE HOURS
A Lifeline for Mother and Child BY SARA BERHOW The Access and Success program started 24 years ago, serving St. Catherine University students with children. Joan Demeules, program director, has been involved from the start. Under her leadership, the Access and Success team has put St. Kate’s at the forefront of supporting student parents in higher education.
Q:
What is the goal of Access and Success?
We initially launched Access and Success as a retention program — keeping students with children enrolled at St. Kate’s — and that remains our overarching goal today. We want student parents to be successful. They’re very motivated and willing to sacrifice. This program provides resources, support, encouragement and guidance to follow through on their commitment to a college education.
Q:
Who does Access and Success support?
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ST. CATHERINE UNIVERSITY • SPRING 2016
Access and Success started out serving single parents on the Minneapolis campus in the 1992– 93 academic year. Over time, the program has evolved. In 2000, it expanded to serve all undergraduate students, then, a few years ago, to include all student parents across all degree levels, from certificates to doctorate degrees.
Q:
What are some challenges that can derail these learners?
One of the biggest is time management. In addition, many of the students we work with are the first in their family to attend college and need help navigating their way.
Financial stress and childcare needs are two other common challenges, and they’re part of the reason Access and Success is so valuable. We have emergency grants, and we connect student parents with resources in the community to alleviate financial worries. To help with childcare, we have child-friendly study spaces on both campuses; our student parents use them very creatively. We offer a childcare grant program and have a book that lists students who are willing to babysit children of Katies. It’s often the small needs we can fill that keep someone on track.
