Search | Menu Harnessing the potential of Madison College's student parents
All too often, when we talk about the child care issue, we boil it down to its simplest terms – the impact on parents and children. And to be sure, that’s at the heart of the matter.
But getting this right – making child care available to the 42% of Madison College students who are also parents – is about so much more.
That’s why we’ve made it a priority at Madison College to address what Valentina Ahedo, Madison College’s Vice President, Academic Affairs for Regional Campuses & Educational Pathways calls a “wicked problem.”
Investment in community
It's complex, and there are multiple ways to frame and approach a solution, but for Ahedo, she says the cost of doing nothing is too high. She also believes the Madison community, known for its innovative thinkers and collaborative-minded leaders, is up to the challenge.
And we all benefit from the investment of resources, solutions, and time.
“It’s an investment in all of us,” Ahedo explains. “When you’re thinking about this, it’s not just an investment in somebody’s child. It’s not an investment in an issue that doesn’t impact you because your kids are grown or because you run a business. It’s a workforce issue. It’s a community issue. It’s an economic development issue and it touches everybody with ties to the community. Being able to be a leader in that - that’s a privilege.”
Yes, for our Madison College student parents, their child and family will benefit. But, when that student attains their credential thanks to quality, affordable care for their child, the entire ecosystem benefits, too. Overwhelmingly, our graduates stay in the region and become employed in the local community, and they do so with increased access to higher-paying jobs and economic and social mobility.
“Research shows time and time again the more educational attainment you have, the higher your wages which contributes to the tax base and creates a higher standard of living that all of us want and deserve,” Ahedo said. “Having that investment in child care allows our students to complete their programs and get out into the workforce confidently because they’re prepared. That's an investment in the community. Those families will be less likely to tap into public benefits programs, their children will be kindergarten-ready and more likely, themselves, to go to college. Those student parents have put their families on a whole different trajectory.”
A multi-layered issue
Confounding the child care crisis is the low wages that many early childhood educators are paid. Like many industries, child care is facing a talent crisis as many professionals left child care careers during the pandemic, haven’t returned and haven’t been replaced in adequate numbers by newly credentialed professionals. The result is a choke point where the demand is high but the available supply of open spots for children is low, especially for infant and toddler care.
And it’s no wonder that more professionals aren’t entering the child care workforce. It’s one of the few industries where teachers are (rightfully) required to be credentialed via post-secondary learning, but then they aren’t paid enough when they graduate to justify the investment they made (and often the debt they took on). This is another part of the incredibly complex child care Gordian knot that Madison College is trying to solve.
At the Madison College Early Learning Campuses at Truax and the recently announced center that will open at Goodman South in 2025, staff will be paid above-market wages so that they can pursue a career that gives them purpose while receiving appropriate compensation commensurate with their level of education.
Impacting our student parents
According to Ahedo, many of the student parents at Madison College are among the brightest, most motivated students who, armed with their degree or credential, are poised to make great contributions to the community and the economy. But all too often, their educational pathway is disrupted when there are no good solutions to help support them with their responsibilities as a parent.
When presented with the opportunity to access quality, convenient affordable child care right on campus, the results are transformative for both the student parent and the child.
Recent nursing graduate, Alicia Gothier thanked the Madison College Early Learning Campus staff for, “allowing me to pursue my dream of becoming a registered nurse and taking such great care of my children.” She went on to add, “Knowing that I had trustworthy child care available was truly the only way that I could have been able to finish the program.”
Student parent Magdalena Lloyd-Mead said, “I have hope and I guess I didn’t before. I literally continued (my education) because of the child care available to us.”
Recognition for student parent supports
While the school’s Early Learning Campuses are likely the most visible manifestation of Madison College’s support for student parents, there are other resources in place. The college has received national recognition for the resources it offers to support student parents by Generation Hope, an organization focused on ensuring student parents have opportunities to succeed and experience economic mobility.
The organization awarded Madison College its prestigious FamilyU seal which recognizes a school’s ongoing commitment to improving student parent supports and outcomes.
Madison College is one of only 13 higher education institutions (and one of only five community colleges) awarded the seal. Madison College offers comprehensive student services, family-friendly study spaces and flexible and family-friendly class scheduling options that includes faculty who understand and accommodate the unique needs and challenges that come with being a student parent.
“We’re proud to be recognized as a higher education institution that champions our student parents,” said Madison College Executive Vice President of Administrative and Financial Services/COO and FamilyU team lead, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez. “Student parents embody a special kind of resilience and dedication, and it’s our continued priority to create a culture of care that supports them. We know our investment in supporting parents and their children will pay dividends for generations.”
For more on the importance of solving the child care crisis, read a recent op-ed on the topic from Madison College President Jack E. Daniels III, published in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Donate to support the new Early Learning Campus at Goodman South.
