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Holyoke Community College’s Parent Learning Center provides parenting students with a space to engage with their children and also study.
Holyoke Community College
Research shows a majority of college students do not take advantage of the full suite of academic and wellness supports available to them, presenting challenges for college leaders to make resources accessible and recognizable.
In response, some institutions have created unified support spaces or are infusing supports into existing offices, including diversity, equity and inclusion spaces. Others have built brand-new offices and student lounges to remove barriers.
Inside Higher Ed compiled four examples of new facilities on college campuses for student success.
- University of Wisconsin, Whitewater—One-Stop Shop
A May 2024 Student Voice survey by Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab found one-quarter of students believe promotion of existing academic services and supports to increase their awareness of them would help their academic success.
This fall, UW-Whitewater opened a new office, One Stop, which serves as a centralized help desk to streamline students’ questions about their college experience. One Stop is home to various services, including financial literacy support and success coaching, as well.
The office is conveniently located in the student center alongside student organizations and affinity spaces, making it a visible resource for students.
- Holyoke Community College—Student Parent Center
Students with dependents can often be overlooked in higher education, with few accommodations to help them juggle raising a child as they complete their schoolwork.
At Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts, parenting students can receive support in the Parent Learning Center, which provides a lounge and study space for student parents. The center is equipped with a portable crib, changing station, conference table, art easel, sitting area and learning corner with children’s books and toys.
“The Parent Learning Center is a space where student parents can bring their children and study without feeling like they are being a distraction to others,” said Anne Morales Medina, HCC associate director of recruitment and enrollment management, during the space’s Dec. 11 grand opening celebration.
The center, as well as the Marieb Adult Learner Success Center, were funded by the late Elaine Marieb, who gave $1 million posthumously to the college. In the Adult Learner Success Center, all students ages 24 or older can receive admissions counseling, holistic advising and career counseling, or attend special workshop programs.
- University of Northern Colorado—Basic Needs Support
Basic needs insecurity impacts a large number of college students, and the high cost of tuition can further limit students’ ability to purchase high-quality, nutritious food.
The University of Northern Colorado conducted a survey in spring 2023 and found more than 50 percent of undergraduate and graduate students on campus had experienced food insecurity to some degree in the past month.
In response, university administrators are expanding the Bear Pantry, a free food pantry for campus community members, and moving the resource into the Center for Student Well-Being in the University Center. The new facility will be triple the size of the existing pantry, creating a grocery store–style shopping experience.
The expansion also includes a new student lounge to provide one-on-one support and education to students, including housing assistance and medical and mental health care, as well as emergency funding.
The renovation was supported by a $310,000 grant from the Weld Trust and $430,000 allocated from UNC. Construction began in October, and the new space is expected to open in February.
- Ohio University—Student Engagement Space
Thirty-two percent of Student Voice respondents indicated they believe promoting opportunities for social connection or building a sense of belonging would also positively impact their academic success.
Students at Ohio University can utilize a new game room, opened this fall, on the Athens campus to connect with peers and learn new games. The room has two billiards tables, an electronic dart cabinet, a foosball table and lounge space, as reported by The Post Athens.
Previously, the room was the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership, which was relocated to another suite on campus.
A student group is running a naming contest for the space, which will determine additional branding and graphics used in the room. Once the room is named, the university will hold a grand opening ceremony, signaling the end of construction.
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