For many, college can be a challenging time in life. Students face numerous obstacles, one of which is having children in the midst of their college careers. While children are a blessing, they also come with significant responsibilities. Unfortunately, many students who become parents decide to drop out and never return to complete their degrees due to a lack of support and other factors.

We believe that implementing an on-campus daycare, open to both students and faculty, could significantly reduce the number of students who drop out after having children. We are not promoting teen pregnancy, pregnancy during college, or unprotected sex. However, the reality is that these situations do occur, and student retention is crucial. There must be supportive services in place for ALL students, including those who are parents.

In the U.S., approximately 53% of student-parents leave college without a degree, compared to around 32% of students without children. This rate is even higher for single mothers, with nearly 70% dropping out before completing their degrees.

Please join us in signing this petition to urge Central State University to implement an on-campus daycare for student parents and faculty.