I am a MotherHustler: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Black Mothering Students Navigating Four-Year Undergraduate Programs
“The dissertation study employed a narrative inquiry approach for the study of the nuanced experiences of Black mothering students (BMS) within the context of four-year academic undergraduate degree programs. Through this investigation, the researcher aimed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how the intersectionality of being Black, a mother, and a student influences their college experiences…”
EmpowerED Dads: Amplifying Voices, Advancing Higher Education for Student Fathers
“We are proud to announce the release of our latest report “EmpowerED Dads: Amplifying Voices, Advancing Higher Education for Student Fathers,” which uncovers the unique experiences of student fathers pursuing higher education. Student fathers have a lot to say about their experiences and what empowers them, and we listened…”
Building Support for Student Parents
“One out of every five college students is a parent. As with most students, student parents are balancing many and often competing demands on their time, including classes, studying, and work. Unlike their peers without kids, student parents also have to manage the complex scheduling puzzle of childcare responsibilities on top of everything else they handle each day…”
Lack of Access to Child Care Subsidies Is a Barrier to Student-Parent Completion & Success
“Pursuing a higher education is unaffordable for many low-income students in the U.S., and the struggle to pay for college is intensified for many student parents, who often must pay for high-quality child care, on top of tuition, books, and basic needs, such as food and housing which together comprise what we call the student parent net price. To make matters worse, most student parents are unable to access child care subsidies that might help mitigate the financial burden of paying for child care…”
For Student Parents, the Biggest Hurdles to a Higher Education Are Costs and Finding Child Care
“In 2019, The Education Trust released a report — “How Affordable Are Public Colleges in Your State for Low Income Students?” — that dispelled the myth that a student can still work their way through college in a minimum-wage job. In that report, part of our ongoing project on “The State of Higher Education Equity,” we examined the “affordability gap,” which is the average amount that a student from a low-income background would pay annually to pursue a degree at a two- or four-year public college in each state — after grants, scholarships, and earnings from working 10 hours per week have been applied...”
How Black Women Experience Student Debt
“Forty-five million Americans collectively owe $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Women hold nearly two-thirds of that debt, and because of the gender pay gap, are more likely than men to have trouble paying off their debt. Black borrowers are the group most negatively affected by student loans, in large part because of systemic racism, the inequitable distribution of wealth, a stratified labor market, and rising college costs. Black women enroll in college at higher rates than Black men…”
Who Deserves State Financial Aid? Exploring the Eligibility Criteria for Students Entering Higher Education
”For decades, college tuition costs have been skyrocketing, yet state financial aid has failed to meet the increasing economic needs of college students — leaving many young people with the choice of bridging the financial gap by taking out student loans or not attending college at all. This pressing issue of rising college tuition is not just a matter of economic inconvenience; it is a harbinger of deepening racial and socioeconomic inequalities. The lack of financial aid disproportionately deters Black and Latino students and students from low-income backgrounds from pursuing higher education and earning a college degree…”
Breaking Barriers: The Hidden Struggles of Student Parents and Housing Insecurity
“Generation Hope is thrilled to unveil our latest report, “Breaking Barriers: The Hidden Struggles of Student Parents and Housing Insecurity.” This in-depth exploration sheds light on the significant challenges faced by student parents as they balance academics, caregiving, and financial pressures, all while navigating the harsh realities of housing instability. We listened to their stories—and we’re taking action…”
[Peer reviewed] “Not simply the act of enrolling”: Defining servingness at Hispanic-serving community colleges
“The number of federally designated Hispanic serving institutions (HSIs) has almost doubled over the last 10 years. This shift has led researchers and policy makers alike to increasingly scrutinize what it means to be Hispanic serving, and not just Hispanic enrolling. In this study, we present perspectives from five Hispanic community college presidents who lead federally designated HSIs. Based on interviews we examine how community college presidents define servingness and what they view as critical to truly serving Hispanic students…”
[Peer reviewed] The Sistahs Will Be Alright: Advancing A Policy Agenda for the Modern Black Woman
“Over the past five years, Black women have achieved historic milestones in their representation in American politics, including the election of America’s first Black woman vice president, Kamala Harris, and President Biden fulfilling his promise to nominate and facilitate the appointment of the first Black woman to the Supreme Court of the United States, Ketanji Brown Jackson. Despite the progress made, Black women encounter structural inequalities at every intersection of their lives. This article intends to highlight the intersectionality of social, political, and economic fluctuations experienced by Black women…”
Higher Education Access and Success for Undocumented Students Starts With 9 Key Criteria
“MORE THAN 427,000 UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. That’s an impressive number, considering the many hurdles they must overcome on the road to college and a degree, including restrictions on their ability to enroll in higher education institutions; limits on access to in-state tuition, state financial aid, professional and commercial licenses, driver’s licenses, state health care, and food and housing assistance; and difficulties obtaining work authorization and employment — not to mention the threat of deportation they are under…”
Advocating for Systemic Solutions — A Letter from Dr. Brittani Williams
“Part of what makes Generation Hope’s work so impactful is that we work boots-on-the-ground with young parents in college while addressing the systemic barriers that prevent millions of student parents from completing their education.
Every day, we walk alongside young parents facing significant obstacles—limited access to affordable childcare, financial strain, and a lack of academic support. These challenges are intensified by institutional and policy gaps that fail to recognize and support their dual role as students and parents…”
Supporting College Students with Children: Data-Driven Insights, National Trends, and Personal Stories Shaping a Future of Opportunity
“Supporting parenting students in higher education is essential due to their unique challenges, including balancing academics with caregiving, financial strain, and limited childcare access. At the 2024 NERA conference, an expert panel explored these issues and presented strategies for fostering family-friendly campuses. Panelists included Dr. Brittani Williams (Generation Hope), Miriam Cullimore (Minnesota Office of Higher Education), and Megan Brown (University of Texas at San Antonio). This interactive session engaged attendees in shaping inclusive policies through research, lived experience, and advocacy. The discussion highlighted actionable solutions to support student-parents in achieving academic success and economic mobility...”
Dr. Brittani Williams 