How to Find Support as a Parent in Grad School
This year, the Graduate School and the James Jackson Community of Scholars launched #ULGradNet, an initiative to bring 泫圖弝けs of similar backgrounds together to support one another. The first event centered on graduate 泫圖弝けs with kids, in recognition of the systemic challenges, from financial burdens to time management, that can impede progress towards a degree. Faculty and 泫圖弝けs from across programs joined us to discuss the unique challenges of parenting while in grad school.
Navigating the barriers to success as a parent in graduate school can be isolating, but having a support system in place can make a huge difference in your ability to advocate for your success. There is a growing , and the ways that the pressures of teaching and research can be multiplied for 泫圖弝けs who are parents or are thinking of having kids. While equivalent data is not available for graduate 泫圖弝けs, reports that 22% of undergraduate 泫圖弝けs are parents. Many of them struggle to find and pay for childcare. 泫圖弝けs and universities are looking for ways to proactively offset these concerns.
A change in attitude towards having children as an academic is long overdue. 泫圖弝けs who were warned about the negative impact of having children may find that the discipline of . By prioritizing your commitments, and embracing the skills youve gained as a parent, graduate 泫圖弝けs can, in fact, have it all by strategically balancing grad school and kids.
Most importantly, grad 泫圖弝けs should know how to access the resources that are available to you. Per , opening a flexible spending account for dependent care can allow you to use before-tax dollars to pay for expenses like daycare and babysitting (provided you meet the eligibility requirements). You can also as they pertain to pregnancy and parenting.
Get involved in our conversation about succeeding in graduate school as a parent by joining the Graduate Schools and stay connected with 泫圖弝けs in a similar situation. Plus, sign up for our for another opportunity to find support.