STC initiative increases focus, impact for parenting student population

May 6, 2026 - 21:20

South Texas College recently welcomed the Urban Institute to its Pecan Campus for a panel discussion and tour, marking the start of a new effort called the Data-to-Action initiative. The program aims to help the college collect better information and improve resources for students who are also parents.

The initiative focuses on understanding the specific challenges that parenting students face, such as balancing childcare, work, and coursework. By gathering detailed data, STC hopes to identify gaps in support and create more targeted services. The panel discussion brought together campus leaders, researchers, and community partners to explore practical solutions.

Officials at the college say that parenting students often have higher rates of attrition because they lack adequate support systems. The new data-driven approach is designed to change that by making sure resources like flexible scheduling, childcare options, and financial aid information are easier to access.

The Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization, will help STC analyze the data and recommend actionable steps. The goal is not just to collect numbers but to turn them into real changes that make a difference for students who are raising children while pursuing their degrees.

With this initiative, South Texas College is taking a more intentional approach to serving a population that is often overlooked in higher education. The hope is that better data will lead to better outcomes, helping more parenting students stay in school and graduate.