Student Parent Ally Certificate Program
A Self-Paced Online Professional Learning Experience
Support student parents with intention
Nearly 1 in 5 college students in the United States is raising a child while pursuing a degree. Yet many institutions are not fully designed with their realities in mind.
The Student Parent Ally Certificate Program offers a practical, accessible way to deepen your understanding and strengthen how your institution shows up for student parents.
Built for higher education professionals and nonprofit leaders, this self-paced online experience provides the tools, insight, and direction needed to create meaningful change.
What the program covers
This certificate includes six interactive courses designed to explore the systems that shape the student parent experience:
Introduction — Foundational context, key insights, and an overview of student parent experiences in higher education
Data — Approaches to identifying and understanding student parents through data
Policy — How institutional policies affect access and outcomes
People — Building a network of advocates and leaders across your institution
Culture — Examining how everyday practices and norms shape belonging and visibility
Final Assessment — Apply your learning and complete your certificate
Throughout the program, you’ll engage with real-world scenarios, reflection prompts, and practical examples drawn from over a decade of work with colleges and universities across the country.
The experience concludes with a Student Parent Action Plan, where you will:
Identify key stakeholders
Pinpoint opportunities for change
Outline clear, actionable next steps within your role or organization
Who this is for:
Higher education leaders, faculty, and staff
Student affairs and campus services professionals
Nonprofit leaders and practitioners
Anyone involved in shaping student experience, policy, or support systems
This program is 100% online, self-paced to fit your schedule, and you have the option to enroll in the full certificate or individual courses!