Feminists for Life has a survey asking questions about services colleges provide to assist their pregnant students. See the survey results HERE in pdf format, or read them below. These are questions you should try to get answers for from your daughter's college.
Is there maternity coverage in my (student) healthcare plan?
Without healthcare coverage, a pregnant student will likely fear the cost of carrying a pregnancy to term.
77% of respondents did not know if their student health plan offers maternity coverage.
16% said maternity coverage is not available.
7% indicated that maternity coverage is offered as part of the student health plan.
What about a pediatrician?
Additionally, respondents were asked if insurance riders are available to cover the children of students.
79% said they did not know.
14% said students cannot obtain riders to cover their children.
7% said the school offers riders for student parents to obtain healthcare coverage for their children.
An analysis of the data yielded no statistically significant differences in the responses from students at state, religious, or private colleges on the questions pertaining to healthcare options and availability.
Where would I live?
46% said there is no housing available on campus for parenting students.
31% said they did not know if such housing is available.
22% said housing is available on campus for parenting students.
When asked who could benefit from this housing:
89% said this housing is open to graduate students.
87% said it is available for undergraduates.
73% said foreign students on an education visa would be eligible for residential housing.
What about off-campus housing?
74% of respondents indicated there is housing available near campus for parenting students.
15% said they did not know.
An analysis of the responses showed that students at private schools were less likely than those at state and religious schools to indicate that their campus had housing for parenting students.
Who will take care of my baby when I am in class?
Childcare is one of the most vital resources a college campus can provide for pregnant and parenting students.
45% said their colleges do not offer on-campus childcare.
30% said their schools offer on-campus childcare.
2% said plans are under way.
22% said they did not know if childcare is available.
Can I access on-campus childcare—or are some people’s kids more equal than others?
When asked who has priority access to on-campus childcare, respondents said:
faculty (87%),
administration and staff (83%),
graduate students (79%),
undergraduates (77%), and
foreign students on an education visa (55%).
Most students surveyed (66%) did not know if their school provides referrals to off-campus childcare.
Does anyone know if there is infant care, or how much it costs?
Another barrier to access to childcare for pregnant and parenting students is the issue of infant care, which entails additional staffing and other requirements.
27% of the respondents who affirmed that on-campus childcare is available said infant care is also available.
68% did not know whether their on-campus childcare center would accept infants.
5% stated that the childcare center has an expressed policy against accepting infants.
Who will watch the baby if we go to watch a game?
When asked if the college connects parents to volunteer or paid babysitters,
55% of respondents said they did not know.
27% said the college does not facilitate connections between student parents and babysitters.
17% percent said their college issues some kind of list of babysitters or otherwise facilitates connections between student parents and babysitters.
An analysis of the data showed that students at state schools were more likely than students at private and religious colleges to indicate that their campus offers childcare. Further analysis revealed that students at private colleges were more likely than students at state colleges to indicate that their schools help connect students with babysitters.
What about him?
When asked about child support,
46% of respondents said students are not generally aware of paternity establishment and child support enforcement laws that give fathers rights as well as responsibilities.
45% said they did not know if students are educated about these issues.
54% percent said they did not know if women on their campus are aware of the information they need to establish paternity if the father resists his responsibilities.
41% said they believed women on their campus are aware of this information.
You try walking to campus when you are eight months pregnant!
Ninety-one percent of respondents said their campus does not offer designated parking for pregnant women or parents with infants.
Only 1% said they had seen such designated parking on campus.
If I need to go across campus with a baby, how can we get around?
When asked if their campus is accessible for parents using strollers as well as people using wheelchairs,
87% of students said their campus has elevators, ramps, etc.
7% said their campus is not physically accommodating to those transporting children.
An analysis of this section showed that students at state schools were more likely than students at private schools to deem their college “stroller-accessible.”
And where could I go to change a diaper?
Respondents were also asked if diaper-changing stations are available in restrooms on campus.
23% said they are.
62% said they had not seen diaper changing stations in restrooms.
1 respondent said their campus has plans to install stations.
How would you like to nurse in front of fraternity row?
When asked if there is a private place for women to nurse or pump breast milk,
77% of respondents said “no.”
Only 3% said they knew of such a location on their campus.
20% did not know if their school provides a private place for nursing mothers.
What about flex time and telecommuting options?
Alternative scheduling is the most prevalent resource known or perceived to be available to pregnant and parenting students.
78% of respondents reported that their school offers flexible class times (evening, weekend classes).
53% said their school offers telecommuting or distance learning opportunities.
An analysis of the data based on the type of school indicates that more state schools offer flexible class times, telecommuting and distance learning opportunities.
I’ll be better able to take care of my child if I have a degree.
The financial affairs portion of the survey proved the most difficult for respondents to answer. When asked if loans or scholarships are made available specifically to parenting students,
69% of respondents answered, “I don’t know.”
25% said there are no such financial supports available.
6% said they knew of special loans or scholarships for parenting students.
When asked if loans or scholarships are made available to pay for family housing on or off campus,
67% of respondents said they did not know.
23% said that no such loans or scholarships are available.
9% said there is such financial support.
An analysis of the responses regarding financial aid showed students at state schools were significantly more likely than students at religious schools to indicate there are scholarships or loans available for family housing.
Respondents were also asked if student loans or scholarships are available for childcare costs.
70% said they did not know.
26% said there is no financial support for students seeking childcare.
3% indicated there are loans and scholarships available to cover the cost of childcare.
May I take a “time out”?
Respondents were asked if the athletic department has a protective “red shirt” policy for students on athletic scholarships who become pregnant, allowing them to avoid activities as needed for the duration of the pregnancy and still retain their scholarships.
79% said they did not know if there is such a policy.
4% said the red-shirt designation is applied to pregnant students,
16% said student athletes are not protected from loss of scholarship if they become pregnant.
So where’s our resident “know-it-all”?
When asked if there is a person or central office on campus responsible for helping pregnant and parenting students:
50% said they did not know.
33% said there is no central place for pregnant or parenting students to seek assistance.
16% said there is a person or office in charge of assisting these students.
When asked how they could find information about resources and support for pregnant and parenting students, respondents indicated there are few sources for such information.
40% said they could not find these resources on their campus website.
48% said they did not know if these resources are on the website.
62% said there had been no mention of pregnancy and parenting support in their first-year orientation.
45% said resources for pregnant and parenting students are not in the handbook.
45% did not know.
Educational materials and brochures are the most likely sources of information about resources and support.
17% of respondents said those sources were readily available on their campus.
42% did not know if their college provides educational handouts or brochures to pregnant and
parenting students.
38% said their university does not use educational materials and brochures.
The next most likely source of information about resources is ads and signs on campus.
15% of respondents said they had seen ads or signage on campus that provided information and support for pregnant and parenting students.
56% said they did not believe these materials are used on their campus.
Respondents were asked if resident assistants or residential advisers (RAs) were aware of the scope of pregnancy resources available on and off campus.
30% perceived the RAs to be unaware.
57% said they did not know if their RAs receive any information or training in this area.
In evaluating the differences in responses between students at state, religious, and private colleges, students at state schools were more likely than students at private or religious colleges to indicate that their school provided information for pregnancy support services on the
college’s website.
Feminists for Life encourages all colleges and universities to evaluate the resources available
for pregnant and parenting students on their campuses—as well as how they educate students about these resources—and begin to implement changes to better meet their students’ needs.
How does your college, university or alma mater rate? Take the Pregnancy Resource Survey for yourself!
Feminists for Life is committed to helping schools realize these goals and will continue to advocate for support for pregnant and parenting students across the nation. If you are a college administrator or student activist willing to help pregnant and parenting students on your campus, please contact Feminists for Life’s College Outreach Program Coordinator at coordinator@ffloncampus.org to tell us about the resources and support on your campus, to host a speaker, or to host a Pregnancy Resource Forum.
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