Alamo Colleges Hosts Inaugural State Convening to Support Parenting Students

The Alamo Colleges District, in partnership with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, hosted the inaugural State Convening on Supporting Parenting Students at Palo Alto College on Friday, August 1.

The event brought together over 200 parenting liaisons, advocates, and higher education leaders across Texas to advance strategies to help student parents succeed in college.

Nicole Lynn Lewis, CEO and founder of Generation Hope, delivered the keynote address. A former teen mother who went on to graduate from college, Lewis spoke candidly about the barriers she faced and the need for systemic change.

“When you are invisible, so are your problems,” she said, stressing the importance of data collection to ensure institutions effectively understand and serve student parents.

But, Lewis emphasized, the actual impact is intergenerational: children of parents who earn a degree are more likely to graduate high school, attend college, and complete their degree, creating a cycle of success that benefits families and communities alike.

Throughout the day, attendees listened to 20+ speakers and even from student panelists who shared best practices and case studies for supporting parenting students. Speakers highlighted that while parenting students often perform well academically, they remain 55% less likely to complete a degree within six years than their non-parenting peers.

Research presented by Dr. Theresa Anderson revealed why: higher education systems were historically designed for a “traditional” student who is now in the minority. Parenting students must navigate not only classes and financial aid but also childcare, housing, transportation, and other social systems that were never built with them in mind.

The return on investment for supporting parenting students is striking. According to the data, for every $1 invested in wraparound support programs, there is a return of up to $5.36 in increased tax revenue and decreased benefit costs without even counting the long-term intergenerational benefits.

Waylon Metoyer, Director of Student Success at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shared statewide data collected under the recent 88th Texas Legislature.

• In spring 2025, about 88,000 parenting students were identified across Texas colleges and universities.
• Parenting students represent about 7.5% of Texas’s total student population, though national data suggests the number may be significantly higher.
• At the Alamo Colleges District, St. Philip’s College reported 24% parenting students, Palo Alto College 20%, and San Antonio College 18%—all three colleges are among the top five community colleges in the state that report the highest percentage of serving student parents. 
• Parenting students in Texas are most often Hispanic women over the age of 25 who attend community colleges part-time.

“These students are a vital part of our state’s higher education landscape,” Metoyer said. “Identifying and supporting them can open doors for entire families.”

Leading the Way at the Alamo Colleges

The Alamo Colleges District has prioritized student-parent success, recognizing this student population’s unique challenges. One in five students across the Alamo Colleges is a student parent. 

Each of the five Alamo Colleges has a dedicated parenting liaison to provide tailored support, backed by a districtwide steering committee focused on advancing resources and policies that remove barriers for parenting students. 

At student intake, systemwide data tracking helps identify parenting students early on, ensuring they are connected to the resources they need from the start.

The Alamo Colleges has expanded wraparound services through its Advocacy, Retention, and Completion team, offering academic advising, leadership development, and care-centered initiatives. Beyond the classroom, the Alamo Colleges partners with organizations such as United Way, The Children’s Shelter, and Family Service to extend support into the community. 

These efforts have earned national recognition, with Palo Alto College and San Antonio College receiving the prestigious FamilyU Seal, a national recognition certificate that is awarded to colleges, universities, and nonprofits that present outstanding efforts in supporting student parents. 

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