Dean of liberal arts Myra Bozeman is passionate about not only supporting Sinclair College students who are mothers, but all students that are parents.
One of Bozeman’s main priorities this last year was to find ways to use available grant money to help 20% of the student population.
“When my mom was a student here, I attended the preschool center on campus,” Bozeman said.
Bozeman was able to see first-hand how difficult it could be raising a family while attending school.
After 29 years of teaching, Bozeman has stepped up to help support current parents that are striving for a degree to help their family. Most recently Bozeman added two study booths in the library that have a play area attached for parents to study while keeping their children within arm’s length.
Bozeman helped with additional parking for expecting mothers and mothers of young children in the parking garage on the third floor. This is to help decrease the amount of walking from parking to classrooms for women in their time of need.
Many parents have gone through a moment of panic when their children soil themselves out in public with no way to change them comfortably. To help with this, Sinclair has added changing tables into both the male and female bathrooms.
Bozeman acknowledged that these changes are very new. They have been working on these initiatives for over a year. There has not been enough time to evaluate how well these initiatives are working for students who are parents.
Hannah Cantor, a respiratory therapist student that has attended Sinclair for two years, is very grateful for all the support Sinclair has given. Cantor has a 2-year-old daughter that attends Sinclair’s childcare center.
Cantor was able to receive help paying for her childcare through Sinclair’s CCAMPIS grant.
The CCAMPIS grant is another way Sinclair helps parents. This grant is available for students that are currently enrolled for 6 credit hours and their child must be registered at the Mini University located on campus.
Cantor has used the study booths in the library and recalled a kind interaction between Sinclair staff and her child.
“The librarian brought my kid toys,” Cantor said. The fact that she could study while spending time with her young daughter meant the world to her.
Unfortunately, it would not always be so easy. As Cantor would go on to have a devastating experience while attending school, but this led to her discovering another way that Sinclair helps its student population.
“My car was stolen, but then my instructor sent me information on how to get emergency grant money,” Cantor said.
This grant money that came from Sinclair helped her repair her vehicle to keep attending school.
Cantor has found the food pantry that Sinclair offers to be a huge relief for her family. The food pantry helps with food, diapers and wipes. This is a huge help to parents that have young children.
“Anything I have to worry about. They have a solution,” she said.
Cantor feels like the help from Sinclair has been vital to her success as a student.
While these initiatives are new, it’s apparent that Sinclair is moving in a direction that aims to support students who are parents.
Sinclair has been invested in the success of its student population since its inception, and proves that its motto, “Find the need and endeavor to fulfill it,” is a tradition that is alive and well on campus.
Marisa Swort, reporter
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