Services for Students  with Children

Classroom Presentations & Trainings

SSWC offers short, informative presentations for faculty staff meetings on Title IX and pregnancy, and on meeting the unique needs of student parents. The SSWC can make recommendations for developing Family Friendly Spaces or lactation rooms in colleges and ideas for other ways to help with retention of students with children.

Faculty Opportunities on Campus

Services for Students with Children (SSWC) provides the Mindful Parenting workshop during winter term, which is open to faculty, staff and students. Faculty may use any of the four childcare centers on campus, Helen Gordon Child Development Center, ASPSU Children’s Center, Little Vikings Flexible Child Care, and Baby Vikings.  There are currently 15 lactation rooms on campus, which faculty and staff may use.  Please call the RCSC at 503-725-9878 to receive the door entry code. Faculty are encouraged to bring their children to “Bring Your Kids to Campus” day in the spring.

Faculty Partnerships with Student Organizations & Programs

There are multiple opportunities for faculty to partner with SSWC. Faculty members may refer students to the Resource Center for Students with Children to increase student engagement and/or find support. Faculty are welcome to apply to serve on the SSWC Advisory Board. They can donate gently used items for students to reuse at “Shop for Free” events held in summer, fall and spring. Faculty can organize their department to “adopt” a student parent family for the Winter Wonder program. Faculty are welcome to volunteer at events. Faculty may use any of the four childcare centers on campus, Helen Gordon Child Development Center, ASPSU Children’s Center, Little Vikings Flexible Child Care, and Baby Vikings.  There are currently 12 lactation rooms on campus, which faculty and staff may use.  Please call the RCSC at 503-725-9878 to receive the door entry code. The SSWC offers short informative presentations for faculty staff meetings on Title IX and Pregnancy, and on meeting the unique needs of student parents. For more information please call 503-725-9878. 

Resources for Students in Distress

The SSWC recognizes distressed student parents may be concerned about paying for childcare, having childcare on campus, as well as other challenges common to student life. The Jim Sells Childcare Assistance Program reimburses up to 50% of out of pocket childcare expenses. The award can be used for childcare both on and off campus as well as private babysitters. The subsidy applies to graduate and undergraduate students as long as they are taking a minimum of 8 credit hours for undergraduates, or 5 credit hours for graduate or post-baccalaureate students. The Ron Ronacher emergency loan is available to student parents to assist with unplanned expenses. Student Support Specialists provide guidance, support and resources for student parents. 

Student Involvement & Employment Opportunities

Services for Students with Children (SSWC) Students with children can join the SSWC Advisory Board, attend events held by RCSC, use the Family Resource Room with their children, and volunteer at Family Friendly Events. SSWC also has Student Support Specialists available to support student parents in a variety of ways.

We offer numerous opportunities for student employment. Little Vikings employs students as childcare teachers, teacher assistants and office assistants. The RCSC offers employment opportunities to graduate students as student support specialists and employs a graphic designer, marketing assistant, office assistants and receptionists, as well as accounting specialist for the Jim Sells Childcare Assistance Program. All positions will be posted through Handshake.

Services for Students with Children also offers a Family Friendly Commencement for students with children. It starts with a carnival and lunch for graduating student parents, their children and families to enjoy prior to crossing the stage together wearing caps and gowns to receive their certificate of graduation.

Supporting Students with Children

If a pregnant or lactating student requests adjustments in the coursework due to their pregnancy or postpartum circumstances, the RCSC is available to assist students and faculty in making appropriate adjustments to the coursework. SSWC recommends faculty review the Student Pregnancy and Postpartum Assistance Policy when pregnant, lactating or postpartum students request accommodations in the classroom. The RCSC maintains 15 lactation rooms on campus for students, faculty, and staff.

If a student parent requests to bring their child to class with them due to exigent circumstances, it is up to the instructor to decide whether to allow the child in class. In order to help children keep from disrupting the class, the Resource Center for Students with Children provides “Fun Kits” and Kindles for student parents to check out when the need to bring their children to class or to a study group. The Fun Kits are age appropriate, quiet time activity backpacks that can be checked out for 24 hours. The instructor can also refer the student to the RCSC to get assistance with finding childcare.

Supporting Transgender Students

Services for Students with Children (SSWC) offers support and informational resources to student parents of transgender or gender variant children. The RCSC’s Lending Library offers a wide variety of parenting books for student parents and their children to checkout for information on supporting their trans/gender variant students in the classroom. 

For more information, please stop by the Resource Center for Students with Children located in Smith Memorial Student Union, Suite 458, visit the SSWC website at pdx.edu/students-with-children, contact us by phone at 503-725-9878 or email us at sswc@pdx.edu.