Abstract
Academia is filled with studies identifying challenges teen and unmarried parents encounter in education. Research focuses on parenting students attending community college and in higher education at non-traditional ages. Despite the dismal outlook for these parenting students there are success stories. Particularly of those underrepresented in academia are studies of traditionally aged parents who are students and who are successfully pursing baccalaureate degrees. Vincent Tinto (1975) theorized that the decision to withdraw voluntarily from a university is influenced primarily by a student’s academic and social integration into the university. The purpose of this study is to identify key factors contributing to the success of traditionally aged parenting students in persisting and attaining their undergraduate degree. Specific questions addressed include, 1. What factors impact traditionally aged parenting student’s persistence in higher education? 2. How do student organizations impact traditionally aged parenting student’s retention in higher education? 3. How does family support impact traditionally aged parenting student’s persistence in higher education? This study shares the stories of four traditionally aged female students who successfully attained their baccalaureate degree while parenting at the Northern California Research Institute. The data was based on the participants’ responses from semi-structured interview questions. Interviews were subjected to content analysis to determine common themes. This qualitative study addresses the challenges traditionally aged parenting students encounter by focusing and identifying contributing factors to their success. The study concluded that while traditionally aged parenting students may face many challenges in navigating the Northern California Research Institution with the support of family members, professors, mentors, peers and student organizations, an baccalaureate degree is obtainable. The study concluded that with the support of family members, professors, mentors, peers and student organizations, traditionally aged parenting students may overcome the many challenges they encounter as they navigate Northern California Research Institution and ultimately succeed in attaining their baccalaureate degree. The results of this study can be used by educators, parents and policy makers to create initiatives to support, promote, and encourage the educational success of all students, in particular traditionally aged parenting students.