Information Guide for Student and Expectant Parents at Third Level launched at MIC

Mary Immaculate College (MIC) is the first college in the country to offer a dedicated service to student parents and expectant parents through the Student Parent Co-Ordinator (SPC) Project. The Project, which began in October 2007, is funded by the HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme (HSE CPP) and Mary Immaculate College Students’ Union (MISU). The aim of the project is to ensure that students experiencing crisis pregnancy and student parents are aware of the supports available to them, both within the college, and with external agencies.

A research pillar was introduced to the project in September 2010 with the aim of sharing the learning of the project by producing a series of resource materials for use by other third level colleges. The first resource, the

Information Guide for Student Parents and Expectant Parents at Third Level, was researched and produced by Nicola Hurley (Student Parent Co-Ordinator) and Lorraine Whisker (Independent Researcher) in consultation with the HSE CPP and other stakeholders. Following a successful pilot phase in 2011, we are delighted to officially launch the Information Guide on a national level.

This is the first time that information for students who experience crisis pregnancy while at college and student parents, both within and returning to education, has been brought together. The guide aims to capture the reality of the 250 student parents and expectant parents who have engaged with the MIC Student Parent Co-ordinator to date. Speaking at the launch, Nicola Hurley noted, ‘the essence of the project is to ensure that student parents and students who experience crisis pregnancy have a first point of contact in the College and are aware of all the supports that are available to them. We hope that this Information Guide captures the reality of student life for this cohort of students as their college experience is dramatically different from that of the ‘average’ student. We would like to acknowledge the support of the HSE CPP in the publication of this resource’.

Commenting on the publication, Professor Michael A Hayes, President of MIC said ” I commend the authors of the publication for their work and I wholeheartedly agree that this project and guide fulfils our mission to provide ‘an environment where all have the freedom and opportunity to achieve their potential”

Darragh Wynne, President of MISU, acknowledged the support which the project has provided to both student parents and expectant parents and referring to the launch of the Information Guide he remarked, this Information Guide will allow the national student body to benefit from the experiences of all those involved in the project to this point. It will be a valuable resource for students and college support staff alike.”

The aim of this Information Guide is two-fold; that expectant students, prospective and current student parents, will feel supported and empowered by the information provided and that it will serve as a useful template for other Irish Third Level Institutions in their support of student parents and expectant students. Ms. Hurley concluded by saying ‘we would like to thank all students who contributed their tips, advice and guidance which can be found throughout the Information Guide. We hope this resource will raise awareness of the specific needs and concerns of this cohort on a national level and highlight to other student parents and expectant parents that it can be done!’

The Information Guide for Student Parents and Expectant Parents at Third Level will be distributed to Access Officers and Students’ Union Welfare Officers across the Third Level Sector from Monday 26th November 2012. It is also available to download from www.misu.ie

For Further Information:

Ms. Nicola Hurley, Student Parent Co-Ordinator, Mary Immaculate College, South Circular Rd, Limerick. Tel: 061-204347. Email: Nicola.Hurley@mic.ul.ie