From diapers to degrees: How MSU supports student parents

The lively rhythm of Elyor and Lyudmila’s day starts early. By 8 a.m., their 4-year-old daughter Yasmina is dropped off at daycare, clearing the way for a marathon of graduate courses, rehearsals, and shifts at their on-campus jobs. Sometimes the nights continue with private lessons, rehearsals, or concerts. It all ends with the exhaustion of parents filling multiple, overlapping roles: spouses, students, caregivers, and professionals trying to excel in a highly competitive field.

Elyor and Lyudmila are part of an ever-growing demographic, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research; more than 4.8 million — or one in four — undergraduate college students nationwide are raising dependent children. Graduate students like Elyor and Lyudmila face many of the same pressures while balancing more advanced academic demands, often with fewer resources available.

This national reality comes into focus at Michigan State University this September as the campus highlights National Student Parent Awareness Month. To provide tangible support and visibility for student parents while also raising awareness of resources, the Student Parent Resource Center is hosting a month-long diaper drive as well as an open house on Sept. 24.

“Student parents contribute important perspectives and resilience to our community,” said Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Genyne Royal. “Supporting them strengthens the fabric of our campus, ensuring that MSU is a place where all students can thrive.”

Diapers, wipes, and other essentials are among the most requested items for young families on campus. The open house and diaper drive connect parents and caregivers with resources and with one another, offering guidance and community in equal measure.

At the center of this effort is the Student Parent Resource Center. Created to fill gaps in traditional student services, the center provides what the dedicated staff call wraparound support: emergency childcare, family-friendly study spaces, peer groups, and referrals to community partners. The mission is to see parents as whole people — not just students — and to foster a sense of belonging and representation on a campus largely designed for undergraduates without spouses or dependents.

“Too often, student parents can feel invisible on a college campus,” said Student Parent Resource Center Director Kimberly Steed-Page. “Our role is to make sure their needs are seen, their voices are heard, and that they have access to the resources and support that make both school and family life manageable.” 

The ripple effects extend well beyond graduation. When parents succeed in college, their children see resilience and achievement firsthand. Families break generational cycles, new pathways of opportunity open, and benefits flow into communities and sectors beyond the university.

“When we invest in student parents, we’re investing in the success of the entire family,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Jim Hintz. “Our goal is to ensure they don’t have to choose between their education and their children’s well-being.”

For Elyor and Lyudmila, that support has been vital. Both are doctoral students in the College of Music; Elyor in clarinet and Lyudmila in violin, while raising their young daughter and navigating the intense demands of graduate school. Their daily schedule is tightly orchestrated, which can be upended in a moment if something unexpected occurs, like when Yasmina is sick. A sick child means everything must shift in a schedule that already has little free time or time dedicated to bonding as a couple.

Yet they say they aren’t alone. Childcare grants, campus resources, and a supportive circle of friends have helped them find their rhythm during their time at MSU. “What’s free time?” Elyor joked. However, he’s quick to add, “But being a parent has made me far better at managing my time than I ever imagined.”

For Lyudmila, the rewards outweigh the strain. “It’s not easy,” she said. “But we are building something for her, and for us. That makes it worth it.”

Community members can drop off diapers, monetary donations, and diapering supplies at either the Student Parent Resource Center in the MSU Union, Room 332, or the Center for Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students in the Student Services Building, Room 8. Monetary donations will be used to support families who need supplies to keep babies or toddlers clean, dry, and healthy. The open house will take place from 1–3 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the MSU Union. The open house invites the public to learn about the Student Parent Resource Center and donate diapers, while student parents can discover the resources it offers.