Going to college is not easy, and it only gets more difficult in graduate school. A student in a professional degree program is busy. There is studying to do, projects to complete, exams to take and in some cases, diapers to change. (Yes, diapers.) Cleveland University-Kansas City (CU-KC) is one of a growing number of universities that allow student mothers to bring their new baby with them when they return to campus postpartum.
Following the birth of her child, the mother may return to CU-KC, and the child may accompany her if she has received approval from the administration. With that consent, a baby may join the mother on the Cleveland campus for up to six weeks. This means that new mothers can return to academia quickly without disrupting the maternal bonding time with the baby. It is a positive program that works well for all parties involved.
With some institutions becoming increasingly more accommodating, pregnancy in college is somewhat easier to manage. On her blog page “ClarksCondensed.com,” Katie Clark addresses a wide range of topics on motherhood and family life, including children in the classroom. She speaks from experience, as she took her baby to class with her while attending Brigham Young University. Her instructors understood her situation and their flexibility allowed her to finish the semester on time.
In one article titled Surviving College With a Baby in the Picture, Clark offers hints on managing academics with a little one involved. Not all suggestions are applicable to every student involved with that experience, but every little tip can help. It’s comforting to know that others have been there before, which makes it a bit less intimidating.
Overall, allowing students to bring newborns to class with them is a whole new way of thinking. It makes for a smooth transition from the delivery room back to the classroom, and avoids penalizing mothers following their pregnancy. Some women need less time than others to recover, and could return to campus more quickly if their baby was able to join them on-site.
Recognizing that, Cleveland has taken the innovative step of allowing mothers an option that will aid in their academic progress. By missing less class time and being allowed to bring their infant to class, students can stay on track with their professional goals.
