Parenting students gathered together to receive resources from surrounding vendors at the Parenting Students Resource Fair on Wednesday.
The event opened to students at 10 a.m. in the Cotillion Ballroom and continued until 2 p.m.
The vendors offered assistance in addition to information pamphlets and packaged goods. Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center filled its table with sweet treats, pink gift bags and encouraging stickers with the phrase “you are worthy.”
In an adjoining room, long tables formed a square topped with diapers, formula, mounds of baby clothes and more for parenting students in need. Volunteers at the event assisted the students to find what they needed.
One father retrieved a car seat, and soon after, a mother scanned the table for dinosaur themed items to bring home to her son.
Michele Caruso, vice president of student affairs, noted how crucial the Parenting Students Task Force and its events are for Nicholls students.
“The goal of this event is to provide a broad range of resources both on and off campus to help wrap them and their children in everything they may need,” Caruso said.
The first Parenting Students Resource Fair that took place last year displayed the evident needs Nicholls’ parenting students have. It also showcased how eager and willing the surrounding community is to meet those needs.
Caruso shared how encouraging it is to see not only Nicholls vendors, but off campus vendors, donate their time and assets at the fair.
“It’s amazing. Many parenting students don’t believe they can overcome their unique challenges,” Caruso said. “We want to make sure that through events like this and just in general they understand Nicholls has their back.”
Even so, the Parenting Students Task Force’s goal is even more than provision. It is also protection.
“All parenting students are protected through the Title IX act,” Caruso said.
Nicholls has shown dedication to protecting their parenting students through an array of efforts. Designated parking, a lactation room, and the little Colonel Closet are just a few means the university provides to care for its parenting students.
She said that reaching parenting students can be a challenge at times. Several years ago, the department of student affairs sent out a survey to Nicholls students asking parenting students to respond.
The department began to calculate the numbers and found other efficient outlets to collect their data. Student affairs took action in 2024 and added a question to the Nicholls student application requesting parenting students to self identify.
For more information regarding free resources for parenting students, visit Nicholls Parenting Students website.
