Making the Invisible Visible: Taking Stock of How the California State University Collects and Uses Data About Parenting Students

This report shares insights on work underway to improve data collection and support parenting students, and highlights significant unaddressed gaps. Insights are drawn from perspectives of individuals directly engaged in parenting student support across 11 CSU campuses, shared through survey responses and focus group conversations, as well as information collected via a thorough review of campus websites and CSU data dashboards. We also surface promising practices from Sacramento State and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), which shine as bright spots that lead the way in identifying and supporting parenting students.