Information for Pregnant and Parenting Students
Pregnant Students
Parenting Students
Student-Parent Association
Facebook Group
Scholarships
National Resources
Congratulations!
The Women’s Center would like to congratulate all mothers-to-be and fathers-to-be! Let us know you’re expecting so we can connect you to other future RIC parents and provide helpful resources. Take a minute to fill out the
online form and we’ll be in touch!
Title IX
Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex - including pregnancy, parenting, and all related conditions, such as abortion - in all educational programs and activities that receive federal funding. For a summary of your rights as a pregnant or parenting student under Title IX, go to the National Women’s Law Center’s
Fact Sheet for Pregnant and Parenting Students.
Medical Leaves
Medical Leaves are handled by the
Office of Student Life
Extended Absences Due To Illness/Medical Issues
Students who would like to notify their faculty that they will be out five or more consecutive days due to illness can contact the Office of Student Life. The office will send an absence notice on the student's behalf as a courtesy; however, such notification should not be construed as an exemption of attendance requirements by individual faculty since Student Life cannot verify the validity of the illness. Students should expect to make up any work missed while absent.
Leave of Absence, Medical Leave of Absence, or College Withdrawal Request (Undergraduate Students)
Undergraduate students who plan to leave RIC temporarily (taking no more than three consecutive semesters) or permanently should complete a withdrawal form with the Office of Student Life. Please be aware that withdrawing from all courses may impact a student status in various ways. To learn more, view
this document.
*Requests submitted after the last day to withdraw from all courses through the last day of classes must have approval from the Office of Student Life and the Academic Dean
Please contact 401-456-8061 or
deanofstudents@ric.edu if you have further concerns or questions.
Undergraduate Request for College Withdrawal Leave of Absence (Plan to Return to RIC) -
Click Here. A representative from the Office of Student Life reaches out to students taking a leave to provide support for the return process.
Undergraduate Request for College Withdrawal Official (Do not plan to return) -
Click Here.
Disability Services
Disability Services currently works with pregnant students who have developed pregnancy-related conditions (e.g. gestational diabetes, mobility impairment, etc.) to accommodate them in the classroom environment and physical environment on campus. Contact
Disability Services for more information.
Guidelines for Documentation of Temporary Conditions
Campus Resources
Donovan Dining Center offers highchairs for use when bringing young children to enjoy a meal on campus.
Lactation Rooms
Students who need a private space to breastfeed or pump can go to the following locations:
Health Services: Browne Hall, (401) 456-8055
Gender and Women’s Studies: Adams Library 1B, (401) 456-4646
School of Nursing: Fogarty Life Science Building, (401) 456-8013
School of Social Work: Guardo Hall, (401) 456-8042
Women’s Center: Lower Level, Donovan Dining Center, (401) 456-2866
Community Resources
Women and Infants Hospital
Rhode Island Department of Health: Information for Pregnant Women
Rhode Island Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Health Insurance for Families and Pregnant Women (RIte Care/RIte Share and Affordable Coverage through Health Source RI)
Children’s Friend
Healthy Families America – maternal and child home visiting program with a Family Support Worker
Nurse Family Partnership – maternal and child home visiting program with a Registered Nurse
Hasbro Children’s Hospital
Early Intervention - RI's Early Intervention Program promotes the growth and development of infants and toddlers who have a developmental disability or delay in one or more areas. Developmental disabilities or delays can affect a child’s speech, physical ability, or social skills.
Rhode Island Family Guide
Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN) - Our mission is to assist individuals, parents, families, and children to achieve their goals for health, education, and socio-economic well-being by providing information, training, education, support and advocacy for person/family centered care and system change.
Rhode Island Department of Education
Rhode Island Families in Nature - RI Families in Nature is a free group, open to families of all ages and abilities. We meet every month of the year in various parks and preserves throughout the state for kid-friendly hikes and activities. There is no registration necessary – simply join us if you can for loads of family fun!
Child Care
RIC Cooperative Preschool
BrightStars: Helps families in Rhode Island access QUALITY child care, early learning, and school-age programs.
April Vacation Adventures
In an effort to assist student-parents during the K-12 April vacation week, the Office of Student Life, the Unity Center, Learning for Life, the Women’s Center, and the Student Parent Association collaborate to offer activities for the children of RIC students to enjoy while they are on campus attending class or studying. The program is FREE and for school-aged children ages 5+ who are toilet-trained. The activities are offered 7:45am to 4pm in the Henry Barnard School. For more information, contact Marissa Weiss, Associate Dean of Student Life, at
mweiss@ric.edu or (401) 456-8149.
For 2019 K-12 April vacation week (4/15-4/19), students can now register for their children to attend April Vacation Adventures. Complete the
online registration form to sign up.
New for 2019, student-parents can have their children participate in the program while they are on campus studying, in addition to attending class. Children can participate in the program for up to 5 hours/day; the only exception is for students enrolled in Outreach Program courses, as some of those classes meet 9am-3pm. Students must be on campus at all times while their children are in the April Vacation Adventures program.
Student-Parent Association
The purpose of the Student-Parent Association is to advocate and provide resources to student parents. The organization collaborates with other programs on campus and in the community to assist and ensure academic excellence and success. Additionally, the organization provides a centralized platform for students to discuss various topics related to balancing work, school, and family. If you’d like to join or would like more information, contact the organization at
spa@so.ric.edu.
Facebook Group
Connect with other student-parents and share useful information by joining the
RIC Student-Parents Facebook Group.
Scholarships
Through the RIC Foundation
Phyllis St. Germain Crawford Scholarship - Established in 2012 in memory of Phyllis St. Germain Crawford by her family and close friends. Phyllis, a single mom, taught at the elementary and middle school levels for twenty-two years. She is remembered for her courage, zest for life, and love for education. Awarded annually to a full-time student who is a Rhode Island Resident and accepted into the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development elementary education program. Preference will be given to single mother applicants.
Mary F. Luzzi Scholarship Fund - Established in 2000 by Mary's family and friends to honor her dedicated service to the Rhode Island College community. This fund will provide an opportunity for women to continue their personal and professional growth by pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in the academic field of their choice.
John (Jack) '73 and Patricia '69 Milligan Endowed Scholarship - Established in 2004 with a gift from John and Patricia Milligan. Awarded annually to an undergraduate who has chosen to reenroll in college and has the responsibility of providing for a dependent child or children. Preference given to a student pursuing a career in teaching.
Eunice O. Shatz Endowed Fund for the School of Social Work – Established in 2012 by Dr. Shatz, who founded of the School of Social Work in the 1970s, the fund is to be awarded to a second-year student in the program who is a female single parent. Awardee is to be placed as a polic/advocacy trainee with the Economic Progress Institute for the period of the award.
Josephine A. Stillings Scholarship Fund - Established by her children in 2009 as a memorial to her lifetime dedication to the teaching profession. Josephine worked as a teacher and administrator in the Special Education Department of the Barrington, RI until 1969. Subsequently she was asked to join the faculty at Rhode Island College as a professor in the Special Education Department until her retirement in 1981. Awarded annually to students enrolled at least part time, pursuing a degree in Special Education at either the undergraduate or graduate level and demonstrate need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid. Preference is given to an individual who is balancing the needs of work, family and further education.
Therese L. (Marchand) Sullivan ’46 Endowed Scholarship Fund – Established in 2011 by the children of Therese (Terry) to honor her lifetime dedicated to developing secure, curious, lifetime learners in her students. To be awarded to married student or single parent, with a GPA between 2.8 and 4.0, preferably from Woonsocket or Lincoln, Rhode Island.
Through the Rhode Island Foundation
Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund – For women who are age 35 and older, low income, US citizen or permanent resident, and enrolled at an accredited higher education institution
Bruce and Marjorie Sundlun Scholarship – For RI residents who are low income, single parents (men and women)
Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation Award – For women who are age 17 and older, low income, mothers with minor children, and enrolled at an accredited higher education institution
Nondas Hurst Voll Scholarship – For RI residents who are single mothers transitioning off of public assistance and enrolled at a higher education institution
GFWC Women’s Club of South County Scholarship – For residents of Washington County, RI who are women age 21 and older, preference given to those who are highly motivated, low income, single mothers
Frances L. Macartney Porter Fund – For RI residents who are single parents, preference given to those studying a trade
Rhode Island Commission on Women/Freda Goldman Education Award – For RI women to assist with transportation, child-care, tutoring, educational materials, and/or other support services; preference given to highly motivated, self-supporting, low-income women completing first undergraduate degree or certificate program
National Resources
Institute for Women’s Policy Research: Student Parent Success Initiative
The United States Department of Justice, Title IX
Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students, from the US Department of Education
National Women’s Law Center
