Stories & Case Studies
Pierce College in Washington serves about 12,000 students in Pierce County, a region of the state that stretches from Mount Rainier to Tacoma and the bays and islands just beyond it. A member of the ATD Network since 2012 and a Leader College of Distinction since 2018, Pierce has long been a leader in pursuing transformative outcomes for its students and its community.
As part of a cohort of colleges participating in the Moving From Data to Action — Scaling Support for Student Parents grant initiative, Pierce College is actively working to assess, design, and implement supports that serve the needs of its parenting students. In particular, the college is exploring how it can show current and prospective students that parents and families belong at Pierce.
In reviewing data from the 2023–24 academic year, college leaders found that while 10% of Pierce students self-identified as parents, the real figure was probably higher — particularly since more than half of students listed their family status as “unknown.” Leaders looked closer and realized that many students known to have children, such as those using campus child care facilities, were included in this “unknown” category.
“Our takeaway was that many students might not feel comfortable identifying themselves as parents,” said Ann Slaughter, director of child development centers and family advocacy. “It left us curious as to how we can present Pierce College as a family-friendly institution where parents and caregivers are welcome.”
In April 2025, Pierce administered a survey to hear directly from parenting students. The information they gathered was illuminating. Child care was “far and away” the highest need mentioned by students, Slaughter said. While Pierce does have on-campus child care centers, these currently serve a limited number of students and focus on full-time day care; however, students need a range of options like drop-in, emergency, and evening day care to accommodate their diverse schedules. Parenting students also expressed a desire for more child-friendly spaces around campus, as well as an interest in connecting with other parents at the institution.
In response, Pierce is developing a number of initiatives intended to respond directly to the needs of its parenting students. The college is establishing a child-friendly space at its Puyallup campus, installing lactation pods on both campuses, and training staff and faculty on how to effectively support parenting students. Pierce has also developed a module in Canvas, the college’s learning management system, specifically for parenting students. The Canvas “shell” streamlines access to critical supports while providing opportunities for parenting students to connect through discussion boards and learn about community events. Slaughter said that while this new digital resource has room to grow, she’s excited about where it can lead.
When it comes to achieving better outcomes for students, many smaller programs and changes can combine to produce significant results. “Sometimes taking small steps matters more than waiting for the perfect time to take a big one,” Slaughter said.
Through continuing innovations, Pierce is actively transforming to become an environment where parenting students know they are welcome and can thrive. This change is college-wide: commitment to supporting parenting students is embedded into the institution’s broader student success and equity strategy.
“The hope,” Slaughter said, “is that Pierce College will become known as a family-friendly space, where parents are visible, and where they have a true sense of belonging.”
