--- title: "The ‘Hidden Population’: Undergrads Juggling Classes, Midterms—and Diapers" date: 2024-11-11T05:30:00-05:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/the-hidden-population-undergrads-juggling-classes-midterms-and-diapers" section: Articles --- # The ‘Hidden Population’: Undergrads Juggling Classes, Midterms—and Diapers *November 11, 2024* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih) > New Study Aims to Identify Terp Parents, Resources They Need to Succeed *Johnson Amaya MT 11052024 SC 9764 1920x1080 — Amaya Johnson pushes a stroller with her daughter at Lake Artemesia. She's part of a new research study in the School of Public Health that aims to figure out the size of the parenting undergraduate population at the University of Maryland and the supports they need to succeed.* Amaya Johnson never had a moment to catch her breath as she rushed out of her 8 a.m. math class every Tuesday and Thursday last spring. She had to reach her car parked on the edge of campus and drive 20 minutes to her grandparents’ house in Lanham, Md., to nurse her infant daughter. While feeding the baby, Johnson typed out essays on her laptop or caught up on assigned reading. Sometimes she was able to sneak a bite for herself, but other times she jumped back in her car still hungry to make it to her next class. “I had a *time* last semester,” said 24-year-old Johnson, who plans to study kinesiology and physics. “I probably won’t think back on it in four years, but it was really, really tough for a while.” Luckily, her professors were supportive, offering extensions and alternate assignments when she needed them, and she earned a 3.6 GPA during her first semester back after a four-year hiatus. But barriers persist for parenting students, who make up [nearly 20% of the U.S. undergraduate population. ](https://www.urban.org/research/publication/who-are-undergraduates-dependent-children?&utm_source=urban_ea&utm_campaign=characteristics_of_student_parents&utm_id=children_and_youth&utm_content=general&utm_term=youth_and_young_adults&higher_education)They’re more likely to not only be first-generation college attendees and to be low-income, but to delay starting higher education, be enrolled part-time and transfer between multiple institutions, which can lead to lower lifetime earnings and higher debt, [according to the Urban Institute](https://studentparentaction.org/assets/r-file/Who-Are-Undergraduates-with-Dependent-Children.pdf). *Amaya Johnson holds daughter — "She's curious and she's very observant," Johnson said of her 1-year-old daughter. "If I'm reading a book, she wants to know what I'm doing."* **Sidebar note:** The Community THRIVES Lab has launched a [Student Parent Hub](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrqucMFzcQN499w_CRv_MNQNoFpjORzcC5bmVSqKfe9VI6GA/viewform) in partnership with SheRises, distributing essential items like diapers and wipes on campus. Complete the linked form to schedule a time to pick up or drop off, and email with any questions. **Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research) **Tags:** [Behavioral and Community Health](https://today.umd.edu/topic/behavioral-and-community-health), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience) **Units:** [School of Public Health](https://today.umd.edu/topic/school-public-health)