Commentary: COVID-19 and the Vulnerability of Single Mothers in Institutions of Higher Education

Abstract

A S INSTITUTIONS around the globe contend with the debilitating consequences of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), institutions of higher education (IHE) in the United States have swiftly moved to virtual teaching and learning. For parenting students (students raising children while in college), particularly those who are single mothers, this sudden change might be the end of the road of their academic pursuits. Over the past decade, increasing numbers of parenting students have enrolled in IHE, representing 22% of all undergraduates, as of the 2015-2016 school year.1,2 Of these, mothers account for more than half (70%) of the parenting student population.2 While a higher proportion of student mothers are single parents (62%), the majority of fathers are married (61%).2 Interestingly, however, despite their growing numbers, only a small percentage (28%) of students who are single mothers manage to earn a degree within 6 years of enrollment, and over 55% leave school and do not complete their degree.3 Importantly, these students are still underrepresented in IHE, with 68% of single mothers versus 36% of married mothers having only a high school degree in the United States.4 Although simultaneously being a student and parent comes with its peculiar challenges, single motherhood aggravates the challenges they encounter. For example, issues including but not limited to time demands, shouldering the burden of parenting single-handedly, balancing work and school demands, childcare access, and financial constraints exacerbate the difficulties they encounter in