Graduation season is in full swing at Austin Community College District (ACC). The college celebrated the first cohort of the AVANCE to College Program–– a program to support parents who want to attend college–– on Wednesday, May 8, at the Riverside Campus.

AVANCE is a special program in partnership between ACC, AVANCE-Austin, and WorkForce Solutions Capital Area that supports historically marginalized communities. Parents get access to college courses at ACC, special resources, and unique educational opportunities to help them advance in their careers. Their children also benefit from early childhood instruction. 

This two-generation approach fosters long-term success and economic mobility for predominantly Latino families, addressing their unique needs and promoting school readiness and family growth.

For more information, visit https://avanceaustin.org/programs/avance-to-college/. 

Why It Matters

According to national statistics, 1 in 5 college students have children. In the last legislative session, state lawmakers passed multiple bills to provide more support to students with children. In addition to the AVANCE program, ACC and six other colleges and universities nationwide were selected to participate in the FamilyU program. It’s designed to help the college evaluate and improve institutional support for students who are parents in four competency areas—data, policy, culture, and people. The college also offers:

• A designated liaison officer to assist parenting students.
• Special protections for pregnant and parenting students.
• Early registration opportunities for parenting students.

Tags: AVANCE, AVANCE to College Program, graduation, parents, Spring 2024 Commencement, Spring 2024 Graduation, Student Parents