Fifty years ago, students who were parents were a rarity in college classrooms, but by the beginning of the twenty-first century, over a quarter of all undergraduate students were parents. In Back in School, A. Fiona Pearson explores how these student parents navigate cultural norms and institutional resources, forging pathways as they journey to become better parents and successful students. Back in School examines how policy makers, professors, college administrators, counselors, and social workers provide or deny access to child care, tutoring, financial aid, or other campus- or community-based resources. Pearson further explores how social norms and governmental and organizational policies influence access to these resources and student parents’ experiences on campus and at home.

A. FIONA PEARSON is a professor of sociology at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.

"Rich in history and policy, Back in School is a strong cultural analysis of the ways that student parents understand their own decisions to return to higher education. A compelling read!"

"In this thoughtful study of student parents, Pearson shows us the assumptions, organization, and values embedded in contemporary college education -- and the costs to all of us."

"A meticulously researched, deftly written, accessibly organized and presented work of exceptional scholarship and relevancy."

"Pearson’s study is a significant contribution to existing scholarship on student populations in general and student parents in particular. Insightful, well-written, and accessible, it is an ideal choice for undergraduate and graduate courses in sociology, gender studies, education, and public policy. In addition, it would be an excellent choice for faculty, support staff, and administrators who wish to further their understanding of the realities and needs of America’s increasingly diverse postsecondary student population."

"This small book is surprisingly ambitious in the reach of its argument; it is highly recommended for all those concerned with the future direction of policy around the further expansion of higher education."

"Rich in history and policy, Back in School is a strong cultural analysis of the ways that student parents understand their own decisions to return to higher education. A compelling read!"

"A meticulously researched, deftly written, accessibly organized and presented work of exceptional scholarship and relevancy."

"This small book is surprisingly ambitious in the reach of its argument; it is highly recommended for all those concerned with the future direction of policy around the further expansion of higher education."

"In this thoughtful study of student parents, Pearson shows us the assumptions, organization, and values embedded in contemporary college education -- and the costs to all of us."

"Pearson’s study is a significant contribution to existing scholarship on student populations in general and student parents in particular. Insightful, well-written, and accessible, it is an ideal choice for undergraduate and graduate courses in sociology, gender studies, education, and public policy. In addition, it would be an excellent choice for faculty, support staff, and administrators who wish to further their understanding of the realities and needs of America’s increasingly diverse postsecondary student population."