Each month, the Teaching & Learning Excellence Division’s (TLED’s) Faces of Our Mission series spotlights a unique group of Austin Community College (ACC) students and the resources that help them thrive. October’s feature honors ACC’s parenting and caregiving students—individuals who balance academics, family, and work with incredible perseverance. Keep reading to meet this month’s featured students and hear how ACC’s parenting and caregiving support services help them achieve their goals.

View the full Faces of Our Mission blog post series here, and check back monthly for the next feature!

October 2025 – Parenting & Caregiving Students

Parenting and caregiving students bring resilience, time management, and life experience into every classroom. This month, we honor the unique challenges they navigate as they pursue their education while caring for others.

These students thrive when they receive comprehensive support, including child care resources, financial aid, strong support networks, effective time management strategies, and academic accommodations. Hear directly from ACC’s student parents and caregivers as they share their experiences balancing school, family, and life—and the campus resources that make it possible. In this YouTube Short, students Briana Harris, De’Ja Reed, and Ashley Harmon discuss how ACC’s supportive environment helps them stay motivated and connected.

To see more of this impact in action, meet Kristan Hennessy, an ACC nursing student and advocate for parenting students. Her leadership and dedication have helped strengthen advocacy and support for student-parents across the College.

By providing relevant resources and support, ACC ensures that parenting & caregiving students can fully engage, succeed, and thrive in their educational journey.

Spotlight on Student Resources

Child Care Scholarships: ACC’s Child Care Scholarship program helps eligible student parents cover the cost of child care while pursuing their education. By reducing financial barriers, the scholarships enable students to focus on their coursework with peace of mind, knowing their family is receiving quality care. Students can apply each semester and use the funds toward approved providers both on and off campus.

Children’s Lab School: The Children’s Lab School, located at the ACC Eastview Campus, provides high-quality early childhood education for children ages six months to five years old. As both a child care facility and a learning laboratory for ACC’s Early Childhood Education students, the Lab School emphasizes play-based, developmentally appropriate instruction that supports the growth of the whole child.

Community Head Start Program: Through its partnership with the Austin Independent School District, ACC connects parenting students with the Community Head Start Program, which offers free early childhood education, nutritious meals, and family support services for eligible low-income families. The program fosters school readiness and strengthens family engagement, both vital to long-term academic success.

Evening Child Care: Recognizing that many ACC students balance evening classes with parenting responsibilities, the Children’s Lab School offers an Evening Child Care program that serves children from ages two through ten. Available to currently enrolled students, this service provides a safe, nurturing environment for children during evening class hours, helping parents meet their academic goals without compromising family needs.

Supporting Students with Children: ACC’s Supporting Students with Children initiative connects student parents and caregivers to an array of campus and community resources, from financial assistance and child care referrals to parenting workshops and social support programs. This comprehensive hub helps students find the balance needed to thrive academically and personally.

Celebrating Every Story

Through initiatives like the Faces of Our Mission calendar, TLED highlights the importance of understanding student experiences—backed by research and data—for everyone who shapes learning at ACC. By celebrating cultural heritage, supporting diverse identities, and sharing practical resources, we create an inclusive educational landscape where every student can achieve their goals.

Supporting all students, all year long.