糖心Vlog

Her friends told her just to drop out and try again later, but that only fueled Savannah Pickett鈥檚 fire to earn a college degree.

Pickett, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student, had started a new chapter of her life as a college student after serving five years in the U.S. Army. But just a few months into starting classes at 糖心Vlog, she received news that she and her husband were expecting their first child.

She was excited to be a mother, and she never considered halting her education despite naysayers.

鈥淚’m gonna keep going to school,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淚’m not dropping out. I literally did not take a break. My son was born two days into the semester. I was three days postpartum and doing American government coursework in the hospital.鈥�

Since then, Pickett enrolled in the BSN program, and credits the University鈥檚 Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) for her ability to juggle motherhood and her coursework. 

CCAMPIS provides eligible low-income student-parents on the Armstrong and Liberty campuses with financial assistance for quality off-campus child care. It also provides on-campus services to students, like the new Family Study Space specifically designed with student-parents in mind.

At a recent grand opening, the Family Study Space was unveiled in the (ASC) on the Armstrong Campus, and gives student-parents a comfortable and soundproof room for studying or one-on-one tutoring with their child. On one end of the room, there are work tables and tablets to complete coursework, and the other side features comfortable bean bag chairs, children鈥檚 books and toys.

The University also unveiled a similar Family Study Space on the Liberty Campus as a collaborative effort between the ASC, CCAMPIS program and Chante Baker-Martin, Ph.D., Liberty Campus director. 

鈥淲e had a student who needed to bring her child to class, and this space made it possible,鈥� said Dawn Merrell, Liberty Campus associate director. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to have a place where parents can stay engaged in their studies while their children feel welcome.鈥�

The Family Study Space stands as an example of collaboration and student-centered innovation, reinforcing Georgia Southern鈥檚 commitment to creating a campus environment where all students and their families can thrive.

鈥淚 think about our student-parents who are either working or trying to get as much done as they can to be successful in their classroom, but also having the responsibilities of having to keep their little ones with them,鈥� said Leslie Harris, Ed.D., assistant director of Student Success. 鈥淲hatever it is the parents need to do for class, they can do it all right here while also being able to oversee their little ones.鈥�

Pickett said the family study room will be a welcome resource when she needs to step away from distractions at home or when her son’s child care facility is closed during certain times of the year.

鈥淭his is going to be a really great space for me to bring him where I know that he’s safe,鈥� said Pickett. 鈥淚 know that there’s age-appropriate toys for him to play with and I can focus on studying.鈥�

CCAMPIS received more than $400,000 this year from the U.S. Department of Education to help nearly two dozen students find quality child care and create on-campus spaces like the Family Study Space.

Program leaders are confident the area is fit for students because they鈥檝e been in their shoes before.

鈥淚 was a low-income student-parent, so I am very tied to this program and my students,鈥� said Marvette Wilkerson, CCAMPIS director. 鈥淚’m most excited for my student-parents to actually have a space where they feel safe and where their kids can have a place that they just have of their own. I always try to fulfill their wishes and their needs, and I want Georgia Southern to be as family-friendly as possible.鈥�

The space鈥檚 availability for students with children can be found , but reservations aren鈥檛 required. The room will be unlocked weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.