What We Do

Champlain College offers the only specialized program for single-parenting students in Vermont. Since 1987 our Single Parents Program has provided exceptional advocacy and support to its participants by offering workshops, access to resources, and many services designed to help students reach their educational and professional goals.

As a student committed staff will assist and support you in:

  • Financing your education, including a SPP Scholarship and the "Rainy Day" Fund for immediate and unexpected expenses
  • Getting comfortable with college life through a summer orientation workshop
  • Accessing a case manager on campus

Using on campus resources like the Career Collaborative, the Counseling Center and academic coaching at the Smart Space

The program also provides:

  • Networking and community building opportunities
  • Advocacy and support
  • Family-friendly group celebrations
  • Holiday events
  • On-campus jobs
  • Career readiness

Single Parents Scholarship

Our Single Parents Program Scholarship is designed to alleviate tuition expenses for parenting students. For those students who are eligible for the Pell grant and receiving Vermont Grants through VSAC (https://www.vsac.org/pay/applying-online-financial-aid), Champlain will meet your expected family contribution of $0.

Eligible parenting students are:

  • enrolling in their first undergraduate degree program
  • Vermont residents
  • enrolled in an on-campus degree program as a part or full-time student
  • unmarried and parenting at least 50% of the time

To inquire about the Single Parents Scholarship, please contact Emily Merrill at studentresources@champlain.edu.

Social Support Network

Champlain College provides a small, tightly knit community that has a long history of providing wrap around support for parenting students. Along with workshops and activities that are available to all students, we hold additional programming to foster a community of support among students in the Single Parents Program. Some of these programs include monthly lunch socials, trick-or-treating on campus, and our annual holiday party and gift sponsorship program.

On-Campus Support Services

It's not enough to send students to class without providing a network of support and tools for academic success. That's why Champlain offers a variety of different services including:

  • A Student Resources Coordinator, who oversees programming and individual support for each student
  • Financial assistance for undergraduate tuition
  • A summer orientation, with interactive workshops that help students navigate different services and resources available to them
  • Free in-person and online tutoring
  • Free mental health counseling
  • Free career advising - including help writing your resume and finding a job
  • Access to full-time, part-time, seasonal, temporary, and work study jobs
  • Family friendly accommodations like lactation rooms to support nursing mothers

Community Partners

Champlain works with a number of non-profit organizations and public services to ensure that students in the Single Parents Program have the support they need in order to find success at Champlain. 

  • Post Secondary Education (PSE) Program: Champlain College collaborates closely with our local Economic Services Division to enroll all interested Single Parent Scholars in the PSE program, which provides monthly cash assistance, child care subsidy, assistance purchasing food, emergency funding and case management for student parents with low or no income. Please contact studentresources@champlain.edu for support with applying for this program.
  • 3SquaresVT: This is a monthly benefit that helps families put three meals on the table every day. 
  • Community College of Vermont. Many students enter the Single Parents Program through the 2 + 2 program at CCV, which allows them to earn an Associate's Degree at the Community College of Vermont (CCV) before applying for matriculation at Champlain College. Transfer agreements have been carefully outlined to support a seamless transition.
  • ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. ECHO donates free annual memberships for Single Parents Program participants, providing opportunity for much needed fun for the whole family