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Beginning with the fall 2020 semester, students accepted into the ������Ƶ Single Parent Scholar Program will no longer have to pay for on-campus housing.

The Single Parent Scholar (SPS) Program, which is open to single parents who qualify academically for admission to Wilson, allows participants to live in on-campus housing with up to two children. In addition, the College provides SPS students with free child care in the award-winning ������Ƶ Child Care Center.

Wilson is taking the added measure of offering on-campus housing at no cost to program participants starting this fall to help alleviate some of the financial burden that is unique to parents with children.

������Ƶ “While single parents often have a strong desire to earn a degree, they find the financial commitment unrealistic and often unattainable, ������Ƶ ” said Wilson President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D.  ������Ƶ “I am thrilled Wilson is able to make this program change and help parents not only further their own education, but also improve the lives of their children. ������Ƶ ”

Since its inception in 1996, the SPS Program ������Ƶ ’s goal has been to make it easier for single parents to get a college degree. Formerly only for single mothers, the program was opened to single fathers in 2015.

Under the new policy on housing, there is a four-year limit on the no-cost housing. If a student does not graduate in four years, they would have to begin paying a room fee at that point, according to SPS Program Director Katie Kough.

No other changes are planned in the program. SPS participants will still pay for tuition and their dining hall meal plan, while their children will continue to eat for free.

Wilson is committed to delivering a personalized educational experience at an affordable cost to all of its students, according to Fugate. ������Ƶ ” The Single Parent Scholar Program is a great example of our institution identifying challenges that prevent some students from achieving their dream of college , and  then working to find a solution. ������Ƶ ”

The College limits the number of Single Parent Scholars to 15 students plus their children. Families live in two-room suites in Prentis Hall, with shared kitchen facilities, study areas and play rooms.