Prospective Parents
Whether you’re starting to think about family planning or a little one is on the way, here are resources and planning tools to help you navigate being a student parent at UW-Madison.
Step 1: Plan for a leave of absence
Student parents who wish to take time off for parental leave will need to request a leave of absence from their school, college, or program. All academic programs are required to accommodate students after they give birth, per Title IX.
We strongly recommend that students check in with their school or college HR staff and academic advisor once they know they will be requesting a leave of absence. Some questions to consider:
- How long can I take a leave of absence?
- How will a leave of absence affect my insurance?
- How will a leave of absence affect my financial aid or scholarships?
- Does my major program have a leave of absence policy?
- What will happen to my TA position if I take a leave of absence?
- What do I need to know to plan for reentry after my leave of absence?
International students should also check in with International Student Services.
Step 2: Secure family housing
Next, students should make plans for their housing needs. Many UW families with children live in University Apartments housing. You can choose from apartments in either the Eagle Heights or University Houses neighborhoods. Both of these options are family-friendly neighborhoods located west of campus.
Requests for University Housing are not guaranteed, and there may be a waiting list. Please submit your request 4-6 months in advance. There is no deposit or fee to apply. Once a space becomes available, you can pay a deposit and sign a lease, or you can cancel your request if you have found other housing.
Transportation
When you are making your housing decisions, it is a good idea to think about your transportation options (e.g., do you have a car or will you rely on public transportation?) and how you will plan out your commute to school and/or child care.
Accessible Parking Permit: Temporary Parking New/Expecting Parents
UW faculty, staff, and students who are expecting or new mothers can purchase a temporary, 1-2 month accessible parking permit with a doctor’s note for $100/month, which allows for parking in most lots. Learn More.
Step 3: Budget for child care and explore financial assistance options
Child care costs in the U.S. can be a significant expense, especially for infant care.
Students in an undergraduate, graduate, or professional program may be eligible for UW–Madison’s Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (CCTAP) to help cover the cost of child care tuition expenses.
Smaller awards are available for school-aged children or for families with one stay-at-home parent. Faculty, staff, and post-doctoral or research fellow students are not eligible.
Step 4: Find child care
Child care is in high demand in the U.S., especially for children between 0-2 years old. We recommend getting on multiple wait lists as early as possible as the average waitlist can be between 6-18 months long.
To the right is a link to many search tools to find child care in Madison and Wisconsin. Please note, if you receive a Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (CCTAP) award, your child care provider must be licensed or accredited (nannies and babysitters or providers who are only certified do not qualify).
It is also a good idea to make sure you have the necessary information to complete paperwork for enrolling your child in care. These forms require things like vaccine records, and emergency contact information. Below are three forms all licensed Wisconsin providers will require soon after you start care:
Step 5: Connect to the UW parenting community
Before your little one arrives we encourage you to get connected to the UW parenting community! Here are some ideas on how to get connected:
- Subscribe to Badger Buzz, our parent support newsletter to receive our resources, important reminders, family-friendly activities, and parenting inspiration.
- Attend our Weekly Baby Play Group to meet other parents of infants and toddlers and talk with group facilitator Dr. Laura Froyen, a parenting consultant and former Human Development and Family Studies assistant professor.
- Schedule a free, virtual one-on-one parent coaching session with Dr. Laura Froyen to get your most pressing parenting questions answered before your little one arrives.
Step 6: Explore more resources
There is a lot of information here for you, and we are here to help!
An important step on your path to becoming a student parent is to learn how to build a community of parenting students, and to use campus resources to advocate for your needs to staff and faculty.
If you plan to breastfeed or pump, check out our Campus Lactation Space Map and find a lactation space in or near your campus buildings.
See our Family Resource Library for resources for housing, transportation, food and basic needs, healthcare and mental health, reporting, and emergency assistance.