For student-parents at Northern Illinois University, the path to a college degree often comes with added challenges—balancing coursework, jobs, and the demands of raising children. For many, the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program is the lifeline that makes it all possible. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, CCAMPIS provides qualifying students with scholarships that cover up to 100% of their childcare costs, allowing them to stay in school and complete their degrees.
“Without CCAMPIS I would have had to drop out of my program,” says Gretchen Sprinkle, a student- parent who earned a master’s degree in early childhood education. “I could not student teach and work. Without CCAMPIS I would have chosen to work so that my child could continue to receive the amazing early childhood education he gets at NIU Child Development and Family Center (CDFC).”
At NIU, student-parents enrolled in the program can choose care providers from a network of nationally accredited centers—including the university’s Child Development and Family Center (CDFC)—while also receiving academic support from the CDFC’s family coordinator. The program doesn’t just cover enrollment and weekly tuition; it also pays for summer and interim care, ensuring continuity and quality for children year-round.
“CCAMPIS has been very important to NIU and our student families, and has allowed NIU students to complete their course work with the piece of mind that their child is being cared for in a high quality environment either right here with them on campus or close to home in one of our partner centers,” said Kristin Schulz, executive director of the CDFC. “Degree completion with the support of our family coordinator and resources for balancing parenting and student life are what we do to help student succeed.”
That kind of consistent, high-quality support makes an enormous difference for families.
“The CCAMPIS childcare support at the CDFC is the crucial aspect—we could not work on our dissertations without having someone care for our daughter,” said recent grad Alex Carver, who along with his wife, Caroline Velandia Hernandez, earned a doctoral degree in May. 
Students qualify for CCAMPIS if they are undergraduates or pursuing a master’s degree and are eligible for—or receiving—a Pell Grant. Financial aid offices help determine eligibility through traditional or alternate FAFSA forms.
For Rabi Muslim, another student-parent at NIU, the program brings peace of mind as well as opportunity.
“The program has helped me stay focused in class and attend my graduate assistantship without worrying about my child,” Rabi said. “The CDFC staff are just good. They are very proactive and care well for my child.”
With CCAMPIS, student-parents at NIU no longer have to choose between pursuing their education and ensuring quality care for their children—they can have both. And that balance is opening doors not just for students, but for the next generation, too.
Learn more about CCAMPIS.
