Many college students face major barriers to completing their education. They lack access to basic resources like food, transportation, health care, and child care needed for college and career readiness.
To help them reach their full potential, we are launching a new program with Austin Community College (ACC) to equip them with the resources they need to thrive.
The program, starting Fall 2025, will use our resource navigation tool, ConnectATX, to connect ACC students at the Highland and Round Rock campuses with supports, including food, health care, transportation, benefits support, child care, and more.
“This program can open doors for hundreds of students to not only meet their goals, but to dream bigger,” said United Way for Greater Austin CEO Ingrid Taylor. “We’re committed to understanding each student’s needs and building the kind of lasting support that helps them thrive in school and in life.”
This launch follows a four-year partnership between United Way and Austin Community College to provide parenting students with resources to thrive. The program, Parenting Students Project, supported participants with a monthly stipend, wraparound services, and a network of support.
A survey from Trellis Strategies showed 88% of students who participated in that program either graduated or stayed in school through Spring 2024, compared to 54% of parenting students who did not participate in the program.
The new pilot aims to connect hundreds of ACC students with the support systems they need to complete their education and build long-term stability.
“Our students are parents, workers, and caretakers. They show incredible resilience, balancing school with the demands of everyday life. They shouldn’t have to do it alone,” says ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “This partnership strengthens our ability to connect students with resources and remove barriers. Together, we are building a community where every student feels seen, valued, and supported.”
United Way and ACC will track the program’s impact through engagement data, student feedback, and resource referral success rates.
For more information, contact Jeff Cary, ConnectATX Tech and Engagement Senior Director, at jeff.cary@uwatx.org.