Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) is recognizing student parents and students with dependents on campus in a resolution aimed at providing inclusivity and diversity at Fresno State, according to Primavera Leal Martinez, ASI vice president of external affairs.

The resolution supports pregnant students, student parents and students with dependents and will offer resources such as food security, clothing drives and a diaper bank through ASI funding.

Approximately one in four students at Fresno State is either a parent or has dependents of some kind, according to Alexandra Chavez, senator for Kremen School of Education.

“We really wanted the university to formally recognize student parents on campus and students with dependents,” said Dr. Larissa M. Mercado-López, associate professor of women’s studies, who helped create the resolution. “We wanted ASI to formally recognize them as a student population and commit themselves to serving them and being more inclusive of them and their student success.”

Through this resolution, Mercado-López said they aim to acknowledge campus resources that serve student parents while recognizing the needs to create a more family-friendly climate for the student parents.

A student resource fair is in the plans for the spring semester.

“We want to provide the opportunity for students to have access to receiving information about resources that are available on campus that would support them and their children,” she said. “We are inviting on-campus offices such as student life programming and also want to bring off-campus organizations.”