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A new initiative resulting from a partnership between the Center for Adult and Veterans Services (CAVS), the Parenting Student Task Force, the College of Education, Health, and Human Services (EHHS), the Academic Success Center, and University Libraries is giving parents and families the chance to have a quiet study time up to six hours per week.

The sixth floor of the library – the family-friendly floor -- welcomes in those interested each Wednesday from 4-7 p.m., and the Williamson House located at 1200 East Main Street serves as host each Thursday from 4-7 p.m.

While parents have the dedicated time to study, their kids can take part in a fun project or lesson led by a ������ volunteer, or they can opt to play with toys or seize the moment to read books on site. 

Joshua Rider is the Executive Director for CAVS. He said while the initial roll-out was slow, things are picking up steam as the semester progresses.

“It’s ramping up, particularly at the library location,” he said. “A few parents and their kids have shown at each session [and, in addition] we have received a lot of positive e-mail responses.”

Rider said it is the only program of its kind that he has heard of in Northeast Ohio, but it is relatively common in community colleges, specifically the California system.

“This [program] allows the parenting student to have some quiet study time, free of distraction,” he said. “We hope this impacts the overall well-being and academic progress of the student.”

Those interested in participating can reach out directly to CAVS at cavs@kent.edu or can .

For more information on the Center for Adult and Veteran Services, please visit www.kent.edu/cavs.