Attending college forces students to stay on top of their work and finish their assignments on the day they are due. Having children adds more responsibilities and work into the everyday mix.

The LIFE program – Literacy and Independence for Family Education – sponsored by the Adult Student Center, is hosting a program from 1 to 3 p.m tomorrow in the Adult Student Center. Lunch will be served at noon to give the students a chance to get acquainted.

The meeting is organized to give prospective students information about the program, such as going over the application, financial aid and discussing the programs offered to students.

The workshops offered to students include parenting tips and budgeting. Also included in the LIFE program is a $500 book scholarship.

“LIFE is a support network for single parents in school,” said Julie Gareau, Adult Student Center adviser. “It is great for the students because they all live in the Allerton family apartments. They can help each other out.”

The program has a limited number of spaces, and there are only 10 available openings every year.

“After their first year, the student becomes a mentor in the LIFE program,” said Joyce Wall, Adult Student Center adviser. “They still live in Allerton with the students and are still apart of the process.”

More than 10 students have already applied for the program, and they are all invited to attend the meeting tomorrow. Because the program only accepts 10 students, some will have to be turned away.

The parent and child relationship class offered on campus is putting on a workshop, before the LIFE program event, at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, also in the Adult Student Center.

The class has been divided into groups. Students in the LIFE program, and other parents will present, tips to enhance their parental jobs.

Some of the topics are “Get down with your kids,” “Power up with potty training,” “You need to read to succeed,” “Your children are what you eat” and “Turn your TV off and your creativity on.”

Free childcare is available for both programs.

Contact student affairs reporter Jill Byerly at [email protected].