Family housing filling up for fall from MWSU Campus Watch on Vimeo.

Nearly one in four college students in the United States have children. That comes out to nearly 4 million students. A majority of those students are minorities and first generation students.

College programs geared towards non-traditional students work to help them succeed. Three years ago the Bridwell Courts apartments on campus were converted to family and graduate housing, to accommodate students. Assistant Director of Housing Angie Raey said demand sparked the change.

“We had a lot of interest from people and we didn’t have anything that we could offer. We wanted to offer something to our graduate students too because they weren’t wanting to live in regular housing and so we had enough interest and things that we decided to go ahead and convert it,” Reay said.

Lizzette Quinonez graduated in December 2013. She lived in Bridwell Courts for two years with her two children. Quinonez said she was surprised to find that family housing was offered on a college campus. She said living on campus with her family made things a lot easier.

“The school was close to my son’s school and my daughter’s day care, like right there. It was I guess less time consuming, less of a commute,” Quinonez said.

This housing has become so popular with students that’s there’s already a waiting list for next semester, still four months away.

“There’s a demand for it, so we’re just trying to accommodate everyone as best as we can,” Reay said.

Quinonez said she understands the demand for family housing. She considered Bridwell Court a safe place for her and her children to live because it’s right next to the campus police station. A place she said her children won’t seem to forget.

“My kids loved it there. Every time we go back to visit the campus, with me going back in August they actually say they miss it there, they want to go back, Quinonez said.