°µÍøTV

Let’s say you’re a young mother attending classes at the °µÍøTV and your newborn is hungry. Where do you go to breastfeed or pump?

A student researcher at (COPH) hopes to make the choice more convenient by increasing the number of campus lactation stations and enhancing their access and quality. Her study − part of the college’s Integrated Learning Experience − could lead to improvements at universities around the country, giving moms and their babies better options for essential feedings.

In her soon-to-be-published paper “Improving Access to Lactation Spaces at the University of South Florida: A Student-Led Initiative to Support Maternal Health on Campus,’’ Ei Ei Hmue Khin, who  recently graduated with a master of public health in , examined the accessibility and usability of lactation rooms at USF. She found that many students and staff face challenges in locating and accessing them – or even feeling comfortable using them.

“My project highlights an important public health issue: supporting breastfeeding and maternal well-being in academic environments,’’ Khin said. “It also shows how small infrastructure gaps − like unclear locations or inconsistent quality − can affect real health behaviors.’’

The study identified 21 spaces across 120 buildings at USF. Rather than focusing only on the number, a bigger concern was their uneven distribution, since many academic and research buildings have no designated or marked space for these rooms.

“I found that having a lactation room doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy to locate or use,’’ the author added. “Access barriers, inconsistent information and differences in quality highlighted an important need for improvement.’’

Florida has made inroads in public lactation rooms across government facilities, such as courthouses, but Khin said colleges need more attention.

“A university campus is unique because students and employees spend many hours there and often have tight schedules’’ she said. “If lactation spaces are difficult to find or access, it can interfere with both academic and professional responsibilities. The issue is not only whether rooms exist but whether they are functional and accessible.’’

Rukayyah Karaye, a recent USF graduate and mother of a 2-year-old boy, said the rooms are essential to any college or university. 

“As a student mom, I know how challenging it can be to balance school and motherhood,’’ she said. “On-campus lactation stations offer a safe and supportive space for nursing mothers, making it easier to continue their education without having to choose between their academic goals and their child’s well-being,’’

The study highlights the urgent need for USF to move from ad-hoc, building-level solutions to a coordinated, equity-driven strategy that recognizes lactation support as a fundamental component of campus health infrastructure. Khin summarized five key takeaways:

1. Limited and uneven location − Available rooms are in newer, student-focused facilities, rather than older buildings leading to inequities and limited access.
2. Barriers to access and use – Mothers with their babies face barriers such as passcode or ID-based entry systems, staff-controlled access and inconsistent administrative procedures. These obstacles, combined with a lack of clear information, make it difficult for students and staff to use a space when it’s most needed.
3. Inconsistent quality and amenities − While some rooms are well-equipped with sinks, refrigerators, comfortable seating and privacy features, others lack basic necessities, such as running water or secure locks. There needs to be standardized guidelines for lactation room design and maintenance.
4. Poor visibility and awareness − Lactation rooms are often hidden from view, in part because of poor signage, maps and staff knowledge. The average wayfinding score was only 2.1 out of 5, indicating that users struggle to locate these spaces without assistance, which discourages their use.
5. Need for centralized policy, standardization and digital integration – The study recommends a standardized policy for lactation room design, access and maintenance, as well as integrating lactation room locations and information into digital campus resources to improve transparency, visibility and equitable access for all users.

, assistant professor in the COPH , served as Khin’s mentor during her project and said she produced two important outcomes. First, she created an administrative report on the details and quality of all lactation rooms on campus (and what buildings lack them); and second, she developed a tool that can be adapted for other campuses, hospitals or corporate campuses.

Lactation rooms aren’t simply a convenience. They’re part of the infrastructure that enables students and employees to meet their health needs while continuing their education or work. Just as we expect accessible restrooms and study spaces, we should view lactation spaces as a component of a healthy and inclusive campus.

Ei Ei Hmue Khin

“I’m very proud of Ei Ei’s accomplishments here,’’ Powis said. “She took the idea and she ran with it, even going as far as developing her own audit tool to describe the accessibility and conditions of each room she found. On top of that, she led a team of student volunteers from my lab () to collectively investigate as many buildings as they could on campus. It was an exceptional undertaking, but she really took on the challenge without hesitation.’’

COPH students from The Entourage Lab who assisted Khin included Addie Prasal, Charis Smith, Jemila Macauley and Luce Jean Baptiste.