Tuition-funded childcare? Student government is considering options
To help ease the burden of young parents raising children and attending school at the same time, the Utah State University Student Association Graduate Student Council is in the process of planning a proposal for more childcare and family-friendly spaces on campus.
Currently, some students may utilize Child Care Access Means Parents in School, or CCAMPIS, a federally funded program that subsidizes childcare for low-income students. To be eligible, students must be enrolled and in good academic standing, receive a Pell Grant and have children that are kindergarten age or younger. CCAMPIS does not provide childcare directly.
The childcare program currently on campus, the Dolores Doré Eccles Center for Early Care & Education, has a long waiting list, said Executive Director Lisa Boyce. Additionally, Boyce said CCAMPIS only provides subsidies for licensed childcare providers that have or are working toward national accreditation.
“With an additional center on campus with student focus, CCAMPIS subsidies could go further,” Boyce said.
Graduate Studies Academic Senator Kristin Hall said about a quarter of students oan the Logan campus have at least one child, and when analyzing only graduate school students, the number is closer to half.
“I used to work with CCAMPIS and do research for them,” Hall said. “The number one thing we consistently heard back was that it would be so helpful to have more childcare on campus, or even just more family-friendly study spaces. That really gave more context for why we need to push this initiative.”
Hall said student schedules may influence childcare needs, as students may need someone to watch their children in evenings or for only an hour while they attend class. Hall hopes to be able to add a childcare center that can accommodate students’ unique needs.
“We went to other universities in Utah to talk to them about their facilities,” Hall said. “BYU doesn’t have student designated childcare, but they have a super awesome family friendly study area in the library. U of U has one, UVU has one. Weber has student childcare.”
Hall showed pictures of the space in the BYU library, which includes a play area and toys for children and study rooms with clear walls for students to study or work in groups while still being able to watch their kids.
She also described the childcare system at the University of Utah, which she would want to model USU’s potential center after. Students have priority at the center, which operates hourly rather than full-time. Students apply at the beginning of the semester and arrange times during the week when they will bring their children, so that “nobody is just randomly showing up,” Hall said.
The council is exploring different funding options, including grants or a new student fee. As far as funding for remodeling or renovation for a family-friendly space on campus, Boyce said CCAMPIS can help advocate for the project, but not fund it.
“The biggest problem is lack of space,” Hall said.
Both Hall and Associate VP for Student Affairs Eric Olsen confirmed that the project is still in its very early phases, but Hall hopes it starts to gain ground.
“This project is two, two and a half years in the making, but this semester it really took off,” Hall said.
“If we got one more childcare center here the size of the one at the U, we could open up about 60 slots,” Hall said. “We have students unable to get childcare where it’s they’re only reason for not attending school.”
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