In collaboration with three other group members.

On-Campus Childcare Center Proposal

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock family is growing. This increase in population brings
new challenges for the college. One such challenge is an increasing number of people on
campus who are working hard to balance work and family. Little Rock does have several
licensed day care facilities. However, some do not meet the standards of our students and
faculty here on campus. There are many other institutions that have on campus childcare
facilities which have set achievable standards such as the University of Central Arkansas, the
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and many others in Arkansas. Majority of our peer
institutions also have on campus daycare facilities as well. Over 20 years ago, UALR once held
a Childcare Center on-campus. The administration is no longer supporting this option due to
financial reasons. At some point UALR felt the need to have this resource available for faculty,
staff, and students. The need for this facility is continuing to grow due to the campuses
increased enrollment of non-traditional students.
There are 3.9 million student parents enrolled as undergraduates in colleges and universities
(equal to nearly one-quarter of the 17 million undergraduate students across the country), they
face significant barriers to postsecondary success, and institutions are ill-prepared to provide for
their needs. Child care is therefore a critical resource to alleviate some of the stress of
caretaking, and ease the strain of juggling competing priorities and obligations. According to
surveys conducted at Indiana University Bloomington and the University of Michigan, having
access to care is one of student parents top concerns. Child care facilities not only allow
parents peace of mind and give them more time to devote to school work and earning income,
the facilities can also help increase retention among a group that is likely to drop out of school.
Fifty-seven percent of student parents are low-income, meaning that off-campus care centers
which in many states cost more than average annual rent paymentsare not realistic options
for many student parents.Child care is one of the most effective ways that colleges and
universities can help their student parents to earn a degree, yet most fail to provide on-campus
care centers, much less affordable, high-quality care. Many student parents enter college with
heavier burdens than their peers; they deserve as clear a path to family security through a
degree and career as anyone else.

61 percent of students who have a child after enrolling in a community college

drop out before finishing a degree or credential

other schools that have them include top 50 schools with daycares

Faculty, staff, and students of the university with children may not have child care or can afford
child care. Many child care facilities that operate within the community does not meet the
qualifying standards for licensing capacity. Those that may have child care may have an
inconvenience in the distance of travel from their childs school to their job. Also, being that most
child care centers operate according to school district schedules, they may have an
inconvenience in school closings. For instance, if the school district is closed then the daycare
center is closed as well and the parent may not have other child care accommodations for their
child. Due to the inconvenience of child care, some faculty and staff, as well as students may be
absent from class. Not only are they sometimes absent, some may bring their child to class
which could definitely cause distractions among the class. There are a number of possible
solutions such as providing a daycare for faculty, staff, and students in a one mile radius of the
UALR campus, renting out a vacant location near the campus, or simply using a vacant UALR
building to provide daycare services.

I. Options
The daycare would provide a structured, nurturing environment for infant to preschool aged
children (starting at six weeks to 5 years of age) of UALR faculty, staff and students as well as a
practical, hands-on learning environment for students interested in early childhood
development. This childcare center would be available full time as well as drop in basis with
parents who enrolled in advanced, in the beginning of each semester.
This center would be supported financially by the families (students and staff) involved and a
collaborative effort between the college, education department, students, and the outside
agency.

Potential sites on campus include:

1. N/A:
Due to the nature of no space being available for an adequate daycare with a
playground area and drop in area, we would either have to construct a facility or
find space available around the campus that is sufficient.
Potential sites near campus:
1.
3901 S. University Ave Little Rock, AR 72204
2.
4300 S. University Ave Little Rock, AR 72204
3.
4601 S. University Ave Little Rock, AR 72204

II. Benefits to the College

A. For faculty and staff:
Having a safe daycare facility on campus would alleviate major stress on
parents.
Parents would be able to check on their child via webcam or visit during the day.
Decreased commute time if the daycare is on or near campus.
If the college daycare were required to be open for each day the college
conducts classes, the parents would be assured daycare for their children even
for days when public daycares close for holidays and inclement weather.
Interested parents would have input into the physical facility, curriculum, and staff
as this new program is developed.
Less absenteeism and increased job satisfaction and productivity
B. For the students:
Less disruption in academic buildings from visiting children of faculty and staff.
An opportunity for experiential learning in the field of early childhood education,
nursing, and psychology.
Opportunity for employment through work study, internships in relating fields of
study.
A chance for students to see a model for balancing school and family.
An increase in the hours faculty and staff are available on campus.
Decreased commute time if the daycare is on campus
Affordability of childcare for students with children
If the college daycare were required to be open for each day the college
conducts classes, the parents would be assured daycare for their children even
for days when public daycares close for holidays and inclement weather.
Less absenteeism
C. For the College as a whole:
Recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and students with small children.
Recruitment tool for Admission office with students interested in early-childhood
development
The education department would have a working laboratory for instruction and
observation of early childhood education, meeting requirements for accreditation.
Other classes, such as Developmental Psychology and Nursing, could also
benefit.
Family involvement and enhanced connection and loyalty to UALR.
Increased employee satisfaction, increased productivity and less absenteeism

III. A time for action

Having a daycare on campus would be a benefit to the entire UALR community. The first step is
an open discussion among faculty, staff, students, and administration.

A motion to the faculty:

Create an ad hoc committee to discuss the past, current and future College policy on childcare
issues, referencing back to the previous Child Care policy. Determine the problems of the
previous daycare, find a solution to better the current Child Care and avoid repeating the same
problems.
The committee members should be chosen by the director of development, starting with a
solicitation for volunteers. The committee should contain representatives from faculty, staff,
students, and administration.
The ad hoc committee should be charged with the following mission:

Promote discussion on campus among all parties.

Identify a third party business or church interested in starting a UALR daycare
Work on an operating budget to see if the proposal is financially feasible.
Research risk management and liability issues.
Investigate offering the daycare at a reduced rate for those with financial need.
Research appropriate facilities for a temporary situation on campus now and design
future facilities for the Academic location.
Research the facilities at other schools (UCA, U of A, etc.)
Send a UALR representative to a seminar, course, or conference to learn more about
starting a childcare facility.
Bring a report to meeting and one or more proposals for faculty to vote as soon as
possible

A standing committee should be formed starting Spring 2015 to carry on the mission of the ad
hoc committee. Members of the standing committee should be chosen by the Committee on
Committees.

IV.

Feasibility (Center capacity of 97 students)