As Fall Semester gets underway, a smaller breed of students can be seen on campus.
These scholars walked hand in hand with their moms or dads to the five childcare centers, two part-day preschools and one Head Start program on campus.
Many of the U’s childcare programs are designed specifically for faculty and staff, but the Associated Students of the University of Utah Child Care Program meets the unique needs of students.
On Aug. 24, approximately 100 children were dropped off and picked up at the ASUU center by students.
Kris Hale, the head of the U’s Child Care Coordinating Office, said there is no more room in the morning, but there may still be room in the afternoon for students registering late. The center schedules childcare in 15-minute increments to accommodate the various times that U classes start and finish.
“They do a lot of activities that, as a parent, I would never think of doing, things that help them learn basic social skills, build creativity and develop mentally,” said Julia Svedin, mother of two preschool-age girls and a senior in exercise physiology.
“Day care is hard to find and pay for, especially for students who need non-traditional hours,” Hale said.
It costs as much as tuition for many families. The ASUU center is designed to meet the needs of students with their unique scheduling and sliding fee scale for students with varying incomes, she said. Even though the ASUU center is almost full, Hale’s office has a database of every childcare provider in the valley to assist students in finding the best options closest to their homes.
Students interested in finding day care for their children should contact Hale in the Child Care Coordinating Office in Room 316 of the Union Building.
The office’s web site, www.childcare.utah.edu, also lists the hours and prices of local facilities with pictures and maps. Also, information packets can also be mailed to students within 24 hours.
“But not much can be done on short notice,” Hale said. “Students need to think ahead to find the best options for their situation.”