Faculty, staff, and administrators are currently evaluating survey results in order to begin developing the next steps required for approval of an on-campus childcare facility.
A survey regarding childcare needs given to the KSU community last October was met with a large response.
Of the 647 faculty, 814 staff, and 3,561 students that were surveyed, the majority of responses support the idea of having a child care facility on or near the KSU campus.
“Times are changing,” said Hannah Pendleton, a sophomore psychology major. “More and more college students are having kids and I think the convenience of an on-campus facility would be really helpful.”
As of right now, the KSU campus is unwelcoming to the presence of children.
According to the KSU Staff Handbook, “The university cannot accommodate children of the faculty, staff, and students on-campus during normal operating hours. Children are welcome to attend scheduled events and to make brief visits when accompanied by a parent.”This policy can make attending normal classes difficult for a parent with no means of day care.
Annie Warrington, a junior communications major, thinks the facility will help expand the KSU student population. “It would probably make the university a lot more friendly to people with children,” Warrington said. “We would probably get a higher population of [parents].”
A committee is currently working toward continuing the efforts of bringing child care services to KSU.
This committee “will be available to present data findings from the needs assessment, share the next steps in the process, address any questions about the child care initiative at various Senate meetings, SGA forums, and with other stakeholder groups upon request,” said the committee’s chair, Linda Lyons, in a statement. “The final findings will be shared with the campus community very soon in forums that are being planned.”
