University of Minnesota child care program staying open

The University of Minnesota will keep a popular university-run child care program open, after announcing earlier this year that it would close.

The school announced Tuesday that it plans to keep the Child Development Center open.

With an enrollment of about 140, the center serves the families of faculty, staff and graduate students. It would have closed less than a year from now — the university wanted to move its childhood development research program into the building that houses the daycare.

That announcement was met with a lot of pushback, and the school relented, postponing making a decision about the closure.

Parents said the center offers high-quality care for children and has developed a great reputation since it opened in 1974. It has a waiting list of around 200 children.

After the postponement on the closure, a committee was formed, and after months of discussions, a new plan was unveiled Tuesday.

University Executive Vice President and Provost Karen Hanson said the school worked closely with the committee, which included many parents with children at the Child Development Center, to talk through possibilities.

"I think we have taken direction from that group to find a solution that will improve our services for our faculty, staff and students in a way that I think will increase the productivity of the university and make it a more family-friendly environment," she said.

The plan still calls for the Shirley Moore Laboratory School to move into the Child Development Center building. However, they'll be integrated into a single program.

"No children or staff will be displaced from either program," said an email sent by President Eric Kaler and Hanson. "The integrated program, which will be linked to the academic program of our outstanding Institute for Child Development, will expand and enhance both research and community engagement opportunities in early childhood education and development. This will ground the program firmly within the university's mission."

The email said the university is also committed to finding ways to expand child care on or around campus.

Finally, they said they will establish a standing advisory committee for continued input.

"It is just absolutely fabulous news," said Kathryn Pearson, a professor of political science at the university, who has one child currently in the program. "Parents feel very appreciative of the university administration, of provost Hanson and President Kaler for making this happen, for taking a decision that made no sense back in January and really investigating the issue, responding to concerns, finding out more and not only keeping the Child Development Center open but integrating it with the lab school, and planning on increased capacity for childcare at the U."

Hanson said that she doesn't believe the decision to keep the child care center open will have a negative effect on the university budget.