Child care proposal may be ready soon
By Amy Johnson
Staff Reporter

Members of the child care committee say that although specifics about an on-campus child care facility have not been finalized at this time, a proposal should be ready by the end of the semester.

Mary Martin Patton, an associate professor in the School of Education and committee member, said a survey, identifying the number of potential child care users, will be sent to the Faculty Senate and Staff Assembly chairwomen and Student Government Association president this week.

“The survey is ready to go,” Patton said. “We asked the representatives from the three governing bodies to get it out to their constituents. Hopefully everyone will take the survey the first week of December.”

Patton said because the committee is an ad hoc committee, details about the facility are not its decision. The proposal will only contain recommendations, she said.

Bonnie Melhart, associate dean in the College of Science and Engineering and chairwoman of the committee, said the numbers will be used by the committee to finish the specifics of the proposal.

“The survey is important,” she said. “We need the data to support our report.”

Melhart said the committee has visited on-campus child care centers at Motorola, University of North Texas, Texas Women’s University, University of Texas at Arlington and Southwest Baptist Seminary. They have researched facilities at Duke University, University of New Orleans, Vanderbilt University, Dallas Baptist University, Florida-Atlantic University, Tulane University, Bright Horizons, Cook Children’s Medical Centers, Zale Corporation, KinderCare and Clayton Youth Enrichment Services, she said.

Chancellor Michael Ferrari said he looks forward to reading the proposal, but is unsure whether the measure will be approved.

“I’m sure that no matter how compelling, attractive or desirable a new initiative might be, we will look very carefully at taking on any new project proposal requiring university financial support at a time when current programs are having to tighten spending in many areas,” he said.

Patton said although she would like to see on-campus child care by next fall, it might not be possible. The goal of the committee is to prove that such a facility is needed and supported, she said.

“I envision that we will send a proposal to Ferrari and the three governing groups and if Ferrari wants to pursue it further, he would appoint a formal committee that would then present a formal proposal,” she said.

Temporary buildings that will soon be vacated and nearby TCU owned houses are sites the committee has looked at as possible locations for the center, she said.

Patton said the facility will probably only be available for those associated with TCU.

“We’re not seeing it as community-based because we’re assuming the need will be enough here between faculty, staff and students,” she said.

Melhart said an on-campus child care center will benefit TCU in many ways.

“The many programmatic benefits include a lab school for several undergraduate and graduate programs and faculty research,” she said. “It will help us achieve the family friendly environment that is in keeping with the TCU community we want to share with potential colleagues and students. It will enhance the TCU experience, both for children and families who will use it and for students and faculty who will learn from it.”

Patton said such a facility will help TCU recruit faculty and graduate students and increase faculty retention rates.

Amy Johnson