UNCP cares about daycare

By Rachel Hernandez
Staff Writer

UNCP is currently discussing a possible daycare facility sponsored by the Student Affairs and Campus Life Committee. The daycare sub-committee was formed at a Nov. 17 meeting to further research the matter and to work on a needs assessment survey.

The issue of whether UNCP should have an on-site daycare center has been brought up on many occasions, but the issue just seems to fade away, according to Dr. Diane Jones, vice chancellor for student affairs. Jones said it is a wonderful idea; however, there are many stumbling blocks UNCP would have to face before the idea could become a reality.

“There are strict guidelines and then there are the issues of liability, space and money,” Jones said.

Maria Pereira, assistant professor of biology at UNCP, spoke from a single parent perspective about the difficulty of trying to balance UNCP’s adverse weather policy and holiday schedule with those of traditional daycare centers.

“I have brought my baby to a lab in the middle of a thunderstorm and possible hurricanes,” Pereira said.

Pereira admitted that her situation as a single parent faculty member may be unique, but said it is very common among many students at UNCP.

Lauren Scroggins, a junior majoring in political science who is also a single parent said, “Finding a daycare center that opens early enough and stays o
pen late enough for a student is a task.”

Although Scroggins agrees that a daycare center would be beneficial, she suggested that the funding should not be taken away from other programs that benefit the student body.

But how much money are we talking about? Elrod Baptist Church in Rowland started a daycare center with less than $1,000, according to Mona Lisa Jacobs, who has 15 years of experience in the daycare industry. Jacobs has offered her knowledge and expertise to the university and said the key is to start small and budget properly.

The daycare sub-committee plans to meet again on Feb. 16.