Progress

The Start of the Child Care Initiative
On April 25, 2005, President Mary Sue Coleman discussed enhancements to child care services in a message to the U-M community. Coleman discussed the importance of quality child care and early childhood education programs to the U-M community, and charged Associate Vice President for Human Resources Laurita Thomas to lead a collaborative and comprehensive planning process to explore opportunities in three areas: increasing capacity; offering infant and toddler care; and significantly improving the facilities in which we care for children.

Highlights
(Reverse Chronological Order)

Fall 2007

October, 2007 - Regents Approve Towsley Children's Center Construction
Final building design plans for the new Towsley Children's Center were approved by the Regents on October 25, 2007. Read more...

September, 2007 - University of Michigan Children's Center is Completed and New Infant Program Opens
The renovated Children's Center opened it doors on September 4 with a new Infant Care Program designed to serve 16 infants in two half-day sessions. Renovations included upgraded storage and equipment in all classrooms, a renovatedinfant/toddler playground, the infant room addition, and a new multipurpose room. Read more...

Fall 2006 & Winter 2007

Proposals Presented and Architect/Planners Selected
Proposals from architectural firms for the proposed new center at the Forest and Hill Street location were presented to the Building Planning and Building Advisory Groups. Integrated Design Solutions in collaboration with David Osler Associates, Inc. was selected for the new Children’s Center project.

Designs Completed and Renovation Plan Approved
Preliminary building designs for both the University of Michigan Children’s Center (UMCC) renovations and the new Center project were completed in December 2006. The UMCC renovation plan was approved by the Regents in February 2007.

Expected Future Capacity
When completed, the increased capacity for infants and toddlers is expected to provide care for 24 infants, 36 additional toddlers, 15 additional preschoolers, and 50 summer-time school age openings. Additional capacity is also currently available through the Campus Child Care Homes network, which are able to serve up to 108 children, including 76 infants and toddlers.

June 2006

New Program Director
Jennie McAlpine has accepted the position of Work/Life Resources Program Director at the University of Michigan.  Her appointment will begin on August 1, 2006. Ms. McAlpine will oversee the U-M children's centers and the Work/Life Resource Center, which includes childcare referral, eldercare referral, and other programs. 

Ms. McAlpine has been working with children and families for over 25 years, beginning as an early childhood specialist at the John F. Kennedy Child Study Center at Vanderbilt University, as executive director of Cooperative Child Care in Nashville, and since 1990 as executive director of the Child Care Network for Washtenaw County.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from State College of Pennsylvania and her Master's in Developmental Psychology from Vanderbilt University.  She brings to the position a strong commitment to the well-being of children and families, an excellent working knowledge of public policy issues, and a strong interest in developing partnerships between the greater community and the education, research and service missions of the University of Michigan.

April 2006

The Month of the Young Child
In April, University of Michigan Child Care Centers celebrated the Month of the Young Child to raise awareness of the needs of young children and to show appreciation for early childhood professionals and others involved in the education and care of young children.

January 2006

Program Director to be Recruited

A detailed description of duties for a new program director was developed and reviewed by the Steering Committee. Responsibilities of the new director will include oversight of U-M Child Care Centers and related work-life programs including the Work/Life Resource Center. The position description will be posted in March.
 
Three vendor finalists for a new computer system were selected. The new system will provide for consistent and efficient technology among U-M Child Care Centers. Demonstrations of each system will be conducted for evaluation prior to making the final recommendation.

November/December 2005

New Policy and Infrastructure Planning

A new snow day policy was developed and implemented at Pound House, the U-M Children's Center (UMCC), and the U-M Children's Center for Working Families (UMCCWF). Parents received a letter describing the new policy, which ensures that centers remain open during severe weather whenever the University is open. The new policy was tested on December 9 when severe winter conditions closed the Ann Arbor public schools. UMCC, UMCCWF, Pound House and the Family Housing Child Development Center remained open in accordance with the new policy.

Work on several infrastructure issues was also on the agenda of the Child Care Initiative during November and December. These included documenting computer system requirements at the centers to ensure appropriate technology is available for center management and analyzing the possiblities and financial commitment involved in enhancing current facilities and/or planning for new construction to better meet current and future needs.

September 2005

Partnership Established
Student parents often utilize Family Housing Child Development Center of the University Housing Office. Therefore, a partnership was established with the Housing Office of the Division of Student Affairs to help ensure attention to and provide guidance on the needs of student parents during the planning process.

August 2005

Transition of the U-M Children's Center & U-M Children's Center for Working Families
On September 1, 2005, administrative responsibility for the U-M Children's Center and the U-M Children's Center for Working Families shifted from the Rackham School of Graduate Studies to Human Resources & Affirmative Action (UHR). This provided a direct link between the Centers and UHR, where U-M's overall effort to expand high-quality on-campus child care is being led.

The change brought these two centers into the same organizational relationship as the Pound House Children's Center, which began reporting administratively to UHR on July 1. Such administrative consistency will provide long-term advantages in areas including facilities and financial management. It can also serve to strengthen the ties to complimentary services within UHR such as those of the Work/Life Resource Center.

July 2005

Transition of the Pound House Children's Center
On July 1, 2005, administrative responsibility for Pound House was transferred from University Housing to Human Resources & Affirmative Action. This transition was expected to help facilitate a number of administrative efficiencies over time.

Summer 2005

Planning with Stakeholders
Meetings were held with the directors, teachers and staff of all U-M Child Care Centers to discuss the Child Care Initiative and its goals. Visioning sessions for directors and teachers gathered input on the possibilities for the future of child care and early childhood education programs at the centers. The parents of all children enrolled in a U-M Child Care Center were also invited to evening meetings to discuss the plans and possibilities.

Prior to the meetings, teachers and parents each received separate surveys to gather their input and guide the discussion at each meeting.

Meetings and communications included a variety of additional constituents including:

• Children's Centers Executive Board
• Work/Life Resource Center
• Commission for Women
• Women of Color Task Force
• SACUA
• PACWI
• COSPI
• The Child Care Network/Washtenaw Regional 4C
• University Leadership