Childcare center on campus would present learning opportunities to all
COMMENTARY
Chelsea Hudson

What sets TCU apart from other universities is its sense of family. The minute you set foot on this campus, it is easy to feel the camaraderie and friendly spirit. It is crucial that this sense of family be maintained.

Now is the time for childcare at TCU. For more than 20 years, various groups have attempted to make this dream of childcare a reality. But for many reasons it has yet to come to fruition. Perhaps change is on the horizon.

A dedicated group of faculty, staff and students are currently working on a childcare proposal to present to the TCU administration.

Students, faculty and staff need a nearby, convenient and safe place to leave their children while they are at work or in class. The average TCU student does not have children, but that does not undervalue the importance of having a childcare facility for nontraditional or graduate students. Having childcare at TCU will significantly impact students without children as well.

This center would offer valuable opportunities for students studying education, sociology, social work, nursing and other areas of study to practice their knowledge and develop skills. The TCU childcare center could serve as a real-world learning lab for many students to participate in internships, work on class projects and gain practical experience. The lessons learned from working in a lab would enhance the classroom experience.

To ensure their children are in good hands, it is crucial that such a facility have a stellar reputation with an affordable price tag. Having a quality TCU daycare center would also be an excellent recruiting tool for top-notch faculty, staff and students. Not to mention it would also serve as an excellent retention tool to current faculty, staff and students. Many top companies, and an increasing number of universities, offer this vital and important benefit.

TCU’s commitment to responsible citizenry has an opportunity to be tested. It is an expensive project, but what is the cost of family? Let us hope that when the question is asked as to whether TCU will have a childcare center, the answer is an emphatic yes.

Chelsea Hudson is a senior political science major from Plano.