The percentage of college students with children is growing, according to Lenita Vindure, assistant manager of The University of Memphis Child Care Center.
Every semester, 100 to 200 people call seeking child care.
However, the center, located next to the Central parking lot, can only accommodate 30 children at a time.
By the start of the fall semester most openings, especially in the daytime, are full. “It’s really hard when people apply too late and we have to start turning people away. 0 We really need more space,” Vindure said.
Information about a possible grant from the government will be known in September.
If the child care center gets the grant money, possibly around $30,000, then it could expand its facilities to accommodate more children and staff. Whether the expansion includes adding to the current building or building a new facility nearby depends on the amount of the grant.
According to Vindure, the center has provided child care for students for eight years, but many students she has spoken did not know about it existed until after they started school.
The center, managed by Jacqueline Jones, maintains a learning atmosphere and is preparation for kindergarten.
Among the eight staff members are two accredited teachers and one graduate student.
Openings go quickly, especially for daytime hours. The center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The center cares for children ranging in age from 30 months to 12 years old.
