University student demographics are becoming increasingly diverse. Working adults return to college to advance their career status. Single adults with children have to balance work, class attendance and child care. By providing high-quality, on-campus child care with qualified and professional staff, the university partners with their students and thus creates a more successful environment for their adult students.
By placing child care centers on college and university campuses, school staff make it possible for students to maintain a consistent and workable school schedule. The on-campus convenience saves students time by providing reliable staff and consistent hours of operation. The on-campus reliability saves the students emotional worry too. Students know that their children are being cared for during their class and study times.
On campus child care centers have the resources and connections within the community to find, hire and maintain qualified child care staff. University staff are also more likely to be in touch with up-to-date child development studies and local and federal child care center regulations. As a result, on campus child care centers have the resources to provide care and curriculum that is child-centered and developmentally appropriate for all age groups.
According to US News, the average age of university student population is increasing. Students are delaying their entry into freshman college courses for a number of reasons. These statistics suggest the higher likelihood that freshman and sophomore students will bring children with them into their college career. Therefore by providing on-campus child care, universities are increasing the likelihood that they will continue to serve an expanding student demographic.
Universities which specialize in child development education use on-campus child care centers as an educational proving grounds for their students. Students pursuing degrees in child development gain first-hand experience and can apply their classroom lessons directly. In this way, child-development students can also be closely supervised as they develop the necessary skills to pursue a successful career in child development fields.