By Jeff Murphy,
June 8, 2017
WARRENSBURG, MO – To better align the University of Central Missouri’s campus childcare
facilities with the university’s strategic goals and related financial management,
UCM is combining childcare services provided at Central Village and Foster-Knox into
a single facility. Effective Aug. 1, 2017, Central Village, the smaller of the two
facilities, will close and all of its currently enrolled children will be included
in the Foster-Knox Childcare Center’s fall enrollment.
According to Victoria Voland, director of Foster-Knox Childcare Center, said the decision
to transition to one facility was made with careful consideration about continued
opportunities to provide a high-quality environment for children while positioning
the university to seek Missouri Accreditation for campus childcare. The decision also
considered ways to address revenue losses facing UCM for Fiscal Year 2018 amidst a
6.5 percent reduction in state support and other financial challenges.
“We’re proud that UCM childcare facilities currently meet Missouri Licensing Guidelines
and Performance Standards for Early Head Start,” Voland said in a letter to the campus
community. “By joining the staffs at the Foster-Knox location, the university will
be better positioned to pursue accreditation that will help attract and retain non-traditional
students. We believe this will increase opportunities to pursue grants for campus
childcare improvements that will help UCM continue to be a leader in the childcare
area.”
Central Village, which does not operate in the summer, has an enrollment of more than
30 children ages six weeks to six years old. Foster-Knox, which does have summer programs,
has nearly 70 children enrolled, ages six weeks to 10 years old.
While Foster-Knox becomes the single childcare facility at UCM in August, a limited
number of openings will still be available for university students and employees in
need of childcare. Anyone who has questions about this transition in facilities or
wants to know about opportunities for other children to enroll at Foster-Knox, is
urged to contact Voland weekdays at 660-543-4605 or email voland@ucmo.edu
An asset to UCM, childcare has been provided on campus since 1982, and is often a
key factor in decisions made by families with children to attend the university. UCM
was pleased to be selected as the first Early Head Start
Community Partner in 2000, in addition to Foster-Knox and Central Village being awarded
the Missouri Head Start Association Outstanding Community Partner Award in 2012. “Such
recognition,” Voland said, “has been possible due to the outstanding support of the
parents of children enrolled in UCM’s childcare facilities.”
She added that the university regrets any inconvenience the planned transition to
one childcare center may create for parents of children enrolled at Central Village,
but appreciates their “continued support as we look to the future with a continued
focus on childcare opportunities that will contribute to the strong growth and development
of the children we serve at UCM.”
