Inside Clemson

Clemson child care center passes first stage of approval

By Jackie Todd, Office of Media Relations

Clemson University Board of Trustees’ Finance and Facilities Committee Thursday gave phase one approval to a proposed child care facility on the university’s main campus.

The 12,700-square-foot center, to be funded with existing resources, will serve the university’s faculty, staff and students and will accept preschool-aged children, ages six weeks to five years.

The university’s faculty and staff applauded the decision.

“Many top 20 public universities offer a child care benefit to their employees and students,” said Clemson Faculty Senate President Jim McCubbin. “Keeping in line with the university’s strategic plan, this valuable offering will aid in the recruitment and retention efforts of top faculty, staff and students, as well as provide opportunities for enhanced work productivity.”

“This is long-awaited and welcome news,” said Staff Senate President Tina White, who is also a member of the university’s President’s Commission of the Status of Women who advocated for the construction of the center. “Main campus employees live all around the Upstate. It’s important for them to have their children right on campus and enables them to enjoy and become more part of the Clemson community.”

In a survey given in 2012 by the President’s Commission of the Status of Women to more than 1,100 university faculty, staff and students, approximately 86 percent indicated it was very important for Clemson to have child care.

Officials said that the facility will be managed by a third-party vendor and will meet national accreditation standards.

The proposal goes to the full board Friday. If approved, and pending additional board and state approval, the project is expected to be complete in fall 2018.