2B
Friday; May 3, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
Demand for day care is growing on campus Almost 10 percent of KU students are parents
By Michael Christie
Kansan staff writer
Going to school as parents has complicated the lives of Graceann and Daniel.
They must think of themselves last, with their son's needs taking precedence over their own. Life is hectic with children, both for parents with careers and parents who are students.
"The moment you become a parent, everything changes," Graceen Robertson said.
Students who have children are becoming more common at the University of Kansas. And the need for day care is growing with their num
Since 1983, the student population has increased 9 percent, while the number of students with children has increased nearly 24 percent. Parents now make up almost 10 percent of the student population at the University.
Like most parents at KU, the Robertsons have sought off-campus child care. Less than 20 percent of students with children receive services directly from the University, and only 10 percent of referrals or on-campus child care.
On-campus assistance
Hilltop Child Development Center, which is on campus, began in 1974 Joan Reiber, director of the center at the center's location restricted growth.
"We need more space." she said.
"We've been asking for more space for 10 years."
The child-care center provides service for 155 children. All but one of their parents are affiliated with the University, Reiber said.
Reiber said that the goal at Hilltop was to devote at least 15 percent of its resources to KU students. Eighty-four children have enrolled this year.
centers across the nation, she said.
The center is nationally accredited and serves as a model for other
The only problems with Hilltop are the high cost of its child care and its current 18-month waiting list.
Hillop bases its rates on economic need. But the lowest rate, which is $150-a-month for part-time care, is more than many students can afford.
During recess, a group of 4- to 7-year-old children plays on a wooden jungle gym at Hilltop Child Development Center, 1314 Javhawk Blvd.
Other options
Three other licensed child care centers on campus provide part-time care: the Edna A. Hill Child Development Center, the Language Acquisition preschool and the Special Education and Early Childhood Intervention Program
Together, the three organizations can provide services for about 100 children.
But not all the children enrolled have parents who are KU students. Because the state and federal government provide money, these centers are required to be open to all groups of people.
The costs for the programs are between $150 and $300 a semester. Some vacancies remain.
The University provides informational resources for students with dependent children. As the parent of a child who grows, the need for child care grows.
Ola Faucher, assistant director of the Child-care Resource and Referral Center, said the center was created in July 1990 to assist residents of Douglas County in finding child-care services.
Finding a match
A $ 5,000 grant from the state and $ 8,000 from the University established the program, which tries to meet the care program that best suits them.
"Usually, the issues are affordability, convenience and quality," Faucher said.
about 100 staff and faculty members and students, she said.
Betty Peterson, center coordinator, said the center had lists of child-care providers in Douglas County with specific information on space available, rates and the nature of the child care.
Since July, the center has helped
Some students have attempted to organize less expensive day care on campus. The lack of money at the University has limited this possibl-
Reiber said that she would like Hilltop to be involved in any new attempts to provide child care on such as acquiring new space.
A difficult solution
Students in Stouffer Place Apartments, which provides housing for married students, decided their child needed child care.
This semester a group of KU stu dents has struggled to provide low cost day care.
It was not a new idea. Stouffer Place residents have tried for at least 10 years to address their own child-care needs.
This semester the result was different. The students formed an organization called Helping Hands Child
Security to look for ways to secure fencing.
Student Senate allocated $5,115 for the center to operate the remaining 12 weeks of the semester.
The goal of Helping Hands was to provide up to 20 hours of day care weekly on a flexible basis. A maximum number children could be enrolled at the center.
The center was able to secure an apartment in Stouffer Place for the center to use.
Ken Stoner, director of student housing, granted the use of the apartment with the understanding that it would be used by students, the majority of whom must be Stouffer residents.
Senate did not know that only Stouffer residents would use the center when it voted to allocate money. Senate rules prohibit student activity money going to an organization grant equal access to all KU students.
Out of the 13 students who use Helping Hands, 12 are residents of Stouffer Place.
Carl Damon, this year's Senate treasurer, said the group probably did not know that rule when it made its proposal to Senate.
"After they found out there might be problems, they molded themselfs."
This resulted in mistrust between Senate and Helping Hands.
Problem with funding
"The finance committee members felt they were being lied to." Damor said.
Another Senate rule came into play when Helping Hands requested money for next year.
Senate rules prohibit two groups that provide the same service from receiving money from Senate.
Senate already allocated about $13,000 to Hilliord for next year. This money was carmarked for student trips to help offset the cost of day care.
Supporters of Helping Hands argued that flexible part-time child care was not available to students.
These students also complained of the 18-month waiting list at Hilton.
John Robertson, graduate senator,
John, "I think that ask parents
children into Hillip, they would argue that there are no services provided."
The end of the story has yet to be written. Helping Hands has vowed it will come back to Senate next year. And Senate voted in its last regular session to attempt to address the issue next year.
With the growing population of student parents, the issue of child care is not likely to disappear.
In the meantime, students with children wait to see what can be done.
Students with kids: A college-level study in time management
Kansan staff writer
By Michael Christie
Jim and Lynn Stillwell practice a sort of tag-team parenting.
They share the housework, their two children stay at home, he goes to school, and she works nights as a nurse.
Jim Stillwell, a Lawrence senior in engineering, was in school before he was married and a parent.
parents cannot use weekends to catch up on homework or projects
"I took a lot of things for granted, like the time I had to study," he said. "I had a lot of time, but I didn't know it."
"There's no time to get ahead," Stillwell said.
Unlike students without children.
Stillwell said that he had to be careful when planning his class schedule and that sometimes he could not conflict with his family's schedule.
"It's always a coordination problem to make sure someone's here," he said.
Graceann Robertson's life changed 19 months ago with the birth of her son.
As an undergraduate. Robertson
was like the majority of KU students:
She did not have a child.
She said time was one of the biggest things she took for granted before she had her son.
"The way you manage your time either becomes different or you don't stay in school." Robertson said.
She said people without children could live for themselves, friends or family.
"But you don't have another human being whom you are responsible for. You must have this responsibility for this other person to whom you cannot say, Go."
and make your own peanut butter
and jelly sandwich."
Robertson and her husband get up during the week at 5 a.m.
"We try to stay as quiet as possible my son can sleep, "she said. "We get up before him so we can get some help when he gets up we can do that."
Her son attends a day care center in Lawrence from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
After school is out, the Robertsons fix dinner and spend time with their son
is clear that her time is sculpted around him. As he goes, so goes her time.
As Robertson talks about her son, it
"My husband and I don't study until he goes to bed. He's been in school all day, and we're going to spend time with him," she said.
"They do not own a television."
"Either it wouldn't get used or it would become a distraction." Robertson said.
Instead, the three play, go for walks or spend time with their dog. Schoolwork begins after their son falls asleep.
Being a parent is demanding, more so when in school, but Robertson said there were rewards.
long as we need to and either get it done or fall asleep on it," she said.
"It's rewarding to have someone need you, but you don't get immediate gratification from children," she said.
"We stay up as long as we can or as
When Gracecain had her son, many things stopped for the Robertsons. No television. No movies. No more going out to dinner.
"But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," she said.
ADVERTISE IN THE DAILY KANSAN FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS
The last days of school are upon you! How about extra cash for the summer?
You can have cash for the summer while you store your stereo equip, color TV, apt. size refrig., camera, or many other valuables! Bring them in and receive a loan, then when fall semester comes, just redeem them. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL OR STOP BY. WE ALSO BUY THESE ITEMS IF YOU DON'T PLAN TO RETURN NEXT FALL.
Lawrence Pawn and Shooter Supply
718 New Hampshire, 843-4344
809 Vermont
(913) 843-8808
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
The Twelfth Annual Byron T. Shutz Award Lecture
The American Economic Miracle:
A Long-Term Perspective
---
Thomas Weiss Professor of Economics
PLEASE ANNOCE TO YOUR CLASSES
8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, 1991, Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union
A public reception at the Adams Alumni Center will follow the lecture