Are you looking for an affordable child care opportunity available to any member of the Old Westbury community? Look no further—SUNY Old Westbury’s child care center is finally reopening after a four year closure! College can be difficult already—finding a safe space to watch your child doesn’t have to be.
The child care center, located in the E wing of the Campus Center, has been in operation for over 18 years. When the pandemic forced closures, new management took charge and used the time to strategically add features that would benefit the children, parents, and O.W. students.
The center has capability to care for infants, babies, toddlers, and school age children, with separate classrooms and play areas for each age group. With brightly colored rooms full of toys, books, and interactive equipment, the center is prepared to hold up to 80 students. They are open from 6:30am-6:30pm.
Daily scheduling consists of times for breakfast and lunch, outdoor play in a designated playground on campus, crafts, naptime, storytime, and age appropriate curriculum from a teacher. There are time slots for free play and use of the ‘gym’ which includes play equipment like kitchen sets, a jungle gym, and exercise balls, all with the purpose of improving motor skills. There is also a reading nook, a gigantic game of Connect Four, and a variety of board games.
“As a working parent, it is truly life changing to have a daycare on campus where I can drop my child off knowing he will be well taken care of.” Said Dr. Elizabeth Schmermund, a longtime professor with the English department. Her 2 ½ year old son is enrolled in the program.“Offering childcare is part of the social justice mission of our campus, giving working parents a safe, income-based childcare option for our faculty, staff, and students. Miss Stephanie is caring and knowledgeable, and my son looks forward to going to school every day.”
Led by Ms. Danielle Paige, Dr. Joanne Robinson, and Dr. Diana Sukhram, the operation to renew the center began with a new initiative—to elevate the experience they provide.
“We didn’t just turn the lights back on. We wanted to make sure that the people that we work with understood our mission of social justice and our commitment to students.” Said Dr. Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff at O.W. She jokes that her 30 year career in higher education, spanning from as south as Florida Atlantic University to as west as the University of Texas, has brought her here to Old Westbury.
One of the first things these women did when put in charge was research to identify what the center lacked in the past and what it would need to improve in the future. Their main goal was to prioritize children that have parents who either attend or teach at the University. They also wanted to ensure that the parents received a quality experience that was both accessible and affordable.
There are discounts available for campus community members to ensure that child care pricing doesn’t make tuition costs more difficult.
“When you think about caring for your students, you want to get to know them and create an experience where they feel seen, heard, and valued.” said Dr. Robinson.
Affordable and accessible child care is a national issue that O.W. aims to lessen for our campus community. Both Dr. Robinson and President Sams noted that only one of the colleges they worked at had a daycare center nearby. The one President Sams referenced wasn’t even connected to the school.
“[Child care services] should be a national priority, not just a state priority… It is very clear that our state legislature is 100% behind granting pre-k childcare, but we need it as a nation if we are committed to bringing people out of financial duress.” Said President Sams.
Another focus of the renovation was safety. New management implemented physical safety measures such as special training for employees and large first aid kits in every room, but also technological advantages like instant messaging apps. Now, parents can speak directly with teachers and see reports that explain the schedule for the day and what their children are up to at the time of messaging.
Part of the renovation involved installation of a one way window with the goal of elevating support services for the children. For those with occupational therapy, speech therapy, or other early intervention services, moments of required observation can be done through this window. This ensures that they can be viewed in a natural state without being disturbed or distracted from their activity.
This window is also beneficial for childhood education students. It gives them the chance for an in-person learning opportunity where they can watch an established teacher work firsthand as well as recognize certain child behaviors.
“We talk about connectivity between the school of education and the child care center.” Said Dr. Sukhram, the Dean of the School of Education. “There are so many different opportunities for students as well as faculty. It allows students to get hands-on experience, improve on job skills, and provides research opportunities.”
Not only does the center give parents peace of mind while they sit in class, teach their own students, or carry out a variety of jobs on campus, but it exposes these children to the college community and encourages them to pursue higher education themselves in the future. They even hold pre-k graduation ceremonies in O.W. ‘s new auditorium.
“Our mission has always been to learn with love and lead children to a higher education and a brighter future,” Said Ms. Danielle Paige, the Owner and Managing member. “It is definitely a dream come true.”
