Members of the Wayne State community,

As a university, we recognize that in this time of remote working, child care has become an even more pressing need for many employees and students. As we work on plans to return to campus, we recognize that child care will be a critical consideration in our community members’ decisions about when and how they return.

We wanted to let you know the status of current resources and discussions about child care.

1. On-campus child care
   1. Merrill-Palmer Skillman Institute Early Childhood Center and the College of Education Early Childhood Center are typically closed during the summer. Plans for reopening in the fall are currently being developed with guidance from the state.
   2. Detroit Parent Collective, a co-working space with on-site child care support for infants and toddlers, will join us on campus. Priority will be for student families. The date of opening and the capacity will be dependent upon both state and university guidelines.
2. Wayne State University's Early Childhood Consortium is composed of directors and staff of 31 early childhood centers, Wayne State faculty, and community partners. Plans for reopening of centers is a core topic in this group.
3. Child care resources website. We are continually updating this site with COVID-19-related information as it becomes available. For example, we have included the CDC guidelines for reopening of child care centers as well as parenting resources during the pandemic.
4. Remote/teleworking and flexible work arrangements. Our remote operations have provided the opportunity for the university and its employees to test in real time the effectiveness and applicability of these arrangements. Based on the learning from this experience and the ongoing need for social distancing, the Department of Human Resources is continuing to analyze and adapt policies and procedures for all employees, including those with children or other dependents at home.

The current pandemic has impacted so many areas of our daily lives, including child care options and availability. As discussions begin about a return to campus, we encourage you to talk with your supervisor or department chair about your specific child care challenges as decisions are being made on how to return to work on campus this summer and fall.

Sincerely,

Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Loraleigh Keashly, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, CFPCA, and Professor of Communication
Chairperson, Child Care Implementation Committee