In its last general assembly of 2016, The Student Government Association (SGA) unanimously endorsed an effort to create an on-campus daycare at UT Tyler. SGA President Divya Srinivasan stepped aside from her role as chair to present the idea to the assembly.
Now having clinched SGA’s endorsement, Srinivasan will approach Faculty Senate for help in developing the details of the idea, according to her draft proposal.
The former SGA Secretary’s idea is to have an on-campus, third-party-run daycare in the likes of those at UT Arlington and UT El Paso. It will be for infant to pre-school-aged children, open to faculty, staff and students and funded by “the families involved and a collaborative effort between the college, education department, students and the outside agency.”
Srinivasan cites numerous benefits to the daycare including “recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students with small children”, “less absenteeism” and “an opportunity for experiential learning in the field of early childhood education.”
Srinivasan told SGA that one obstacle to the daycare is finding space available on University property for the facility. However, “If this is something that everyone is invested in, I think we can find space for it,” she said.
The draft proposal calls for Faculty Senate to establish an ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter and “promote discussion on campus among all parties.” Srinivasan also told SGA she plans to gather more information about the idea from students through a Qualtrics survey in the near future.
SGA unanimously approved endorsing Srinivasan’s daycare idea with two senators abstaining.
To watch SGA discuss the proposal, click here.
Twitter: @jhescock
Feature Image by Patrick Knight via Flickr.
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