UNL's new Children's Center taking applications, announces rates

A waiting list for the new Children's Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be finalized April 20 with a drawing for admittance to the new 182-child center, UNL announced today. The Children's Center has also set its rates.

The child care center, due to open Aug. 24, is under construction in the north annex of the Whittier building at 22nd and W streets and will serve children 6 weeks to 5 years of age. Offerings are full-time care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, with part-time care available for preschoolers, and a summer camp for children ages 5-8. Hours will be Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round.

There are more than 250 names on the waiting list with only 182 spots to fill, said Tish Roland, director of the Children's Center. On April 20, names will be drawn for ranked order, and Roland will contact each family in the order drawn to obtain a spot in Children's Center. To get on the waiting list before the drawing, visit www.unl.edu/neunion/childcare and send the information requested under the "Enrollment" link to Roland before April 20.

Rates are also published on the Web site. They range from $156 per week for preschoolers for a UNL student, to $166 for that same child for a UNL family earning less than $60,000 annually, to $195 per week for the same child for community members, including alumni. Rates rise slightly for toddlers, and for infants. Part-time preschool rates range from $80 per week to $105 per week.

The UNL Children's Center plan outlines three groupings (families) of three age groups. Each family will include one classroom each of infants, toddlers and preschool children. The different age groups in each of the three families will interact with each other. The center will include 10 classroom spaces.

"As the children grow up, they will get to know the caregivers in all three rooms within the family area," said Roland. "It will allow us to offer a continuity of care."

The child care center was designed by RDG Planning and Design, construction began in September, and the project is well on its way to completion, with opening firmly set for Aug. 24, Roland said. She said the center is homey with plenty of carpet and soft furnishing and lots of natural light. On the outside, a fenced-in playground area will be developed to the west of the Whittier north annex. And, a parking lot/drop off area is planned for the east side of the facility.

The UNL Children's Center will replace the University Child Care Center, which closed April 27, 2007.