Re: Early Childhood Education Center Update
To: Faculty, staff and graduate students
Dec. 11, 2020
 
Dear Campus Community,

I am pleased to inform the campus that the decision has been reached to resume operations of the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC). This reopening decision follows my requested consultation with parents and the campus community, during which we heard from a number of faculty, staff and families who were emphatic about the care provided by the ECEC. Despite the financial challenges facing the ECEC, we believe that this service is an important asset for families and staff, and with improved engagement of the faculty can help contribute to our growing research enterprise.

However, given the current financial climate, it is our responsibility to ensure that we minimize the losses that the ECEC has incurred consistently over the years. To that end, upon the expected resumption of services in spring 2021, we will implement several changes which we believe will reinforce the long-term quality and viability of the ECEC.

We will move quickly toward the opening of the ECEC and resumption of services, consistent with public health guidelines. Enrollment capacity will increase as new guidance is released and fresh marketing and recruitment efforts are undertaken to maximize the full capacity of the ECEC.

We appreciate your patience and engagement with the process leading up to this decision. And while this transitional period of the ECEC will present the university with temporary challenges, we believe that the families, faculty and staff who rely on this service deserve our utmost effort to preserve, and indeed enhance the experience of the ECEC. Working together, we will achieve a new business and educational model, greater transparency and improved communication that is in keeping with the highest expectations of our university community. 

Sincerely,

Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.
Chancellor
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