CHRIS STOICHEFF
Opinions Writer

Chris Stoicheff is president of the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union.

Over the summer, the USSU main office gets numerous calls from students looking for affordable housing near the University. One call in particular made me better understand what many students have to overcome in order to afford a post-secondary education.

This student was a single parent of three kids who wanted to attend the College of Education in the fall. She was from a northern community and had to find childcare spaces for two of her three children. It struck me that not only will she have to cover the cost of childcare, which is roughly $800.00 per month (per child), but she will also have to find the money to afford textbooks, tuition and housing on top of that. Not only does this student face these and other financial challenges, but she will also have to wait up to three years for a childcare space to become available on or around campus.

These are just a few of the many barriers that students have to overcome in order to obtain a post-secondary education. Unfortunately, for too many students this scenario seems to be a reality.

Unlike the University of Alberta, which has 5 daycare facilities on campus, or the University of British Columbia, which has 23, the U of S has one childcare centre for students. The U of S also has a daycare centre for faculty and staff but it only holds 45 children and has a similarly lengthy waiting list.

What’s interesting is that the University of Saskatchewan’s “second integrated plan,” which outlines its institutional goals and objectives until 2012, clearly states that its first priority is to “improve the undergraduate and graduate student experience both inside and outside the classroom.” The university aims to do this by “diversifying its student body,” “optimizing the potential for success for every student” and by “improving the non-academic services for students as well as the infrastructure that supports the student experience.”

Based on these objectives, now is the time for a commitment to the expansion of childcare spaces for students on campus.

Of course, childcare is not just an issue for students. It’s in the best interests of an institution that wants to compete with the U of A and UBC to offer its faculty and staff affordable childcare spaces. When it comes to attracting and retaining outstanding faculty, the U of S is at a significant disadvantage because of its lack of childcare spaces.

In fact, for a prospective faculty member, it could be the deciding factor between coming to the U of S and going to a university that does have childcare space available. So let’s not put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage and instead start investing in childcare spaces that can attract high-quality faculty and improve the student experience.

The fact is that the lack of childcare space on campus is a significant barrier for students who want to attend university. The wait list for a space at the USSU Childcare Centre recently exceeded 390 children. This translates into a 2-3 year waiting list for parents and students alike. As a result, this summer, the USSU asked the University of Saskatchewan to establish a Task Force on Childcare on Campus for no later than September 2010.

This task force will be asked to produce an action plan for the creation of more childcare spaces at an affordable cost to students. As of this month, the University has established this committee and it will begin work shortly, with its first priority being the completion of a campus-wide survey to better understand the need for more spaces and how to best accommodate students in this regard.

The USSU and the USSU Childcare Centre are also organizing a “Rally for Childcare on Campus” on September 22nd from 11 a.m. to noon in the Bowl. The event is being held to raise awareness for the need for more childcare spaces on or around campus.

The “Rally for Childcare on Campus” event will also include a BBQ fundraiser for the USSU Childcare Centre and will feature a play-area for children with numerous activities for kids. Please join us and lend your support to ensure the University recognizes the need for more Childcare space on our campus!