Center officials stated that the facility was closed because staff lived too far away to commute in the snow. It was recommended that parents look at centers calendars to know when they will be closed, and to take this into consideration when choosing a facility. Licensed care centers cannot take volunteers because staff must be trained and certified for early care. In addition to staffing concerns, there are liability issues involved with operating facilities under certain conditions. There is no infant care for less than 18 months.
Infant care is the most expensive kind.
The availability of quality care and facilities is essential to a quality graduate student experience for parents. There are lactating rooms on campus, but access is limited. Dean Lewis stated that he will talk with architects responsible for Rackham renovations about including such facilities. Childcare for students should be available at times based on a university schedule. A study of other universities revealed that Michigan State University has made arrangements with student parents to have child care available on a 24 hour basis.