UBC recently updated its Child Care Expansion Plan.
It might be surprising to some that UBC is the largest provider of university operated child care in North America. Each day, hundreds of children spend their days at campus child care centres or attend before and after school programs while their parents study, work or teach at UBC. Child care is part of UBC’s commitment to building complete communities. Quality child care supports children’s development and enables parents to work or focus on their education.
UBC has long been a leader in delivering child care, or early childhood education. The number of child care spaces has steadily increased over the last 40 years. However, similar to trends across the region, there are consistent wait lists.
Recently, the university updated its UBC Child Care Expansion Plan as part of its commitment to expand child care on campus as the campus community grows.
“We’ve worked closely with Campus and Community Planning on this Expansion Plan. The Plan reflects a balanced approach to expansion, one that ensures that we will continue to provide quality care and is guided by funding availability to build and run our centres,” said Andrew Parr, Managing Director of Student Housing and Hospitality Services, whose portfolio includes UBC Child Care Services.
Currently, there are over 30 child care centres serving the campus community with a combined 814 licensed full and part-day centre-based spaces. These spaces serve UBC students, faculty, staff, residents and other off-campus community members.
UBC Child Care Services is the main provider of child care on campus. Child care services within UBC neighbourhoods are provided by the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA), as part of a partnership with UBC. There are also a couple of not-for-profit organizations running child care centres including Berwick run by the Developmental Disabilities Association and U-Hill Kinderclub.
“We will review the Expansion Plan every five years, or as required, to respond to changing policy, including UBC Land Use updates,” said Aviva Savelson, Senior Policy Manager at Campus and Community Planning.
In brief: Targets to increase child care space
- 5-year targets (to 2024): Meet 15% of the infant/toddler/preschooler estimated unmet child care need by 2024.
- Long Term targets (from 2025-2041): Meet 20% of the infant/toddler/preschooler estimated unmet child care need by 2041.
Unmet child care need is estimated using the UBC Child Care Planning Tool which takes into consideration:
- UBC child population living on campus as well as child dependents of students, faculty and staff
- labour force participation rates;
- projected residential growth
- number of child care spaces available.
The Expansion Plan targets creating up to 398 new child care spaces by 2041 and will result in an inventory of over 1,200 spaces in total. The overall number of spaces are approximate and subject to funding approval of individual projects.