Frequently Asked Questions
- Does being on the waitlist for the existing childcare center here at SF State count towards where you fall on the new waitlist for the program starting in the spring of 2009?
- No. Children's Campus is not affiliated with the ASI Children's Center. You may be on the wait list for both programs if you choose, but doing so does not increase your chances of being admitted to either program.
- Are there any job openings yet for Children's Campus?
- Hiring for Children's Campus will begin in late fall 2009. Positions will be posted on the SF State Human Resources website as they become available and will be announced on the Children's Campus website. Please check these websites periodically throughout the fall for updates.
- If I'm not SF State faculty and staff, can my children apply for admission to Children's Campus?
- Community families are eligible to apply for enrollment in Children's Campus. However, the families of SF State faculty and staff have priority. Applications from SF State faculty and staff that are submitted by the September 12 deadline for January 2009 enrollment will be processed first; any slots that are not filled will be made available to the community and to the families of SF State students.
- When is the earliest time is to submit the application form for January 2009?
- August 29 is the first day to submit applications. The enrollment application period is August 29-September 12 for January 2009 admission.
- Are there plans to open a waiting list?
- All eligible families who submit an application during the enrollment period (August 29-September 12) become the Wait List. To be on the Wait List for Spring 2009, Summer 2009, and Fall 2009, you must submit an application between August 29-September.
- Will Children's Campus definitely open in January 2009?
- Yes. The first day of operation will be January 26, 2009.
- I see that the site for Children's Campus is in the first stages of construction. How can a building be ready for occupancy in January 2009?
- The Children's Campus building is an environmentally green high quality modular structure, installed at ground level on a permanent foundation. The structure is built off-site and will be placed at the site of the former Lakeview Center in mid-fall. The building's interior was designed in consultation with Louis Torelli of Spaces for Children; Torelli served as the consultant for the design of ASI Children's Center on the SF State campus.
- My child will not be 6 months old by the end of January 2009. Will she/he be able to start at Children's Campus or will we need to wait until fall?
- Infants must be at least 6 months of age by January 26, 2009. For your child to be considered for Fall 2009 enrollment you will need to be on the Wait List.
- How do I get my child's name on the Wait List for Fall 2009 enrollment?
- Submit an application/enrollment request form to the Bursar's between August 29 - September 12, 2008. Indicate on the form that the enrollment request is for fall 2009.
- What is the teach:child ratio in the infant rooms?
- The teacher:child ratio in the infant rooms is 1:3. There are two infant rooms and each room accommodates 6 infants.
- What process determined the rate schedule?
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Children's Campus was initiated based on requests by faculty and staff for quality child care and education at a site close to campus. The program will facilitate recruitment of new faculty and staff as well as provide support to existing SF State employees. A Children's Campus Committee composed of staff and faculty have worked to develop a self sustaining program and one that will provide academic support to programs with students preparing for careers in teaching, psychology, nursing, kinesiology and other disciplines.
Several considerations went into development of the rate schedule for the Children's Campus. Rates were compared to the Associated Student Childcare Center Inc. (AS) on campus and found to be identical for the infant/toddler age group and 64 cents more per hour for the preschool ages. Comparisons were made with other similar children's programs in our local area including UCSF's Marin Day School, Montessori and 150 Parker. The Children's Campus rates are in line with these other programs and in most cases offers more days of service. The AS Center is subsidized by student fees and other external funds.
The Children's Campus will follow the University calendar and only be closed during full campus closures, one week prior to the summer program and one week prior to the fall start date. This time is necessary for teachers to prepare the classrooms and meet with parents. For staff, this schedule is more flexible than one that follows the academic calendar.
The goal of Children's Campus is to be able to offer affordable childcare. In the future it is our hope to offer tuition discounts such as those for siblings, full year enrollment, and sliding scale for income. Most child care programs require external funding through grants and subsidies to meet expenses. The Children's Campus will be able to submit grants and become eligible for certain subsidies such as Preschool For All after at least one year of full operation to assure revenue meets expenses.
There are many costs that need to be covered for a program to start up. These include hiring staff several months ahead of the program start date for orientation, training and preparing the classrooms. Although we have worked diligently on an operating budget for the first year we are sure that there will be unforeseen expenses that occur.
The San Francisco State University Corporation contributed to the build out of the Children's Campus through a $700k gift to demolish the old Lakeview Center and clear and prepare the land. The University has leveraged $3.8M to fund the architect, and construction. We are working with funders and individual donors to support us with outdoor landscaping and classroom equipment.
