Tensions are rising at Marshall University's Child Development Academy over who should be able to use the school's daycare center. Some student government members want to restrict the resource to serve only students, and recently asked the Academy to submit a statement on why it should receive student fees.

The Child Development Academy provides childcare services to students, faculty, and alumni of the Marshall University. The Academy serves children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. It currently serves 96 children.

The Academy is funded by student fees, but Student Body President Sean Hornbuckle contends it does not adequately meet the needs of students. The children of Marshall students make up 65 percent of the Academy’s attendance; most of the other 35 percent are the children of Marshall’s faculty, staff, and alumni.

Marshall students are also charged money for putting their children on the wait list.

The President’s Advisory Committee of the Student Activity Allocations are proposing that if the Academy receives student fees, only Marshall students would be allowed to enroll their children, and that they be allowed to put their children on the waitlist for free.

Academy Director Susan Miller defended the Academy's payment scheme, saying that students pay half price to be on the waitlist, and pay significantly less than faculty, staff and alumni to have their children attend the academy. She also said that the resource is first and foremost offered to students.

“Whenever a spot opens up at the academy, I make sure to call every Marshall student on the waiting list that has a child in the age group that has opened up,” Miller said. “Legally, I can only call the students with a child in that age group because we can only have a certain number of children each age at the academy. After calling all of the students and unsuccessfully finding a replacement, I will then begin to call community members.” 

The academy is funded by $156,000 in student fees annually, and also gets money from alumni, faculty, and community member clientele.
 
Miller noted that without student fees the Academy will have trouble staying afloat. She also asserts that the Academy is valuable to students other than the ones whose children are enrolled there.

“We have Marshall University students who come to the academy to participate in work studies, to be graduate assistants and to work on their capstone projects. Every resident going through pediatrics in the School of Medicine comes to the academy sometime during their studies,” Miller said.

Not all members of the Student Government Association want to cut funding.

"I personally defend the academy," said Matt James, chief of staff for the Student Government Association. "Their purpose is very important to the university.”

The committee is scheduled to meet on Feb. 26, and University President Stephen Kopp will decide if student fees will continue to go towards the Academy.

 
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