Letter: CSU is Seeking Student Parents

LettersMarion Miller — Published September 22, 2015

After many months of research and preparation, the Concordia Student Union has engaged over the summer months in concrete discussions with Concordia University to secure a space for a daycare centre on the downtown campus to serve the student parent population at Concordia.

Following a report published in 2011 by the Dean of Students Office and the Concordia University Student Parent Center, flexible and affordable childcare close to campus was identified as an important barrier preventing the academic success and well-being of student parents.

To better understand the childcare needs of current student parents in the continuation of the daycare project, the CSU has launched an online survey this week, via a special edition of the CSU Live newsletter. The same questionnaire will also be sent through the next GSA mail-out, and student parents, both undergraduate and graduate, are strongly encouraged to participate in this survey, also found here. The data collected with concretely influence the logistic operations of the daycare, to best accommodate the needs of actual student parents.

The completion of the questionnaire requires a mere 10 minutes and also enters the participant into a draw for one of three gift cards! Alongside this quantitative data, more detailed questionnaires and discussions will be held in collaboration with the CUSP center throughout the fall semester, to gain a deeper, qualitative understanding of the situation (more details to come through CSU live and other media platforms). Help us to better understand your childcare needs, and together we can create a more inclusive and accessible campus!

-Marion Miller
CSU VP Academic and Advocacy