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The Comfort Zone

Selecting Quality Child Care

FAQ

Employment Opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is UCC located in Ames?

UCC is located on the Northwest side of campus near the intersection of Stange Road and Bruner St. We have a map to help you locate UCC:

• Interactive Map

   What is UCC's Phone Number? 

• 515-294-9838

What time does UCC open and close?

The Infant, Toddler, Full-Time Preschool, and School-age Programs open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m. and operate all year, closing only for designated ISU office holidays.

The Flex-care Preschool Program opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. and is open during ISU's fall and spring semesters. The Flex-care Program is closed during all ISU student breaks.

The Morning-Only Preschool is open from 8:30 to 12:30.  It is also closed during all ISU student breaks.

The Comfort Zone is open, based on need, during ISU's fall and spring semesters.

How do I enroll my child/children at UCC?

Thank you for your interest in University Community Childcare
for your child care needs!

An opening is created when a child leaves the program; this usually happens at the end of an academic semester or  during the Summer.   The opening is filled as quickly as possible to ensure full enrollment in our center.  It may be filled by moving up a child currently enrolled in a younger group, here at UCC, or by enrolling a new child.  Siblings of current UCC children are given priority.

As your child grows older, s/he may become eligible for a space in the next age group.  The children in the new age group may have been on the list longer than your child.  This may change your position on the waiting list.

As with other centers, families on the waiting list are informed if a space becomes available for their child and given a short time to decide if they will accept the spot.   There are many variables involved in the enrollment of children and it makes it impossible to predict exactly how long a family may wait for an opening.  It can be, for example, a few months or a even a year and a half before something opens up to match a child to a spot.

It's never too early to get on the list, so please complete this form and forward it to ppepper@iastate.edu. 

Even if your child has not been born yet, you may add your name to our list.  We recommend that parents get on the waiting list as soon as they know they are pregnant, or even when they are trying to become pregnant.   Be sure to contact us after your baby's birth to update the information on your card.  Also please contact us if the mailing or phone contact information on your card has changed.

 We will send you information about the center and individual program fee scales as soon as you contact us.  If a space opens up for your child we will contact you.  We try both by e-mail and by phone. You are welcome to call at any time to confirm that your  waiting list card is still on the list.   The main office phone number is 515-294-9838.

What is a typical daily routine at UCC?

What meals/snacks does UCC provide?

UCC provides breakfast, lunch and mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks for the children in attendance during those meal-times. The Center participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsored by the USDA. The meals provided by UCC must meet the CACFP nutrition guidelines. Menus are posted in the parent information area in each building. Meals and snacks are served family-style at UCC. Infant needs are met on an individual basis.

Do children nap at UCC?

For most young children, a nap or quiet time is a necessary part of the day. The infants sleep according to their individual time clocks. Toddlers and Pre-schoolers nap after lunch time.
Quiet activities are available for children who do not nap. Infants sleep in cribs and children older than 18 months sleep on cots.

What is the health policy at UCC?

Health policies and procedures
Keeping children healthy is a partnership between parents, child care providers, the children themselves and the medical provider. Only a few illnesses require exclusion of sick children to ensure protection of other children and staff. Reasons to exclude a child include:

• The illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in routine activities
• The illness requires more care than the child care staff are able to provide without compromising the health and safety of the other children.
• The illness is any of the specifically diagnosed conditions listed below.

Symptoms that require exclusion of a child

• Fever of 101 degrees
• Uncontrolled diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Rash with fever or behavior change
• Conjunctivitis
• Contagious viral diseases
• Contagious bacterial infections
• Head lice or nits
• Illness without obvious symptoms

Does UCC close for weather-related reasons?

UCC will close if the ISU offices are closed for weather-related reasons. If the weather is severe enough to make traveling difficult, it may be necessary to delay the opening of the Center for the day. UCC will try to open and remain open during severe weather. If, however, at any time there are not enough staff on site to meet the required staff per child requirements, the Center is not legally permitted to operate.

In the event of possible weather related closings, parents should:

• Call the Center office (294-9838) and listen to the message on the answering machine
• Listen to local radio station KASI (1430 AM) and KCCQ (105.1 FM) for notification of delays and closings

When elementary schools close for severe weather, UCC may be able to offer emergency care for children in the School-age program. Availability of this service will depend on having adequate staff available to offer emergency care. Please call the School-age Program Coordinator at 294-5113 or the Director at 294-1691 to check on the program's start time for the day.

Who is eligible for enrollment?

We enroll children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age.

   Priority enrollment is granted to all ISU community members (student, faculty or staff.)  Like the other campus childcare centers we strive to maintain a target ration of 60% student usage and 40% faculty / staff.  According to the ISU Registrar's Office, "Post-Doc" positions are considered to fall under the faculty / staff category.  We do also occasionally enroll community members, but very infrequently. 

We include a diverse group of families and staff from different races, religions and nationalities.  We do not discriminate against any applicant / potential families because of race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, ancestry or marital status.  We welcome and encourage applications from all families.

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