Vermont Business Magazine The Executive Committee of the University of Vermont Board of Trustees took action today on two key initiatives—a partnership with the Trinity Children’s Center (TCC) and construction involving the multipurpose center, which is home to many of the university’s athletic and university recreation venues.
Under the new childcare agreement, TCC will reserve slots for up to 50 children of UVM employees. UVM recognizes the importance of such services to the welfare of its families and has made it a priority to help expand opportunities for staff and faculty to care for their children. Details of the agreement can be found in the campus communication included below.
Following a COVID-mandated pause in construction of the multipurpose center project, trustees at their February meeting authorized the university to resume work on the recreation and wellness facilities and Gutterson Fieldhouse, as a next phase in the project.
After receiving bids on this phase, the administration returned today with a proposal that included an expansion to an existing group fitness space, the creation of an 11,000-square-foot recreation and wellness facility for the entire student body, new women’s and men’s hockey locker rooms, and new homes for sports medicine and media activities.
As a result of COVID impacts on the construction market, the board increased the expenditure limit for this phase from $22.5 million to $24.7 million.
All construction during this recreation and wellness-centered phase of the project will take place within the existing facility, with the exception of the construction of the first floor of a structure that ultimately will join the Gutterson Field House with the new Tarrant Center, which will be the home of men’s and women’s basketball programs and serve as a campus event center. The board will consider resumption of the Tarrant Center phase of the project at a future date.
To: UVM Faculty and Staff
From: Suresh V. Garimella, President
Patricia A. Prelock, Provost and Senior Vice President
Re: New Child Care Opportunity
Date: June 14, 2021
We are pleased to share with you that UVM has established a new relationship with the Trinity Children’s Center (TCC) to provide access for up to 50 children of UVM parents. The first 27 slots will become available this summer, and the remainder will be spread over the next two academic years.
TCC is an independent, nonprofit program that has, for over 40 years, offered high-quality early care and education for 3- to 5-year-old children. The center takes pride in offering equitable access for families by intentionally including children with special needs, as well as children from a broad range of socioeconomic and culturally diverse backgrounds. It is an approach that resonates with Our Common Ground values and one we are confident will benefit UVM families. As noted by TCC Executive Director Megan Godfrey “the families of UVM have always held a special place in TCC hearts and in our classrooms.”
As you may recall, we made a commitment to explore viable child care options for members of our community, and the TCC relationship is an important step in following through on it.
Employees interested in enrolling their children should complete an online application at www.trinitychildrenscenter.org to be considered for admission. All aspects of the admissions process will be handled exclusively by the center, based on its established methodology.
Typically, applications must be submitted by March 1 for the upcoming year. However, as part of this partnership, for fall 2021 enrollment, TCC is extending its application deadline for UVM families to July 9. TCC will begin contacting UVM families who have applied and have age-eligible children in the coming weeks to schedule a tour, and will require a commitment to enroll by July 23. UVM families who are not offered enrollment for the upcoming year may remain on Trinity's waitlist for the following year.
As part of the arrangement, the university will provide additional space in the former Ira Allen School (34 Fletcher Place), where the center is currently located, to facilitate an expansion.
Source: UVM 6.14.2021