The UMCDC contributes to the teaching mission of the University and enhances the capacity of the state of Minnesota for providing high quality early childhood education. In order to capture some of this value, we surveyed current and former UMCDC undergraduate student workers to learn more about their experiences. We find that a vast majority of student workers remain in the field, and they largely remain in the state.

Summary

Survey sent out on Feb 2, 2018 to ~100 recipients. They were primarily current and former UMCDC undergraduate student workers.

• 46 respondents so far.
• 19 have worked in early childhood education (outside of UMCDC) and another 13 in related fields, 11 are still at the center.
• 8 respondents have left Minnesota and are using their skills in another state, but the remainder are in Minnesota.

Themes within survey responses

The responses from student workers, called childcare workers (or CCWs), stood out to us. The UMCDC is a critical part of the training and community for these students, complementing their coursework and preparing them for jobs in early childhood education and related fields.

Working at UMCDC, students receive:

• Life-changing & transformative training; these often are the most meaningful experiences students have had at the University
• Thoughtful, in-depth mentorship from accomplished, highly trained UMCDC teaching staff
• Training for real-world jobs in a childcare center that operates full-time business hours and cares for infants through preschoolers.
• Ability to apply classroom knowledge and bring real-life experiences to classrooms:
• On-campus jobs; financial support and professional development that is accessible without a car
• Inspiration to pursue careers in early childhood education and related field
• Confidence leaving the UMCDC, that they will be successful in their future careers
• Community: warmth, camaraderie, care, respect; students feel great pride in being a part of UMCDC
• Opportunity to work in an early childhood education program that is nationally renowned

Sample Responses:

Childcare worker, Youth Studies

There aren't enough words to describe what the Center has given me. It has inspired me to look into working with Infants full-time and spread the importance of Infant Mental Health and their primary care. It has shown me what a collaborative and welcoming environment looks like in terms of a career, and it has given me the skills to feel confident in my field.

Childcare worker, B.S. Child Psychology

This program changed my life. I loved my education, but I owe a huge part of what made it a success to the UMCDC.They provided a hands on learning environment. Between the staff, students, and parents, UMCDC became a special place in my heart. They built Upon my learning by offering me unique opportunities for field studies, resources from a wealth of knowledge, and encouragement to ask questions. I honor them for the way they invested in me and I could never replace my experience with them.

Childcare worker, B.S. Child Psychology

The CDC provides employment for many adults, but also for many students. This center allows me to financially support myself while attending the U, but also is an opportunity for hands on classroom contact with children. This is very important to me while pursuing a degree in Child Psychology, hoping to work with children in my future. I have worked with children often in the past, but I have learned more within one semester at this center working in childcare and a classroom setting that I could have ever anticipated. The staff are welcoming, patient, and truly care about the students.

Childcare worker, B.S. Early Childhood

Working at the UMCDC has completely transformed my knowledge of child development. I’ve learned how to effectively interact, assist, play, and teach young children. Before working here, I’ve never spent much time with toddlers, and I now am extremely confident in my abilities. The Center has especially benefited my social and emotional development awareness, because all of the teachers set superb examples every single day.

The teachers’ love for their jobs, the children, and the Center in general is extremely obvious. The UMCDC provides opportunities for growth in everybody involved, and I feel inspired to become a better teacher every day I work there. The UMCDC has a very up to date curriculum, and it is obvious that every single action has been well thought out before it is executed. Teachers have a reason for every decision they make, and the child’s best interest is always in mind. In addition, the UMCDC is filled with classrooms of diverse children, and teachers make sure to use a culturally relevant pedagogy. It is a development center, not just a child care center. I am proud to be a part of it, and I cannot stress how thankful I am for my opportunities there. The Child Development Center has made me a better teacher, child care provider, and person.

Shutting this program down is a mistake. I cannot emphasize how beneficial my experiences at the Center have been. As a college student who needs to work in order to pay tuition, there is no better opportunity for someone who is studying early childhood education. I share my stories in classes, and it’s made my learning experience better. I am able to apply what I’m learning in my classes while doing what I love. I look forward to going to work every single day, and it broke my heart to see how sad my Bungalow’s teacher became when she saw the email which said the Center was being shut down. These teachers put their hearts and souls into their work, and they have shown me what it is to be a great educator. I will hold my experiences at the Center in my heart and memory as I continue down this journey to become a teacher, and I wish the students who come after me could experience this magical place as well.

Childcare worker, B.S. Early Childhood Education

The teachers’ love for their jobs, the children, and the Center in general is extremely obvious. The UMCDC provides opportunities for growth in everybody involved, and I feel inspired to become a better teacher every day I work there. The UMCDC has a very up to date curriculum, and it is obvious that every single action has been well thought out before it is executed. Teachers have a reason for every decision they make, and the child’s best interest is always in mind. In addition, the UMCDC is filled with classrooms of diverse children, and teachers make sure to use a culturally relevant pedagogy. It is a development center, not just a child care center. I am proud to be a part of it, and I cannot stress how thankful I am for my opportunities there. The Child Development Center has made me a better teacher, child care provider, and person.

Childcare worker, B.S. Early Childhood Education

When comparing my experience at the Lab school to UMCDC, the quality and level of care given by the teachers is equivalent. The major difference that I noticed was the time spent in the classroom. At the lab school I worked with students 3 hours a day for 3 days a week. I spent 9 hours student teaching a week and only for 10 weeks. Working at UMCDC I was able to be in the classroom a lot more due to UMCDC's business hours. I worked at UMCDC at least 20 hours a week for 3 years. The amount of experience I received at UMCDC compared to the lab school was insurmountable. I chose to work at UMCDC for so long, because the head teachers and assistant teachers treated all student teachers with care and respect, similar to the care and respect they gave their students. UMCDC also gave me experience in a classroom that was actually working on the topics I was learning about at the U. My teacher education classes talked a lot about what is developmentally appropriate, and what child care centers should look like, but then warned us that those things are not seen at all child care centers. Working at UMCDC I was able to see the developmentally appropriate theories we learned about in class, and put them to practice or watch them in practice. On top of all those things, UMCDC is close to campus, and walking distance for a student living on campus. I don't think I would have as much child care experience as I do now, if there was not a care center near campus. Not having a car, having little to no money, and spending most of my time in class, working near campus at a care center that a wide range of business hours was so essential for me.

Coming from both locations, The lab school, and UMCDC, I see the benefits and importance of both places, and I believe both places are equally important. I think there is an extreme lack of care and support for the Education Departments at the U of M. I believe the lab school needs to be updated because it is not safe for students there, but I also believe UMCDC provides teacher candidates and children high quality child care that is not received else where. I think U of MN and CEHD need to put in more of an effort fighting for the education of educators that they claim is their primary goal, and put in more of an effort supporting high-quality child care centers that they teach their teacher candidates about.

Childcare worker, B.S. Early Childhood Education

The University of Minnesota's Early Childhood Education program has a reputation for being one of the best in the country and worldwide. I am concerned about what going against the program's values and cutting off a model high quality center will do to the program's reputation. Also, the center is currently used as a practicum site for ECE classes because of the great work done there. I am worried about what will happen in those classes now. Will there be an equally high quality center nearby besides the lab school? The lab school is great, but students need to see more than one example of high quality early childhood education.

Childcare worker, MEd, Early Childhood

I would not have fallen in love with this important field of work, stayed with it for as long as I have, or succeeded in my job as I have without the University of MN Child Development Center. I spent one year as a preschool teacher and was immediately promoted to lead supervisor of my preschool. I learned more working at UMCDC than in all of my undergraduate and graduate courses combined. I have friends who ended up switching their major to early childhood education or ended up working in the field because of their experiences at UMCDC. It would be a shame to lose such a high quality center that is creating well-prepared early childhood educators for the benefit of the future of this city, state, and this country

Childcare worker, B.S. in Nursing

Working at the UMCDC taught me how to meet children's developmental needs in ways I didn't know possible. As a future pediatric nurse the UMCDC significantly improved the positive impact I will have on kids in the future even outside of an educational setting. Children receive care in many settings, not just educational settings. By observing such an amazing education center I feel more capable to provide care to children in health care which is extremely important and it is something not many people can say when they enter the healthcare field. This program benefits the University as a whole, not just CEHD. The decision to close this center affects students and parents from all around the University and it is taking an amazing learning experience away from many people, including myself.

Childcare Worker, B.S. Child Psychology

I had the privilege of learning from highly experienced, professional, and passionate teachers. I also witnessed well-researched "best practice" in action. Under Ann Edgerton's tutelage, I completed a field study for my major that focused on developing EF in preschool-aged children. This was an exciting opportunity to put my classroom knowledge into a real-world context. I believe that my undergraduate education was strengthened considerably.

Childcare worker, undeclared first year

At this center the workers form real relationships with the kids. This center is not just a place where you leave your kid all day during work. At this child development center kids bond with the teachers, they bond with each other, and these bonding relationships are key to nurturing their young minds into developed people.

Discontinuing this program is a huge mistake. This child development program is not only great for the children who attend but also great for the reputation of the university. This center is a great way for ccws like myself to learn life skills on how to take care of another person and how to nurture a persons growth. Being a freshman I don’t have many friends at the university, but all the ones that I have are at this center. At this child development center we don’t just sit around and watch babies, we form relationships with them and each other. When I’m home sick, I know that going to work will cheer me up because the center has become my home away from home. By discontinuing this center the university of Minnesota will lose a place that many people besides myself call home and take pride in.

Teacher, currently working in related field outside the U.S.

This program is the one of highest program in the US. This program models and leads all other program should be. I worked other programs with NAEYC accredited but teachers are not highly educated as much as this program. It is so shameful and iron[ic] that CEHD does not recognize what treasure they have and thinks it is easy to replace with other child care center.

Childcare worker, B.S. Early Childhood Education

Trained me better than my classes have, I have learned the most about my major by working at the center. The center has been the most important aspect of my education up to this point, and correlates with many of my classes perfectly and puts what I am learning into action.

Childcare worker, B.S Early Childhood Ed and EC Sp Ed and MEd EC education

This Center is more than “just some daycare center.” It is a community of devoted administrators, teachers and families who all come together to provide the best care for young children using current research and best practices from the field. Working here as an undergrad was what made me switch my degree to early childhood education. It is a great place for student teachers and practicum students to go because it is closer to what they will actually experience when they graduate and have to get a job in a full-day Center. It is a great example of what quality Early Childhood education looks like which many other centers have not replicated.

Childcare worker, B.S. Child Psychology

The center is like no place I have ever worked. You are given the chance to the know the children individually and learn all of their individual needs. The center works so hard to understand each child and help them with anything they need instead of just giving parents a place where their children will be entertained. They are truly cared for and loved.

Childcare worker, B.S. Biology

Working at the UMCDC helped me look at working with children in a completely different way. I learned more about how to support early childhood development there than I did from any child development class I'd taken. No other center I've toured or worked at has put the same amount of intention and care into supporting executive function, socio-emotional development, or communication in early childhood. It is such a breath of fresh air to be involved in curriculum development that you know will be impactful as the child grows. Working as a CCW was one of my first "real" jobs as a young adult. It helped me learn about responsibility and teamwork, on top of being able to explicitly see concepts I learned about in classes being employed in real life. Additionally, the community formed at UMCDC is not only attractive for parents, but for students and staff too. I lean on the relationships and experiences formed from working there every day. Being able to interact with accomplished, dynamic faculty and staff from the University as an undergraduate was immensely helpful as a learning and networking opportunity. As a teacher there you learn about patience, flexibility, attention to detail, and creativity which all contribute to further job opportunities later in life. I worked briefly at another center after leaving my position as a CCW, and was regularly asked for input on curriculum planning sessions based on my knowledge of the practices at UMCDC. I can't imagine what my college and post-grad experience would have been like without the Center, and it's hard to think that this opportunity wont be available future students the way it is now.

Childcare worker, B.S. Education

Working at CDC has been the most meaningful experience I’ve had at the the university. There’s not enough time or space here to describe how much the children have taught me about patience, kindness, forgiveness, and working with others. In my four years here, I’ve never had a day that I wasn’t excited to go to the CDC to see the children. As someone who is very invested in the center and the work they do, I was devastated by the deans letter and was shocked by the lack of professionalism. I have alway felt very valued and appreciated but the fact that CEHD never notified the student workers seemed both unprofessional and disrespectful. The CDC has always operated with such professionalism it was shocking to see how little CEHD operates with. The CDC is a beyond amazing education programmed that I am so proud to have been a part of and I will be so sad to be leaving in May upon the completion of my degree but I will always remember my time at the CDC as being the best, most rewarding job I’ve had.

Coordinator, B.S early childhood & early childhood special education. MEd UMN early childhood education

This is a rare program in the field of education. It is not only an irreplaceable center for the families, but also provides an excellent model for what true quality early childhood education and care look like. With the current trends of two working parents, child care has become a more universal reality. We need more examples of how to do this well for both our communities, our teachers in training and for the broader education world. CEHD should be incredibly proud of this center and find more ways to celebrate and support the work that is done there. Our world needs more places like UMCDC not fewer.

Childcare worker, B.S. Child Psychology

The CDC provides employment for many adults, but also for many students. This center allows me to financially support myself while attending the U, but also is an opportunity for hands on classroom contact with children. This is very important to me while pursuing a degree in Child Psychology, hoping to work with children in my future. I have worked with children often in the past, but I have learned more within one semester at this center working in childcare and a classroom setting that I could have ever anticipated. The staff are welcoming, patient, and truly care about the students.