Testimonials

UST Alum and Former CDC Student Worker:

As a student at UST, the Child Development Center made a huge impact on my college career, and on those of many of my classmates. When I began volunteering my freshman year, it was because I had missed my younger sister back home and found comfort in spending time with other children. After that first semester, I began to work at the Child Development Center, which may have been the choice that has had the single greatest impact of my college career. Until that point, I had no idea what I wanted to study. Through the CDC, I realized my love of teaching, which has carried me now into my current career. The countless hours I spent at the CDC prepared me for this career in a way that would have been impossible without its existence. While there are other childcare centers in the cities, as a student it wasn’t feasible for me to travel to another center, and no other center was able to so flexibly accommodate my schedule and needs as a student.

When I was attending UST, it was my responsibility to pay for my schooling on my own, without aid from family. The presence of the CDC allowed me to do this. Through working there, I was able to work the hours needed to pay my tuition, while also gaining experience in the field of education. If the CDC had not existed, I would have needed to find a different job on campus and would never have had the profoundly impactful experience of working at the CDC. That experience has been integral in shaping my future. Every job I have had since has mentioned my experience at the Child Development Center as one of the key reasons why they brought me in for an interview.

Employment is not the only service the CDC provides towards students, though many students benefit from this experience. The CDC is also a place where schoolwork is completed. I know students who have observed for research in countless different major areas, completed an internship there, or volunteered for Business 200 and other courses. Having the CDC on campus is what makes all of these possible. Having worked in other preschools since graduation, I know that the flexibility and span of possibilities for students available at the CDC is not feasible at most other centers.

The CDC has shaped my educational path, my career, and my overall college experience. I found a family there and it was the place on campus where I knew I could go whenever I needed to be cheered up. I found comfort and support there, among both children and staff. The quality of care provided at the CDC is immediately evident in the joy of the children, and I have not seen a center that parallels it. Other students I have met working there are still close contacts of mine, and the support I receive from there in both career and personal life is beyond compare.

Among the reasons cited for closing the CDC are the lack of students and faculty that use the service. Although there may not be many who use this service by having their children attend, it is without a doubt a student service for those studying, working, and volunteering there. I truly cannot imagine my college experience without the CDC. When I look back on my experience at UST, it is among the first things that I identify as the most positive and impactful experiences of college.

Margaret Skogmo, graduate of the University of St. Thomas and a former employee of the Child Development Center

I would like to spend some time telling you about my personal experience with the CDC in hopes of contributing to the discussion regarding the recent notification of the closure of the CDC. I appreciate the time it takes for you to read this letter and consider its contents.

My relationship with the CDC began at the end of my freshman year as I searched for a work study opportunity on campus. I had heard amazing things about it and I missed my younger siblings and babysitting families since moving from home. I became a student worker and immediately fell in love with the program. The building was perfectly equipped for its purpose, the staff was incredibly warm and nurturing, and the mission and philosophy for childcare inspired me. I knew within my first month that early childhood development was a passion I wished to pursue professionally. In addition, three of my siblings also found student worker positions there, finding equal value in their experiences.

After two years of working in a student worker position, I had the opportunity to apply for a teacher position. After being hired as a preschool teacher, my knowledge and excitement for early childhood education grew exponentially. I was mentored and molded by the staff and was honored to have Becca Swiler as my director. The breadth of her experience and knowledge was inspiring and I wanted to learn everything I could from her. She guided me through difficult learning moments, encouraged me to deepen my understanding, and respected me as a professional. During the next three years of employment, I built strong friendships with my co-workers, deep relationships with my students and their families, and called the CDC my home.

When the time came for me to move on from St. Thomas, I found an opportunity in rural MN to explore a fresh early childhood education experience. I became the executive director and head teacher of a preschool program in my area. I have used the skills and knowledge I acquired at the CDC to develop a play-based program that has continued to grow during my four years here. Without the courage that Becca instilled in me, the wide array of learning I gained from my co-workers at the CDC, and the love shown to me by the families there, I never would have been able to succeed in this endeavor. I never would have been able to change the narrative of this small town while also changing the attitudes towards early childhood education. My hope is that all of the student workers and employees that have entered and left the CDC have moved on to spread the philosophy and movement of quality care for little ones. I cannot express in enough clear words how grateful I am towards the CDC and the University of St. Thomas for my experience there.

In closing, I want to shift from speaking as a teacher to speaking as a parent. I have two little boys at home and personally know the struggle of finding childcare in any capacity (especially with the shocking amount of childcare closures…the state of MN now has fewer than 8,000 licensed facilities!). It is especially difficult to find childcare that meets the caliber and standards of the CDC. I feel quite spoiled knowing that programs like the CDC exist and so many families will never experience the greatness that occurs within those walls. Closing such an incredible program is committing a great disservice to the community, to the current families, and to the dedicated staff that call the CDC their home.

Please reconsider your decision to close the doors of the Child Development Center and continue to discern other opportunities and options for the expansion of the Student Wellness Center. I would love to continue this conversation at your convenience.