In two months, the University Child Care Task Force will be presenting a report to Vice President for Student Services William Asbury. This report will contain recommendations regarding options for providing child care services for faculty, staff and students at all Penn State locations.

On Wednesday April 5th at 7 p.m., the Task Force will be sponsoring a Student Forum on Child Care in the Cedar Day Care Center in Cedar Building. Several representatives of the Task Force will be attending this forum to ensure that the student concerns and suggestions presented are fully considered when the Task Force Report is drafted.

All this year, members of the Campus Child Care Coalition have worked to promote recognition of the particular child care needs of students.

Understandably, the participation of many student parents in these efforts has been low -- college class work plus parenting doesn't leave much time or energy for activism. Recognizing this, I however urge any student with, or expecting, a child to ATTEND THIS FORUM. Child care will be provided by qualified staff at no fee for all attending.

This is a rare opportunity for direct student involvement in shaping the response of Penn State to student needs. Please come and share your ideas about programs and services that the University could provide to make it easier for you to survive as a Penn state student while ensuring that your children and family life are not compromised.