Following the release of the childcare survey results, university officials said it may take weeks before any decisions are made regarding the building of an additional childcare facility on campus.

Last semester, the College of Health and Human Development announced that the South Henderson Building, which houses the Child Development Laboratory (CDL), would be demolished in 2006 to make room for additional classrooms and offices.

The college intends to consolidate the CDL with the existing Bennett Family Center located at the intersection of Bigler and McKean roads -- a move that will decrease the amount of childcare offered to faculty, staff and student parents.

In reaction to a petition for more childcare on campus, Penn State officials administered a survey to parents in January to assess the university's need for childcare. After about a month delay, the results were presented to parents and Executive Vice President and Provost Rodney Erickson Friday.

"I anticipate that discussions on the topic will begin very soon and continue over the next few weeks," Erickson said.

Neither Linda Pierce, head of the survey committee, nor Erickson could offer a definitive timeline for the survey analysis.

"I have not been given a specific date," Pierce said.

"Right now we're looking at the data to see what it does tell us. We need to assess that, given the amount of demand, what are our most viable options."

Erickson said a new childcare facility on West Campus might be an option.

"When we are confident that an additional on-campus childcare facility of a particular size and configuration can be sustained, we can begin discussions with prospective contract childcare providers for a West Campus site," he said.

Ray Coward, dean of health and human development, declined to comment on what changes will be made until he has seen the survey results.

Pierce said she was unsure about what actions will be taken because the data will need to be discussed between Penn State President Graham Spanier and Erickson, who will make the recommendations.

Faculty parents are concerned that Penn State officials will take too long in studying the results and leave many parents without a viable source of childcare. Lee Ann Banaszak, associate professor of political science and women's studies who has children in campus daycare, said the 1996 Child Care Assessment given by Penn State is her reason for concern.

Banaszak said the 1996 report advised an increase in childcare at University Park but little has been done to alleviate the need.

"The report stated at that time, almost ten years ago, there was extensive childcare need on campus," she said.

"We are now in the year 2005, and the university is consolidating the Child Development Center and Bennett Family Center," she added.

Erickson disagreed with faculty parents' statements about Penn State's lack of childcare progress in the last 10 years and said Penn State ranks above other schools in the Big Ten for the amount of childcare they provide.

Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said steps have been taken since 1996 to increase childcare.

"Both the Bennett Center, an enormous improvement over its predecessor, and the [Daybridge Child Development Center] at Innovation Park have been built in the past decade," he said.

Wendy Whitesell, director of the Bennett Family Center, said the Daybridge Child Development Center is not being considered as a spot to relocate children after the CDL is demolished.

"We anticipate bringing them all to the Bennett Family Center, but the parents are free to take them wherever they want, of course," she said.