For those of you coming to grad school with family or thinking about starting a family while in school, know that UCI offers wonderful on-campus childcare services.
Each childcare center is conveniently located roughly 5-10 walking minutes from campus (outer ring road). Subsidies are available for students that are unable to afford childcare on campus.
Services and Rates
UCI offers five different programs for childcare services:
- Infant Toddler Center (3-36 months of age)
- Early Childhood Education Center (2 years to Kindergarten)
- Children’s Center (2.5 years to Kindergarten)
- Verano Preschool (2.5 years to Kindergarten)
- Extended Day Care (5-12 years)
Programs differ in terms of care provider, student ratio, rates, hours, and age requirements. Each school provides indoor and outdooring nurturing and developmental activities that stimulate creativity and active learning. Philosophies between childcare centers differ slightly. Be sure to click on the links of each center to learn more about their teaching philosophy, location, hours, director, and contact information.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for UCI Childcare Services, one of the parents must be affiliated with UCI, either as a student, staff, or faculty member.
Procedure
To apply, fill out the waitlist application form and, if necessary, the application for subsidy form. There is a $50 non-refundable fee attached with the application; it is credited to the $100 non-refundable registration fee. You will have two opportunities to accept openings for day care. If you decide to postpone after the second offer, you will be taken off the waitlist and will need to resubmit a new application with a new waitlist fee. Forms can be mailed or dropped off in person at the Child Care Services Office located in the Early Childhood Education Center.
Realize that the wait time with the waitlist can be quite lengthy (at least a few months), so be sure to submit your application at least a year in advance, if possible. Children already in one center can easily transition to the next center without additional waitlist applications (i.e. move from the Infant/Toddler Center to the Early Childhood Education Center) and will receive preference prior to those on the waitlist.