Madison Reporter

Madison College is prioritizing child care solutions for its student parents, addressing what Valentina Ahedo, Vice President of Academic Affairs for Regional Campuses & Educational Pathways, describes as a "wicked problem." With 42% of its students being parents, the college aims to provide accessible child care to support their educational pursuits.

Ahedo emphasizes the broader impact of this initiative: “It’s an investment in all of us. When you’re thinking about this, it’s not just an investment in somebody’s child. It’s a workforce issue. It’s a community issue. It’s an economic development issue and it touches everybody with ties to the community."

Research supports that higher educational attainment leads to increased wages and better living standards. Ahedo notes that quality child care enables students to complete their programs and enter the workforce confidently, reducing reliance on public benefits and fostering kindergarten readiness in their children.

The college faces challenges due to low wages for early childhood educators and a talent crisis exacerbated by the pandemic. To address this, Madison College's Early Learning Campuses at Truax and Goodman South (opening in 2025) will offer above-market wages for staff.

Student parents like Alicia Gothier and Magdalena Lloyd-Mead have expressed gratitude for the college's childcare services. Gothier credits the Early Learning Campus staff with enabling her to pursue nursing, while Lloyd-Mead continued her education because of available childcare.

Madison College has received national recognition from Generation Hope with its FamilyU seal for supporting student parents. The college offers comprehensive services, family-friendly study spaces, flexible class schedules, and faculty accommodations tailored to student parents' needs.

Dr. Sylvia Ramirez, Executive Vice President of Administrative and Financial Services/COO at Madison College, stated: “We’re proud to be recognized as a higher education institution that champions our student parents... We know our investment in supporting parents and their children will pay dividends for generations.”

For more information on solving the child care crisis, readers are directed to an op-ed by Madison College President Jack E. Daniels III in the Wisconsin State Journal.