We know our students lead complex lives. Having this drop-in center can relieve them of some of the stress they might feel while studying, taking a test or seeing an advisor.
Raising children can be intense.
Raising children and attending college at the same time? That’s next level intense. Finding time for anything and everything can be a challenge.
For the past six months, students at Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus have been able to drop off their children with trained child care workers for up to three hours at no cost while they get things done.
“We know our students lead complex lives,” said MATC President Anthony Cruz, Ed.D. “Having this drop-in center can relieve them of some of the stress they might feel while studying, taking a test or seeing an advisor. The center gives our students peace of mind and flexibility.”
The drop-in center, called Little Stormers Village, is located on the first floor of the Main (M) Building and is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
See TV coverage of the center
Students can leave their children ages six months to 10 years old for up to three hours for free. Care is available on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations or pre-scheduling required. The center’s door is always locked, and children can be picked up only by authorized parents or guardians.
Once children are dropped off, students can meet with tutors, advisors, retention coaches and financial aid specialists; take tests; attend orientations; or complete paperwork.
“Child care has been identified as a real gap for student parents,” said Nicole Wheatley, Ph.D., one of the college’s licensed professional counselors. “MATC students often have competing priorities, including raising children, attending school, working and other obligations.”
MATC officials said Little Stormers Village is one of very few drop-in child care centers at community colleges in the United States. It certainly is the first in Milwaukee and could be the only in the state, said Sara Cappaert, the college’s manager of scholarships.
“It’s very rare to find this kind of child care in the state and super unique that it’s free,” said Cappaert, who was instrumental in creating the center.
Since opening last August, the center has served 158 children. Feedback from students so far has been enthusiastic, Cappaert said.
"One student came by and asked if she could use the center for taking a test and we said absolutely,” she said. “She was able to study for one or two hours.”
The center is staffed every day by at least two workers, who are supervised by Tamara Allen, the college’s lead child care assistant. The center has activities and areas for specific ages:
6 to 24 months: Babies explore life, whether on their tummies, crawling or just beginning to walk.
2 to 5 years old: Toddlers and preschoolers learn through play and develop social skills by sharing with others and learning independence.
6 to 10 years old: School-aged children are creative through arts and crafts, journaling, and games that encourage learning and social interaction.
“Our staff is passionate about working with children,” Allen said.
In the future, MATC could add drop-in centers at the college’s regional campuses in Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis, and at the Education Center at Walker’s Square, Dr. Cruz said.
Along with the drop-in center, MATC offers quality, reliable child care for students, faculty and staff at all four campuses, and recently added high chairs to the Downtown Milwaukee Campus cafeteria.
“We are always looking for ways to support our students,” Dr. Cruz said.
Learn more about MATC’s Little Stormers Village and child care programs
About MATC: As Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 180 academic programs — many that prepare students for jobs immediately upon completion and others that provide transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
