Purdue announces child care center to remain open indefinitely

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue announced Wednesday (Feb. 3) that the Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center will remain open indefinitely to help meet the child care needs of the Purdue community.

“We agree that the closing of this center at this time is not a good idea,”  Purdue President Mitch Daniels said. “The concept of taking down and replacing the center arose in the pre-pandemic era and was driven by a well-researched and conceived master plan to create a live, work and play community in our Discovery Park District. Like so many things, the pandemic has disrupted those plans. Since it has not yet proven feasible, practically or economically, to find or build a replacement, the best idea is to keep the current center open.”

Purdue has worked to expand child care options over recent years with the Jischke Center, which opened in 2008, and the Purdue Early Care and Education Center, opened in 2016, which at the time provided a 63% increase in the full-time child care capacity on campus. Along with the Ben & Maxine Miller Child Development Lab School, Purdue has capacity for 324 children, putting Purdue at the midpoint of capacity at other Big Ten and peer institutions. While Purdue centers are currently operating well below full capacity, the university expects that to change after the pandemic subsides.

Daniels said plans for determining need and capacity for the future of child care for the Purdue community will be revisited once the pandemic is past and there can be more certainty in making those decisions. 

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

Media contact: Tim Doty, doty2@purdue.edu, 765-494-2080