Bunnell House and child care update
March 22, 2021
— by Dan White, chancellor
In July 2020, the Community and Technical College delayed operations and reopening
of the Bunnell House due to the pandemic and increased COVID-19 cases. With the delayed
opening, ÐÔÓûÉç leadership and the ÐÔÓûÉç Child Care and Early Childhood Development Services
Committee have been exploring new business models for a ÐÔÓûÉç childcare facility that
would offer a larger capacity for ÐÔÓûÉç faculty, staff and students in need of child
care services in Fairbanks.
COVID-19 has exposed this vulnerability to ÐÔÓûÉç as many child care facilities in the
community have closed (including Bunnell House), putting additional pressure on our
faculty, staff and students who have children in their care. It is important for us
to recognize the need for more child care options within the ÐÔÓûÉç community and to
align our offerings with our strategic goal of respect, diversity, inclusion and caring.
Addressing this problem is also critical to ÐÔÓûÉç’s business model going forward. We
desire that everyone has equal opportunity to participate in the advancement of their
education at ÐÔÓûÉç.
As we continue to explore child care facility options, we understand the importance
of meeting the student, staff and faculty needs now. Charlene Stern, interim vice
chancellor for rural, community and Native education, and Michele Stalder, CTC dean,
are currently working on a plan and will be putting out a communication to the campus
community soon regarding the next steps for Bunnell House and what can be expected
this upcoming academic year.
Thank you for choosing ÐÔÓûÉç.