An on-campus child care option would be a step in the right direction in making life easier for some students, faculty and staff.A 2002 survey showed that 38 percent of faculty, staff and students had children who would benefit from on-campus child care. The same survey by a research task force at TCU showed that 31.1 percent of the university’s faculty, staff and student population was already using an outside child care system.

Certainly for some, there are probably advantages to an outside child care system.

But the university should still look into on-campus options.

Those on-campus options should be low in cost and available to both employees and students.

In promoting diversity among the university’s student body, there is certainly a necessity to draw on people with a variety of life experiences.

Hopefully, such a low-cost child care option would make it easier for college-age parents to enroll – thus enhancing the diversity that is so often sought after.

Additionally, there are many jobs at TCU where the pay is less than desirable, and many parents are working in those jobs.

A low-cost, university-supplemented option would benefit many employees in that regard.

The university cannot simply be expected, however, to undertake such a program at a complete loss. There must be an upside for the institution.

That’s why the university should seek out an option that would also function as an environment that fosters research and study.

As the chair of the Faculty Senate Student Relations Committee pointed out last week, having such a facility could benefit students in the education, health and science realms by providing additional research opportunities.

Beginning the discussion now is taking the issue in the right direction. Ultimately, however, administrators will have to consider the gains for students and employees over the possible costs associated with such an undertaking.

News editor Andrew Chavez for the editorial board.