University of Washington Policy Directory

Print This Page
*Formerly part of the University Handbook
Administrative Policy Statement
51.1



Eligibility and Enrollment Priority for University On-Site Childcare Centers

(Approved by the President per delegations of authority Administrative Order No. 10, Executive Order No. 4, and Executive Order No. 9)


1.  Purpose

This policy establishes enrollment eligibility, enrollment priority, and eligibility for continued participation in the University on-site childcare centers located in Seattle. In the event of low enrollment at University childcare centers, enrollment may be opened to others as determined by the University.

2.  Scope

The following are eligibile to enroll their children in UW Children's Centers:

  • UW paid employees as defined by APS 40.1, "Types of University Personnel."

  • UW students who are degree-seeking and enrolled appropriately for their degree program as defined by Employee and Administrative Policies, Chapter 104.

  • UW employees as defined by APS 40.1, "Types of University Personnel," who are paid directly from an external entity.

  • Employees of the contracted child care vendor.

3.  Definitions

Child—Biological child, stepchild, legally adopted child, child for whom an employee or student has assumed legal obligation in anticipation of adoption, partner's child, child as specified by court order, or child defined in RCW 50A.05.010 or federal statutes.

Recruitment or Retention Placement—Eligible UW employees who play or will play a critical role within a unit and have been recommended to receive priority placement at a UW Children's Center by an appointing authority—vice president, vice provost, chancellor, dean, medical centers executive directors, or other equivalent official—and approved by the Vice President for Human Resources or designee.

4.  Enrollment Priority at Specific Childcare Centers

  A. University of Washington Children's Center at West Campus:

    #1 Siblings of children who are currently enrolled at this childcare center.

    #2 Children of recruitment or retention placements.

    #3 Children of eligible UW employees.

    #4 Children of UW employees paid directly frrom an external entity.

    #5 Children of eligible UW students.

    #6 Children of employees of the contracted childcare vendor.

  B. University of Washington Children's Centers at Radford Court and Laurel Village:

    #1 Siblings of children who are currently enrolled at this childcare center.

    #2 Children of recruitment or retention placements.

    #3 Children of eligible UW students living in family housing.

    #4 Children of eligible UW students.

    #5 Children of eligible UW employees.

    #6 Children of UW employees paid directly from an external entity.

    #7 Children of employees of the contracted childcare vendor.

  C. University of Washignton Children's Center at Harborview Medical Center:

    #1 Siblings of children who are currently enrolled at this childcare center.

    #2 Children of recruitment or retention placements.

    #3 Children of eligible UW employees who work at Harborview Medical Center and children of postdoctoral scholars who work at Harborview.

    #4 Children of eligible UW employees.

    #5 Children of UW employees paid directly from an external entity.

    #6 Children of eligible UW students.

    #7 Children of employees of the contracted childcare vendor.

  D. University Children's Center at Portage Bay:

    #1 Siblings of children who are currently enrolled at this childcare center.

    #2 Children of recruitment or retention placements.

    #3 Children of eligible UW employees and eligible UW students.

    #4 Children of UW employees paid directly from an external entity.

    #5 Children of employees of the contracted childcare vendor.

  E. University of Washington Medical Center Children's Center at Northwest:

    #1 Siblings of children who are currently enrolled at this childcare center.

    #2 Children of eligible UW Medical Center employees (regardless of campus).

    #3 Children of eligible employees of other UW Medicine entities (including UW Medicine central operations) not employed by UW.

    #4 Children of eligible UW employees and eligible UW students.

5.  Eligibility for Continued Participation

Change in employment or student status may remove eligibility to participate in University on-site childcare centers and requires that an enrolled child be withdrawn as follows:

  A. Separation and Termination

Employees who voluntarily leave University employment or whose employment is terminated by the University may keep their child enrolled in a University of Washington Children's Center until the end of the month in which they separate from University employment.

  B. Layoff

Employees who are laid off from University employment may continue their child's enrollment at a University of Washington Children’s Center for up to three months from the date of layoff.

  C. Leave of Absence

Employees on an approved leave of absence who remove their child from the center during the leave period may retain their space in a children's center by continuing to pay the monthly tuition. At the discretion of the center's director, another child may be temporarily enrolled in that space, which will relieve the employee on leave from the responsibility for paying tuition so long as the space is filled. Employees on approved leave who do not opt to retain their space will be returned to the child care waiting pool with the date of their original application.

  D. Graduation

Students who graduate from the University in Autumn or Winter Quarter may continue their child's enrollment at a children's center until the end of June of that academic year. Students graduating in Spring or Summer Quarter may have their child enrolled until the end of August of the same year.

  E. Academic Withdrawal

Students who withdraw from the University may continue their child's enrollment at a children's center for the remainder of the academic quarter in which they withdraw. Students who re-enroll at the University for the following quarter will be able to continue their child's enrollment by providing 30 days’ notice to the childcare center director.

6.  Responsible Office and Additional Information

For additional information about University childcare programs, see the childcare web page.

7.  History

February 20, 2009; July 17, 2009; RC, April 5, 2011; February 15, 2019; May 13, 2022.