SUU Child Care Center Achieves Milestone With State Recognition

The Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Hope, also known as Southern Utah University Child Care, has achieved a remarkable milestone by receiving a "High Quality" rating from the State of Utah. This recognition highlights the center's unwavering dedication to providing exceptional care and support to SUU student-parents and their children.

The evaluation process, which encompassed four key categories including Health and Safety, Learning Environments and Relationships, Leadership and Professional Development, and Management and Administration, showcased the center's excellence across all areas. Impressively, four out of six classrooms achieved perfect scores in numerous subsections.

Center Director Tayzha Huxford expressed pride in the staff's consistent efforts to create a safe learning environment for children, enabling SUU student-parents to pursue education with peace of mind. In acknowledgment of this achievement, the center will receive additional funding of $16,257 over a year from the Department of Workforce Services (DWS), further bolstering its ability to maintain high-quality standards and enhance programs and services.

The roots of this endeavor trace back to Kathy Wyatt, former SUU First Lady, who recognized the challenges faced by student-parents balancing education and family responsibilities. Her personal experience led her to champion the establishment of an on-campus childcare center, which opened its doors in fall 2020. Wyatt credits the center with positively impacting the lives of countless student-parents, many of whom might not have obtained their degrees without its support.

The SUU Child Care Center, offering on-campus child care, a preschool lab, and comprehensive family support services, stands as a beacon of affordability and security for SUU students and their children. By achieving this prestigious award, SUU reaffirms its commitment to student well-being and academic success. For more information, interested individuals can visit the SUU Child Care website.