Utah Valley Community College administrators are considering a policy that would prohibit students from bringing their children to class.
Classrooms have been disturbed and disrupted recently by parents with books under one arm and toddlers under the other."There have been a lot of complaints about it," said Lucille Stoddard, vice president for academic affairs. The complaints have come from both students and faculty.
Signs posted in the school of business ask parents to leave their children home:
"Please respect the rights of your fellow students. Keep your children at home or outside the classroom! Business school policy - No children allowed in the classroom or computer lab for reasons of liability, the safety of your children, other students' rights and preservation of school property."
Ian Wilson, dean of the business school, said the signs were not posted by his department.
"It's not really a business school policy," Wilson said.
The administration and UVCC governing bodies, however, are reviewing the possibility of adopting a policy that would forbid students from coming to class with their children in tow.
"It's really quite a dilemma for us," Stoddard said.
Students' demands for quality education come first, she said. "We have to protect that learning environment."
At the same time, the college must address needs of an increasing number of single mothers and fathers and married couples with children. Many just need a place to drop off children in an emergency situation.
"I just think this is a reflection of the changing profile of our students," Stoddard said. The school will examine the possibility of providing short-term care for parents in a pinch.
UVCC provides day-care facilities for students' children through the child education and family studies department, but the waiting list to get in is 200 names long.