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March 2, 2021

Dear members of the Mount Holyoke campus and extended communities,

I write with a further update on the College’s recent announcement to suspend on-campus childcare at the Gorse Children’s Center on June 30.

First, let me say how deeply sorry I am. The College leadership team and I continue to examine the errors and lessons we have all learned from this experience, and we commit to establishing more collaborative processes for decision-making on issues of such consequence. As president, I take full responsibility for these errors, for the decision and for the enormous stress and turmoil it has caused.

First among these mistakes was our decision to suspend early childhood education at Gorse without a clear plan for continuity of care. Over the last few days, we have made it our  priority to address this and to ensure that continuity for both Mount Holyoke and community families.

Mount Holyoke has now secured a one-year extension of the current contract with Bright Horizons. This interim solution means that children will continue to be cared for at the Gorse Children’s Center beyond July 1. Anyone seeking to enroll a child there should contact the Center directly at (413) 538-3351.

For Mount Holyoke employees:

• The College will maintain its commitment to expand financial support to all Mount Holyoke employees with young children in their care. As previously announced, any ¹û¶³´«Ã½ employee whose child is not enrolled at Gorse Children’s Center and who is seeking support for childcare will have the opportunity to access portable funding via the Employee Emergency Fund beginning July 1, 2021. More details will be shared in late spring.
• There is a already in place for those employees with household income of $85,000 or less, and who enroll their children at Gorse Children’s Center. The program is managed at the Center by Bright Horizons staff. Any ¹û¶³´«Ã½ family with questions or concerns should contact the Center directly at (413) 538-3351.

I know that all of my colleagues on the leadership team join me in making a firm commitment to do what will be required of each of us to restore trust and to move forward in our shared endeavors.

Sonya