Nancy James, top left, former director of the MTSU Child Care Lab, is the featured guest on Jan. 11, 2022, “MTSU On the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org and on the Jan. 16 rebroadcast. James retired Dec. 22 after 33 years running the facility, which cared for students’ children and provided college students with valuable experience relevant to their majors. (MTSU photo of James and WMOT logo; background photo of letters by Magda Ehlers for Pexels)

The past, present and future of child care for student parents was the topic of a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program. 

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Nancy James, former director of the MTSU Child Care Lab, first aired Jan. 11 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org.

You can listen to their conversation via the SoundCloud link above.

Nancy James

Gina K. Logue

James retired Dec. 22 after 33 years running the facility, which cared for students’ children and provided college students with valuable experience relevant to their majors. James said child day care is much more than mere babysitting.

“Research tells you time and time again that, in order for a child to be successful, from birth to age 6 is so important,” James said. “So early childhood is starting to be seen as the most formative years for a child to develop.”

New residential housing for students will be constructed at the lab’s former location on Alumni Drive on campus. Beginning in fall 2022, the majority of state dollars that went to the Child Care Lab will be used to fund about 40 grants of $1,000 each to help low-income student families offset the costs of child care.

In the meantime, the Ann Campbell Early Learning Center and the Child Development Center continue to provide child care services.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.