It is one of the largest and most robust early childhood education centers in the state. It is also a “living-learning laboratory” for hundreds of UD students interested in strengthening knowledge, health and wellness for Delaware’s youngest citizens.

For 20 years now, the University of Delaware’s Early Learning Center (ELC), has provided hands-on discovery learning to children from the pivotal ages of 6 weeks through 8 years.

Housed within the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and located on the College’s Children’s Campus, the ELC complements the Lab School, which serves infants and children through kindergarten, and The College School, which serves children in grades 1 through 8.

Kelly Freel and Jessica Peace, who collaboratively co-direct the ELC, shared their thoughts on the value of early care and education, the importance of family, state and community partnerships and more.

What is unique about the care that the ELC provides?

At the ELC, we support the whole child by providing hands-on discovery learning through play experiences, intentionally designed by our teaching teams in planned activities, individual conversations and interactions and day-to-day routines and structures. We are one of the largest and most robust early care and education centers in the state of Delaware, with more than 200 children and more than 45 full-time staff members. We also have nearly 90 part-time staff members who support our daily operations.

Despite our size, we have worked hard over the years to make our environment intimate, relationship-based and family-focused. Family partnerships are the very heart of our philosophy. We partner with families in setting goals, sharing successes, completing child screenings and watching for any developmental milestones that may need more support. Our outstanding team of dedicated professionals understands that they are laying the foundation for all future educational experiences, and they know that the first step in this journey is building trust with parents and caregivers.

Can you tell us more about how the ELC helps UD community members learn and grow? 

We are a living laboratory for the university, with 200 UD students across six UD colleges who complete practicums, field placements, internships, research, volunteer hours and/or service projects within the spaces of the ELC. Our team supports them by providing real-world, high-quality learning experiences. For example, the ELC provides one of the rare opportunities for early childhood education students to work closely with families and their children from the beginning of their children’s educational journey as infants through their entry into elementary schools. Project GROW school psychology students lead groups in social emotional learning. Science majors perform thrilling science demonstrations for our preschoolers. Doctoral candidates in the physical therapy program plan physical activity and movement with our children. In the past, students studying landscape architecture helped design and build edible forest gardens for our outdoor spaces, and UD Fresh to You farm interns have worked to upkeep our garden spaces.

The ELC also welcomes research teams. Many researchers across disciplines have found the ELC to be rich with multiple age groups of children, as well as interested families eager to share their experiences. One thing is for sure: if you have a research idea, the ELC team can help you make it happen! Prospective researchers can learn more about working with us through our website.

With CEHD’s Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood Education (DIEEC), the ELC recently received a grant to provide child care access to undergraduate and graduate student parents. Can you tell us more about that? 

Yes, with support from the UD Graduate College, the Division of Student Life and the Office of Institutional Equity, DIEEC and the ELC have received a federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant. This grant will provide $2 million over the next four years for the establishment of campus-based child care services at the ELC for Pell Grant-eligible UD college students.

We are thrilled to be a part of the CCAMPIS grant. It’s a wonderful opportunity to support our UD student parents and for their children to experience high-quality care and education while their parents complete their degrees. We are currently accepting applications for fall 2024 enrollment across all age groups. Also, be on the lookout for our family services coordinator at recruiting and information events!

What are some current ways that you’re engaging with our Delaware communities?

The most important community partnerships are the ones that add value and equity for all children and families, like our partnership with New Directions Early Head Start in our infant and toddler program; the state-funded seats for our preschool and pre-K children; our participation in Purchase of Care and the Child and Adult Care Food Program; and our new CCAMPIS grant. These partnerships allow the ELC to invite children and families regardless of their income or need and enable all families to experience and participate in high-quality education for their children.

We are also very proud of our work partnering with local school districts. We have successfully hosted high school students in paid internships through various pathways and teacher academies. We are moving into our third school year hosting students and know we are making a difference for future educators. Our high school students report that they love the opportunities they have to directly explore with children what they have learned in their classrooms and to continue learning and working with young children!

The ELC—open 51 weeks a year from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the work week—celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. To learn more, visit its website.

This article is the third of a three-part series with CEHD Children’s Campus directors. Read more about The College School and the Lab School.

Read this article on UDaily.

Article by Jessica Henderson. Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson.

Rena A. Hallam, a professor of human development and family sciences, will serve as interim dean of the University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development, President Dennis Assanis and Provost Laura Carlson announced today.

Hallam, a UD alumna and director of the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, will step into this role effective Aug. 16, as Dean Gary Henry completes his term and returns to the School of Education faculty.

“Through her research and service, Rena has shown a deep commitment to improving early-childhood education for both children and educators, demonstrating the tremendous impact that our scholarship can have on future generations,” Assanis said. “I know Rena will bring this same mindset to her new role serving the entire College of Education and Human Development. I am excited to work with her to maintain the positive momentum of CEHD and the whole University.”

Assanis thanked Henry for his leadership of the college since 2019.

“Under Gary’s guidance, CEHD made significant contributions to society in preparing tomorrow’s educators and human services professionals, advancing research in these critical fields and working directly with educators in Delaware and beyond,” Assanis said.

Carlson said Hallam is a prolific scholar and has been principal investigator on dozens of research grants and contracts focused on early childhood education in Delaware and the nation.

“Rena is highly respected by her peers and colleagues at UD and throughout her discipline, and she is well positioned to build on the work of Dean Henry in advancing CEHD’s reputation and impact,” Carlson said. “I am grateful for Gary’s service to the college, and I am very glad that he will be staying on UD’s faculty.”

Hallam said she is honored to serve as interim dean.

“All of the faculty and staff members of CEHD are dedicated professionals who truly care about the important work of the college, and I look forward to working with everyone in this new role,” Hallam said. “I also appreciate that President Assanis and Provost Carlson have given me this opportunity to serve the University in this way.”

Henry said he is grateful for his time leading CEHD.

“I am honored to have worked with so many state and community partners during my tenure as dean, as well as the amazing staff and faculty in our College,” he said. “I am particularly proud of our ability to grow our faculty expertise over the years and increase our College’s research productivity. I’m proud of all that we have accomplished together for Delaware’s most vulnerable children, families and communities. I look forward to all that we can accomplish in the coming year under Rena’s expert leadership.”

Assanis and Carlson said a national search for the next CEHD dean will begin later this academic year.

Hallam earned her bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University in Kentucky, her master’s from the University of Southern Mississippi and her doctorate in family studies from UD.

She joined UD in 2010 as an associate professor. Since 2020, she has directed the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood. She has more than 25 years of experience designing, implementing and studying early childhood systems in partnership with governmental agencies. She currently serves as a core partner for the National Early Care and Education Workforce Center.

Her scholarship focuses on strategies for supporting the early childhood workforce and improving the quality of early care and education environments. Her current research focuses on the delivery of pre-K in family child care programs and the development of quality improvement tools in early education.

Article by Mike Chalmers Photo by Lane McLaughlin July 17, 2024

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Header image caption: Rena A. Hallam, a professor of human development and family sciences, will serve as interim dean of the University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development, effective Aug. 16.

Two longtime members of the University of Delaware faculty will assume new positions within the Office of the Provost, President Dennis Assanis and Provost Laura Carlson announced today.

Martha Buell, chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, will serve as vice provost of faculty affairs, effective Aug. 15. She will replace Matt Kinservik, who will complete his term in that role this year and is returning to his faculty role within the Department of English.

Also, Michael Chajes, professor of civil engineering, has been named interim vice provost of undergraduate education, effective July 1. He replaces Avron Abraham, who is retiring from the University. Chajes has also been named to another term as dean of the UD Honors College.

“Martha and Michael are outstanding scholars and respected leaders within the UD community, and they have both demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting and advancing the entire University,” Assanis said. “Our faculty and our undergraduate students are central to what we do at UD, so I am excited to be working with Martha and Michael to strengthen and expand our efforts to serve these core constituencies.”

Buell and Chajes will report to Carlson in their new roles.

“Martha and Michael each bring extensive knowledge and experience to their new roles, as well as a commitment to growing and advancing our efforts in support of our faculty and undergraduate students,” Carlson said. “They are best positioned to extend the work of their predecessors. I wish Matt and Avron all the best in their new endeavors.”

Buell, a former president of the Faculty Senate, said she is eager to use her experience in shared governance as vice provost for faculty affairs.

“The faculty are the foundation of UD’s excellence in teaching and research, so I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to continue attracting, retaining and promoting our excellent faculty at all levels,” Buell said. “I appreciate that President Assanis and Provost Carlson have offered me this opportunity to serve UD in this new role.”

Chajes said working in undergraduate education has always been a meaningful and satisfying part of his academic career.

“I enjoy seeing and being part of students’ incredible transition from incoming freshmen all the way through graduation, so this is an opportunity to have an even greater impact on their education and preparation for lifelong success,” Chajes said. “I am also grateful that President Assanis and Provost Carlson have given me another term to serve the amazing students in the Honors College.”

Buell earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Vanderbilt University, her master’s in education from Tulane University and her doctorate in human development and family studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Buell joined UD in 1996, serving as the founding director of U.D.’s federal Early Head Start program from 1997 to 2002. From 2009 to 2020, she directed the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood. Her scholarship focuses on factors influencing quality in early care and education programs. Her current research focuses on policy alignment and implementation related to suspension, expulsion and exclusionary discipline in state subsidized child care and preschool programs. Buell also has a joint appointment in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr., School of Public Policy and Administration.

She served as president of the Faculty Senate in 2017-18, and she has served on multiple committees for the University, the Faculty Senate and the UD chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

Chajes earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and graduated with honors. He received his master’s and doctoral degrees in civil engineering from the University of California at Davis.

Joining the UD faculty in 1990, Chajes has served as chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and dean of the College of Engineering. He has taught classes and conducted research in the areas of structural engineering, structural health monitoring of bridges and applications of sustainability.

In 2019, Chajes was named director of the Honors Program, which was elevated to become the Honors College in 2020, with Chajes as the inaugural dean.

Article by Mike Chalmers. Photos by Evan Krape and Kathy F. Atkinson July 15, 2024

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Header image caption: Two longtime members of the University of Delaware faculty will assume new positions within the Office of the Provost. Michael Chajes, a professor of civil engineering, has been named interim vice provost of undergraduate education, effective July 1. Martha Buell, chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, will serve as vice provost of faculty affairs, effective Aug. 15.

With a New $2 Million Federal Grant, CEHD will Provide Childcare Scholarships to Eligible UD Students Who are Raising Children.

For many parents across the nation, a lack of access to affordable, high-quality and reliable childcare for their children—especially children under the age of five—prevents them from pursuing an undergraduate or graduate education. But good news is on the horizon for parents interested in pursuing their education at the University of Delaware.

With support from the UD Graduate College, the Division of Student Life and the Office of Institutional Equity, the College of Education and Human Development’s (CEHD) Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood Education (DIEEC) and Early Learning Center (ELC) has received a federal grant to provide childcare access to undergraduate and graduate student parents. As part of the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, this grant will provide $2 million over the next four years for the establishment of campus-based childcare services for Pell Grant-eligible college students.

At UD, the grant will support childcare scholarships and family support programs at the ELC for the children of eligible parents interested in pursuing a UD education. A leader in early care and education, the ELC provides research-informed, play-based care and education for infants and children from birth through second grade. With operating hours from 7:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m., the ELC provides children with an engaging full-day program while their families pursue their education, work or home obligations.

Rena Hallam, director of DIEEC and professor in CEHD’s Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, will lead efforts to develop these programs for eligible UD families in partnership with the directors of the ELC, the UD Graduate College, UD faculty and other UD institutional leaders.

Since 2011, the CCAMPIS program has supported the participation of eligible student parents in postsecondary education by providing campus-based childcare services. Grants are awarded annually and typically cover a period of four years. This year, the CCAMPIS program awarded $13 million in grants to 34 universities across the nation.

For the first time, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) encouraged this year’s grant applicants to propose ways to improve the quality of the childcare services they provide, such as providing higher wages for childcare workers. Higher wages often reduces staff turnover in childcare settings and fosters stronger bonds between the children and their caregivers. UD’s ELC prioritized salary increases and were successful in raising salaries for its dedicated educators and staff.

In addition, the grant competition prioritized applicants who proposed a systemic, evidence-based approach to addressing access to childcare and improving outcomes for underserved student parents in coordination with government agencies or community-based organizations. At UD, the ELC partners with New Directions Early Head Start and DOE’s Office of Early Learning through the state-funded Early Care and Education program to provide comprehensive care and services for families who are from underserved communities.

This is the first year that UD has received a CCAMPIS award.

“We are thrilled to receive the CCAMPIS grant here at UD,” Hallam said. “Student parents often struggle with finding and financing high-quality childcare. Research shows that having access to childcare for student parents increases student wellbeing and increases the likelihood that students complete their degree programs. CCAMPIS funds allow us to build an infrastructure on campus to better support our student parents.”

The awarding of this CCAMPIS grant is part of larger efforts at UD to support student parents. For example, Emily Davis, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Departments of English and Women and Gender Studies, has coordinated data gathering on UD student parents and chaired a working group on supportive policies for families within the UD Graduate College Council. With Hallam, she also contributed to UD’s application for the CCAMPIS grant. The UD Graduate College website also has a list of available resources for UD student parents as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

According to data from the DOE, more than one in five college students are parents. At UD, an estimated 400 students are parents.

Article posted on October 25, 2023

Article by Jessica Henderson.

In 1998, when she learned she was pregnant, Nicole Smith was 17. Her parents—especially her pastor father—were devastated. Classmates gave her sideways glances in the hallway. “I was absolutely terrified,” Smith recalls.

Luckily, she discovered New Directions Early Head Start (NDEHS) at the University of Delaware. The program helped the teen through her pregnancy and early years of motherhood, providing everything from breastfeeding guidance to childcare resources to cooking lessons.

“I’m a firm believer that it takes a village, and this was the beginning of mine,” says Smith, who went on to earn a master’s degree and work in the Brandywine School District as a behavioral technician. “My entire journey—the education I was able to receive, the career path I’ve chosen now—that was all shaped by NDEHS.”

“When we started this, programs at other universities were often going into a place to do work for a community,” Beck says. “We collaborate in partnership with a community, and that has made all the difference.”

Case in point: NDEHS relies on a policy council and a board of directors comprising participating parents, past and present. Members help shape the curriculum, the budget and the very mission of the organization. All these years later, Smith is still actively involved: “I’ve always felt like my voice mattered,” she says. “The care and compassion within NDEHS is genuine.”

Today, Smith’s son, Sayvon Willis, HS22, is a recent UD graduate working to establish greater youth programming in Wilmington as part of the Public Allies AmeriCorps program. Her two younger children, also NDEHS participants, are enrolled in college and set on their own paths to success—a reality Smith is unlikely to ever take for granted.

“Without NDEHS, my children and I might have ended up statistics,” she says. “My overwhelming feeling is gratitude.”

Read this article on UD Magazine.

Article by Diane Stopyra. Photo courtesy of Diane Stopyra.