Children’s Enrichment Center
Address: 1 W. Campus Dr.
Website: www.gvsu.edu/child Director: Sharalle V. Arnold
Phone: 616‐331‐KIDS(5437)
Fax: 616‐895‐7146
E‐Mail: arnoldsh@gvsu.edu
Enriching the lives of Grand Valley’s youngest students!
Mission To educate children, families and students to shape their lives and societies in order to nurture habits of intellectual growth, curiosity and a love
Department Overview diverse perspectives. Noted as the first site in Ottawa County to be recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the CEC
for learning.
The Children’s Enrichment Center is situated on the GVSU Allendale campus, with the primary goal of educating Grand Valley’s youngest students. The CEC is committed to serving the community in a tradition that is rooted in
academic success, community involvement and
Valley’s youngest students!
Strategic Goals • Implement a financial strategy that ensures fiscal solvency and accountability. • Merit campus / community recognition as a high quality facility and integral part of the university. • Develop premise to conduct or participate in an action research project. • Expand facilities and services to support families with diverse needs. • Award endowment scholarship to student families enrolled at the CEC in need of financial support.
demonstrates a Grand beginning for Grand
Collaborative Learning Community As part of the Grand Valley community, the CEC utilizes many campus resources, including the university library, athletics & recreation. Along with well-established collaborative efforts with the College of Education, Housing & Residence Life, Women’s Center and Kirkhof College of Nursing, this well-rounded community collaboration provides children with many
2011‐2012 Goals & Priorities
advantages to prepare them for the next stages of their lives, far beyond kindergarten readiness. Additionally, the CEC offers co- curricular laboratory opportunities for college students interested in closely related fields. Meaningful hands-on experience, preschool observations and practicum placements are done to support collegiate success.
Department Highlights Nationally Recognized Since 2005: The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the largest nonprofit association in the United States representing early childhood education. NAEYC is a widely respected professional organization that supports quality assurance, above and beyond the minimum state requirements as it relates to early learning services for young children. NAEYC is dedicated to improving the
well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. Nationally accredited centers like the CEC have specific strengths in 10 key areas, including Relationships, Teaching, Curriculum, Assessment, Health, Community Relationships, Teachers, Families and Physical Environment and Leadership.
"Whether or not children will be successful students depends greatly on the quality of their experiences in early childhood.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003
• In partnership with the university business office, further develop and complete an initial business plan assessment. • Coordinate support group between the CEC Advisory Board and student families. • Pursue replication options of Endicott’s single parent program. • Submit Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS) federal grant application. • Partner with Ottawa County to strategically secure preschool placements for young children participating in the GVSU Great Start Early Childhood Scholarship program. • Design creative initiatives to draw support and raise awareness for the CEC endowment fund. • Research “Project Approach” as an instructional method and consider center-wide implication.
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Division of Student Services – Grand Valley State University