USM President Joe Paul and his cabinet have decided to close the University of Southern Mississippi's Child Development Center, a resource of the community that has been in place for almost a century. Parents of children who attend the center, faculty, and staff were not consulted or invited to provide feedback or offer support to address concerns for the center's long-term viability. 

This center provides essential early childhood education and care services to the children of students, faculty, and community members. According to the National Education Association, quality early childhood education programs like this one can lead to long-term academic success and improved social skills for children. The closure would not only disrupt these valuable services but also put undue strain on parents who rely on this center for their childcare needs while they work or study. This is a powerful recruitment and retention tool to bring in students, staff, and faculty who are parenting young children. In addition, the center serves as an important lab for USM students to gain hands-on experience as educators. The center's educational opportunity for children and college students alike is unparalleled in Hattiesburg.

The university is making investments across campus in a number of other ways that don't prioritize learning, and this decision to close the center  communicates a clear message about the university's values and its priorities.

We ask that President Paul rescind this decision immediately and seek feedback from community, faculty, and staff before making a final determination about the future of the Center for Child Development at USM.