When La Trice Wilkins saw an email about a new program in a University child care facility, she immediately jumped at the chance to enroll her granddaughter.

Wilkins, an administrative associate for University Housing and Dining, said her daughter was looking to enroll her granddaughter into a new child care facility. When she saw the email from the UT Child Development Center about a pilot grandparent program, she immediately applied. The center introduced the program on Feb. 7 to expand Tier Two enrollment to the grandchildren of full-time UT students, faculty and staff.

The Child Development Center’s enrollment system is tiered. It gives priority to Tier One applicants, which are reserved for the children of full-time UT students, faculty and staff. Tier Two spots are for the children of UT affiliated groups and part-time students, faculty and staff.

“Just the mere fact that they chose to even open it up to grandparents is phenomenal,” Wilkins said. “I’m overjoyed. My daughter is overjoyed.”

Rebecca Ryan, program director of the UT Child Development Center, said the center will test out the program throughout the year and determine if it is something the center can keep permanently. She said the center started the program after multiple grandparents asked about enrolling their grandchildren.

“We’re just excited that we get to reach another University group that has shown us that this is a need for them,” Ryan said.

Ryan said children at the center learn motor and language skills as well as experience cognitive and social development so they are ready for kindergarten. She said access to child care is important for young children because significant brain development happens between ages 0 to 5.

“They need time to explore the world around them in a safe way,” Ryan said.

Ryan said children have a space to learn and grow, while their parents and guardians are out teaching, learning and making new discoveries.

“It gives them that love of learning that stays with them for the rest of their lives,” Ryan said.

Wilkins said the enrollment process was easy, and she was able to create an EID for her daughter so they could both make payments and communicate with the center. She said she is excited this program could be something Wynter, Wilkins’ granddaughter, can grow with.

“I think it would truly be a great story — start from daycare and work all the way through education with UT,” Wilkins said.