Policies/Procedures - SEHS - Lowry Center for Early Childhood Education

Eligibility/Wait Lists

Lowry gives enrollment priority to the children of Oakland University’s students, faculty and staff. Community families are welcome to fill remaining openings.

Toddler Program - Children enrolled in toddler program should be 18 months by the date of enrollment.
Preschool Programs - Children enrolled in preschool programs are 3 years to 3 years 11 months. Children should be 3 years of age by December 1st of the program year.
Pre-Kindergarten Programs - Children enrolled in pre-kindergarten programs are 4 years to 5 years 11 months. Children should be 4 years of age by December 1st of the program year.

Pre-Enrollment / Waiting List
The main office maintains a pre-enrollment list, based on an application and fee received. This allows a family to express interest in the upcoming program year and/ or to place themselves on a waiting list for possible enrollment. This list is separated into two groups:

OU affiliates (children of faculty, staff, students receive preference in enrollment)
Community members

There is a yearly, non-refundable $20 dollar charge to have a child’s name put on Lowry's pre-enrollment list/waiting list. (this fee will be charged for each new program year).

This list is kept for full classes from September 1 through June 30 of a given program year for placement in the following program year.

Enrollment

Children of community families enroll for an entire program year (specific calendar issued yearly). OU affiliates, children of Oakland University students, faculty, and staff may opt to enroll for the entire program year or register each semester according to their schedule and based on space availability.

Recruitment and enrollment take place whenever there is an opening in the program. The waiting lists are consulted before enrolling new students.

Pre-payment of the registration fee and deposit are required in order to hold a space.

Registration
The Lowry Center begins registration for Fall Program in the beginning of January of the previous program year. As slots open up for various reasons, enrollment will continue based on the waiting list order and staff availability.

Families presently enrolled in a Lowry Program are first preference for available slots. To guarantee a space, registration must be received by May 1 of the previous program year.

Fees
For community members (non- OU affiliates) the registration fee is $225 per year; $150 of that fee will be applied to the last month’s bill of the program year. It will not be applied if the child disenrolls prior to the end of the school year.

For OU affiliates a registration fee of $100 is charged each semester; $25 of that fee will be applied to the last month’s bill of that semester. It will not be applied if early withdrawal occurs.

Extended care fees are billed in 1/2 hour increments only, at $5.00 per 1/2 hour for Community Members and $3.00 per half an hour for OU Staff, Students and Faculty Members.

Research/Observation

Classroom Observations
During the course of the year, many classes from Oakland University and neighboring schools come to observe the children. Often students are asked to make observations of the children. These written reports are always anonymous. The Lowry Center is a University lab site and is essential to the curriculum of University programs. Pictures are not allowed without signed permission from parents for explicitly stated use.

Research/Audio-Visual Permission Policy
The Lowry Center serves as a child observation and teacher-training setting for the School of Education and Human Services, and in particular, the Early Childhood Education program within the Department of Human Development and Child Studies. The Center is committed to seeking the best possible practices for the development of young children as well as providing an educational setting for University students preparing to be teachers. In addition to these functions, the Lowry Center is often chosen as a site for research projects sponsored by Oakland University faculty, staff, and students.

Educational Uses
The faculty and staff routinely film, photograph, audiotape or videotape in the classrooms. The purpose of these observations is to assist teachers in ongoing planning and to demonstrate methodology and developmental principles.