Purdue University Northwest to close child care center

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - Purdue University Northwest is preparing to close its child care center.

Parents of children enrolled at the Charlotte R. Riley Child Center received a letter Thursday informing them of the decision to close the facility June 30, The (Northwest Indiana) Times (http://bit.ly/2oZ3HYD ) reported.

University officials said recent changes in university demographics have contributed to decreased enrollment at the facility. They also said increasing costs of providing high-quality child care have produced an operating deficit the university can't sustain.

"Despite our best efforts, including those of our outstanding child center administration and teachers, we are left with no alternative, regretfully, but to close the Riley Center," University officials said in a statement.

This isn't the first time the university has announced plans to close the center. In March 2013, then Purdue Calumet campus officials said the center was operating at only 50 percent capacity and had been operating at an annual deficit of $40,000 to $60,000 for many years.

It remained open after the city of Hammond donated to the center.

University spokesman Wes Lukoshus said the operating deficit has continued.

"Our operating costs have continued to escalate and enrollment continues to decline," he said.

The center, located at the south end of the Hammond campus, has a capacity of 60 children. Just over 40 kids are currently enrolled.

Lukoshus says he doesn't know what university officials will decide to do with the facilty.

"That still has to be decided," he said. "Obviously, we don't want a vacant building on campus. We'll weigh all of our options and use it to benefit the campus."

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Information from: The Times, http://www.nwitimes.com