Childcare Facilities at CCDC Support Student-Mothers, Faculty, and Staff

By CCDC Gender and Development Office

Inevitable circumstances sometimes prompt college students and employees to bring their young children to school. At Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC), they are most certainly welcome. In fact, CCDC often describes itself as a “second home” for its students and employees, having established “various flexible practices that allow employees opportunities that will help them as they start their young families”. A key part of this support system is the provision of on-campus childcare facilities and child-friendly policies that enable parents – whether student-mothers or staff – to continue their education or work without worry. According to CCDC reports, these childcare facilities are available to both students and staff, allowing parents to bring their children to campus and access spaces where they can safely play or study.

Child-Friendly Spaces on Campus

To accommodate student-parents and employees with children, CCDC has dedicated a special Learning Resource Center (LRC) “Reading Room” in the Elementary Department as a zone for kids. Here, “children of college students are allowed to spend time reading books and playing board games while their parents attend their classes”. Moreover, a wide gymnasium across the hall provides a safe, spacious place for children to play under supervision when needed. If necessary, children may even accompany their parent into the classroom, provided they remain quiet and well-behaved so as not to disrupt the class. Notably, “all these facilities are offered and used free of charge” – CCDC does not impose any fees for bringing one’s child on campus or using these child-minding spaces.

This family-friendly setup has proven beneficial especially for student-mothers who might otherwise struggle to attend lectures. With a reading/play room and even the campus gym available for their children’s use, mothers can focus on school knowing their kids are nearby in a safe environment engaged with books or toys. Real-life examples shared on CCDC’s official page show children happily occupied with board games in the Reading Room while mom is in class, illustrating how this initiative helps balance parenting with academic responsibilities. It creates an environment where having a young child is not a barrier to completing one’s degree. “It’s a big help,” one student-parent noted in a post, seeing the campus truly become a home away from home for both her and her toddler.

Support for Mothers Among Faculty and Staff

CCDC’s commitment to supporting parents extends to its faculty and staff as well. The college operates an on-campus birthing clinic (a DOH-licensed facility used by the BS Midwifery program) in collaboration with its Health Services unit. Within this facility, a private child-rearing and breastfeeding room is readily available for breastfeeding mothers – both students and employees. This means that new mothers on staff or student-moms can nurse their infants or pump milk in a clean, safe space on campus. Such a lactation facility encourages postpartum mothers to return to work or school without having to give up breastfeeding, supporting both maternal and child health.

Photo 2: A CCDC on-campus breastfeeding room at the CCDC Birthing Clinic.

Beyond these facilities, CCDC has institutionalized family-friendly policies to foster work-life balance. The college complies fully with national laws on maternity and paternity leave, and even goes further. Aligned with labor guidelines, CCDC provides benefits for maternity, paternity, special leave for women, solo parent leave, and leave for victims of violence against women and their children. In 2023 alone, 8 employees availed of maternity or paternity leave benefits, with the school granting extended leave days upon request to accommodate their needs. This responsiveness ensures that new parents on staff have adequate time to care for newborns without career penalty.

Another remarkable benefit for CCDC employees is educational support for their children. The institution offers free tuition for employees’ dependents from Nursery up to Grade 12 (and even some college programs), easing the financial burden on young families. This policy assures faculty and staff that their children’s schooling is taken care of, from early childhood through high school, at no cost. Together with the on-campus childcare facilities, such measures create a truly family-friendly workplace.

Fostering an Inclusive, Family-Friendly Campus

All of these initiatives – from the reading room and play areas for kids to the lactation room and flexible leave policies – demonstrate CCDC’s strong advocacy for work-life balance and gender-responsive programs. By addressing the practical needs of parents, “especially mothers,” the school actively promotes gender equality, productivity, and inclusivity within the academic community. Student-mothers can pursue their college degrees without having to pause their parenting duties, and employees with young children do not have to choose between career and family. This culture of care and community ensures that every member of the CCDC family can thrive in both their personal and professional lives, knowing their children are safe, supported, and truly part of the CCDC home.

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