Faculty Senate will discuss the possibility of a day care center on campus during its meeting today.

Senate Chair John Pommier said members of the Eastern Student Parent Association, which represents students with children, would be among those speaking to the senate.

“We’re going to talk about a child care initiative . with E-SPA,” Pommier said.

The meeting begins at 2 p.m. in Booth Library Conference Room 4440.

Pommier added retired professor David Maurer also would discuss child care at the meeting.

E-SPA academic adviser Joycelynn Phillips said Eastern needs on-campus child care for students’ children.

“We just want the Faculty Senate to know that there is a real need for a quality day care center on campus,” Philips said.

She said the stress faced by students with children makes a day care center essential.

“It’s very difficult to be a student with children,” Phillips said. “You have all the academic work, many have jobs on campus . and they are trying to take care of their children.”

Joycelynn Phillips said Maurer has long advocated for a day care center on campus.

Maurer, a retired history professor, originally wanted a day care center on campus in the 1980s when he was coordinator of faculty development. He went to the Faculty Senate and Student Senate earlier in the year to present his proposal of the center, in hopes that both organizations would discuss the idea of implementing a center.

Pommier said the senate would also discuss faculty and staff benefits with Chuck Phillips, director of the human resources department.

Chuck Phillips said he does not have a presentation for the meeting, but added he plans to answer senate members’ questions.

“I don’t have any kind of speech prepared,” Chuck Phillips said. “I’m just going to be there for Q-and-A.”

The senate will also discuss opening hours for Booth Library, Pommier said.

Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmastrouski@eiu.edu.