Frequently Asked Questions
Do UCSF affiliates receive priority in the UCSF child care centers wait pool?
UCSF students receive first priority in the wait pool while second priority goes to post-doctoral scholars, residents and clinical fellows. Faculty and staff have third priority and campus affiliates (fourth priority), such as Gladstone employees and volunteer faculty, receive preference over community/general public registrants. Affiliates and community members are subject to community tuition rates. Please note that due to high demand, having wait pool priority, of any level, does not guarantee placement.
Do siblings of enrolled children receive priority?
Yes. Siblings of currently enrolled UCSF-affiliated children receive enrollment priority.
If my Department Chair writes a letter of endorsement, will that move me up in the wait pool?
Letters of recommendation do not impact an individual’s standing in the wait pool for the UCSF child care centers. Access is guided by enrollment and wait pool policies developed by the UCSF Committee on Family Services – with one exception:
UCSF has a limited Child Care Exceptional Enrollment Policy, developed by the UCSF Committee on Family Services, and designed to support campus leaders in the recruitment and retention of key talent. The policy provides one slot annually to each UCSF School, the Chancellor’s Office, the Office of the Executive Vice Provost, and UCSF Health for recruitment and retention purposes (the School of Medicine receives 3 slots). Campus administrators seeking information on this policy and its procedures may direct inquiries to Nathalie Larsen, Director of UCSF Family Services (nathalie.larsen@ucsf.edu, 415-502-6312).
How long is the wait pool?
Since demand for child care at UCSF is high, the wait pool time can vary. In general, the wait time is longer for children under age two due to limited infant/toddler capacity. UCSF has expanded its child care resources to better serve the needs of its community. We encourage you to register and then follow up with Bright Horizons Enrollment Manager Patricia Widders (pwidders@brighthorizons.com) periodically to check on availability.
Learn about the various wait pool priority levels.
