Childcare Resource and Referral Services
The Office of the Provost works with academic families to find childcare resources and share information about schools in Chicago. Sarah Diwan at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club is available to advise families on childcare for children aged 0-5; please email Sarah at sdiwan@hpnclub.org. Jim Furman is available to assist families explore K-12 educational options; please email Jim at jfurman@uchicago.edu.
Bright Horizons: Child Development Centers
UChicago Child Development Centers managed by Bright Horizons are available for children of faculty members and other academic appointees in a space designed to meet the childcare and educational needs of children ages six weeks to 5 years old, maximizing learning and ensuring safety. In the event emergency childcare is needed, Bright Horizons also offers drop-in-care for infants through kindergarten-aged children.
The Bright Horizons experience encourages children to be confident, successful, and lifelong learners. In each classroom, teachers provide a stimulating environment for learning and development.
- Infant: Great Places for Babies program provides a warm, welcoming environment where your baby can thrive and grow from a bundle of joy to a bundle of curiosity.
- Toddler: Growing World of Toddlers curriculum uses hands-on exploration and social interaction to help your child learn about the world in a safe and engaging environment.
- Preschool: Builds upon established foundations for learning while focusing on your child’s newly emerging and advanced use of language, mathematical reasoning, and scientific thought.
To learn more about the two Bright Horizons center operated by the University, please visit:
Please note that this program is now closed for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The allotted funds for this program have been exhausted. We apologize for the inconvenience. We anticipate reopening the program in July 2025 should funding resources be available.
Dependent Care Professional Travel Grant Program
Assistant professors, associate professors, and professors are eligible for a grant to defray incremental, out-of-pocket expenses incurred for dependent care while traveling for work activities such as attending professional conferences and workshops or conducting research.
For purposes of this program, dependents are typically defined as children or parents for whom the faculty member is the primary caregiver. Questions about the coverage of other individuals may be discussed with Dillan Siegler. Covered expenses include dependent care (providing, not supplementing) at home, the cost of transporting the dependent and/or the caregiver to the meeting, and/or on-site dependent care at the event. A one-time maximum grant of $1,000 is available per academic year. These grants are considered taxable income and will be paid through the payroll system.
In order to be eligible for the Travel Grant Program, you must fulfill each of these criteria:
- You are an assistant professor, associate professor, or professor.
- Your dependent care needs are incurred as a result of attending a professional conference, seminar, meeting, or workshop, or as a result of travel to conduct research.
- You are the primary caregiver for this dependent (a dependent is typically defined as a child or parent).
Grant requests must be made at least one week in advance of the event. Once all receipts have been submitted, reimbursement will be received as part of the next monthly payroll.
Within 14 days of returning from your travel, you must submit the associated travel and dependent care receipts and you will receive reimbursement in the next payroll. Please submit receipts to:
Dillan Siegler
Associate Provost | Faculty Life Contact
dsiegler@uchicago.edu
773-834-4415