Enrollment

pdfEnrollment Application

Eligibility and Priority  | Student-Parent Enrollment Priorities  |  Enrollment Process


Eligibility and Priority

Enrollment is offered on a space available basis, in the order of date of application according to the enrollment priorities listed below. Families may apply for enrollment and be placed on the waiting list with a confirmed pregnancy. Need for tuition assistance is verified at the time of enrollment based on household size and income. When program enrollment is filled, applicants for enrollment are placed on a waiting list.

There are four categories of affiliation that are considered for enrollment eligibility. The child’s parent or legal guardian, or spouse/domestic partner of the parent or legal guardian must be a member of one of the following affiliation categories:

  1. University affiliated (undergraduate student, graduate student, or employee)
  2. UMass Amherst alumni
  3. Five College or U.S. Fish and Wildlife affiliated
  4. The community at large

Within the above affiliation categories, enrollment is prioritized in the following order:

  1. Sibling of currently enrolled children
  2. Previously enrolled child whose parent/guardian is on leave from university work or study, returning within six (6) months
  3. University undergraduate student, graduate student, and employees
  4. UMass Amherst alumni
  5. Five College students and employees and U.S. Fish and Wildlife employees
  6. Community at large

Student-Parent Families

Single student-parents and two student-parent families receive enrollment priority if they meet income eligibility. Offers of enrollment are made in order of the date of application. For current income guidelines to determine eligibility, please contact the Manager of Personnel and Enrollment.

Enrollment Process

Parents are contacted by email and telephone when an enrollment space is available. At that time, both child and parents will be invited to visit the classroom where there is an opening. Program information will be provided at this visit.

A copy of the latest edition of the program’s Family Handbook is available here, on our website, so that families can review Center policies and procedures. To request a paper copy, please contact the CEEC Office.

Parents will be given two (2) business days to provide CEEC with their enrollment decision. Parents may decline an offer of enrollment one time and still remain on the waiting list.

Upon acceptance of an offer of enrollment, the parent(s) will meet with the Manager of Personnel and Enrollment Services to sign the Offer/Acceptance Letter and pay the deposit. At that time, parents are given a packet of enrollment forms for their child. The Manager of Personnel and Enrollment Services reviews each form with the family. All completed enrollment forms must be submitted prior to the child’s first day of attendance.

A deposit is required to secure a child's initial enrollment. The deposit will be held for forty-eight (48) hours in case of a change in a family’s enrollment decision. The deposit will be credited towards the family’s last month’s bill.  If a family gives less than four weeks written notice when withdrawing from the program, the deposit will be forfeited.