Enrollment Information

Families who are on the waitlist are invited in March to the annual Open House, to tour the Center and meet staff. They have the opportunity to gather information in discussions with the director at this time.

• Bowdoin benefit-eligible employees are considered "Bowdoin Employees".  All other Bowdoin employees and non-employees are considered "Community Members". Bowdoin employees may apply for childcare as early as 8 months prior to the birth of their child and will be considered on a first-come-first-served basis.

• All Community Families interested in applying to the Center will complete an application and forward it to us. This secures a spot in the applicant pool/waiting list and puts your name on our mailing list to receive regular updates.

• Each family, from either category, who applies to the infant program is placed in an "applicant pool" as this group is not organized in an order until March 1 of the enrollment period. After infants are enrolled, the waitlist is established in the order we received applications and their priority status.

• Younger siblings have enrollment priority when their older sibling will attend during the same year. For this reason it is difficult to let anyone know where they are on the list as the order can be disrupted at any time.

• If a family leaves Bowdoin College employment during their contracted year, they may complete the contract and move to a priority spot on the community wait list.

• The year at the Children's Center runs from August - August in sync with the academic calendar. We are in session for the full year with the exception of one week in August, two professional development days (typically during the fall and spring breaks), and some of the major holidays (when classes are not in session).

• The enrollment period begins on March 1st for the upcoming year beginning in August.

• Families enroll in a 5-day week spot in order to secure a place for their child and then attend as they wish.  Some families like the 5-day week schedule and others use only some of the days.  In either case, they own that 5-day spot.

• Community members are offered a contract if there are open spots available after June 30th. When a community member has a spot in the Center, their child may remain enrolled throughout the five year period or when the parents wish to leave the Center.

• While infant families will sign contracts during the enrollment period, an infant will not begin enrollment at the Center until they are 3 months old. This is to protect the infant from the risk of exposure to illness early in their lives. Parents pay full tuition from the beginning of the August contract even when their child is not old enough to begin care or the family doesn’t want the spot yet.

• Faculty who are planning for sabbatical leave may withdraw their child from the Center for up to one year and return to their spot.
• Parents must notify the director by February of the enrollment year so that there is six months notice.
• Parents will complete a sabbatical contract and pay 25% of their monthly tuition each month to hold their slot. Children may return for the summer if a spot is available for them.
• Each Bowdoin family in the Center is able to use this benefit regardless of their affiliation to the College. Community members are not offered this benefit.

• Tuition Obligation: Parents agree to pay the Children's Center tuition fees each month during the enrollment period. The tuition payments must be paid via payroll deduction when child is of a Bowdoin employee family. Payroll deductions will occur on the last day of the month, beginning with the first month-end subsequent to the start date of the enrollment period.
• Tax Credit: Bowdoin College Children's Center is a level 4 on the state of Maine's Quality Rating System. This offers parents the ability to claim a double tax credit. You can find this number on the website in the parent portal.
• Sibling Discount: If siblings of children enroll for full-time care in any of the programs, a 10% rate reduction will be applied to the lower fee. This reduction is available to participating Bowdoin employees only.
• Summer Enrollment: Bowdoin employees may choose to enroll their child for a 10 month year (August to June) or a 12 month year (August to August). The 10 month contract is retained by paying 25% of the monthly tuition fee for the 2 summer months.

Bowdoin College Children Center - Employee Discount Program
Updated: February 2025

Program:

The Bowdoin College Children Center strives to provide affordable childcare to families in the Bowdoin Community. The tuition cost for the Center, while competitive, can be a barrier to some employees. To help mitigate this, a discounted¹ rate will be offered annually for child openings, based on need.

Eligibility:

This multi-tiered program is available to benefits-eligible employees of the College. If interested in participating in the Employee Discount Program please forward your request to be considered, to Human Resources (HR), after your tax information is prepared any time before April 30, 2025. If you find that you are unable to follow through with your contract after that conversation, you may withdraw your contract from the Center with no penalty by April 30, 2025.

SINGLE CHILD FAMILY
Tier One:

The discount (45% for 2025-26 contract year) is available for open slots with a joint income of not more than $120,000. Eligibility will be reviewed on an annual basis by April 30 preceding the contract year or at such time a family reports a significant change to their earnings.

Tier Two:

The discount (25% for 2025-26 contract year) is available for open slots with a joint income of $120,000 to  $140,000 in one family. Eligibility will be reviewed on an annual basis by April 30 preceding the contract year or at such time a family reports a significant change to their earnings.

MULTIPLE CHILD FAMILY at the Center

Tier One:

The discount (50% discount for 2025-26 contract year) is available for open slots with a joint income of not more than $120, 000. Eligibility will be reviewed on an annual basis by April 30 preceding the contract year or at such time a family reports a significant change to their earnings.

Tier Two:

The discount (35% for 2025-26 contract year) is available for open slots with a joint income of $120,000 to $140,000 in one family. Eligibility will be reviewed on an annual basis by April 30 preceding the contract year or at such time a family reports a significant change to their earnings.

Process:

Annually, the College will evaluate the tiers and review the subsidies offered to the Children’s Center families.  

• Once a spot in the Children’s Center has been offered to a family, the employee interested in receiving a discount will contact HR to determine income and employment status eligibility.
  
• The employee will provide HR (Tama Spoerri) with a copy of the latest federal tax form(s) showing both parents² gross income and/or will provide information regarding any extenuating circumstances that might be considered in the eligibility decision.
  
• HR will determine eligibility based on employment status and Income.
• The Director of the Children’s Center is notified of the outcome by HR.
  
• If approved for the discount the Director of the Children’s Center writes a contract reflecting the discount.

¹ Employee discounts are considered taxable income. The College grosses up the discounted amount and then covers both the gross up and tax all of which is included in the employee’s annual earnings. This will appear in the employee’s regular paycheck.

²Where two parents are filing separately both tax returns must be presented.