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Doors open June 1, 2025, with convenient hours of operation Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. 

BISMARCK, N.D. — Navigating a shortage of licensed childcare facilities is a current reality for families, not only in North Dakota but across the United States — leaving parents scrambling for solutions, disrupting family planning, and causing economic strain on communities. To help address this critical issue locally, the University of Mary is stepping in with a new and innovative solution for the Bismarck-Mandan area.

Thanks to a nearly half-million-dollar grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce, the University of Mary is transforming the Butler Center on South 7th Street into the Center for Early Learning (CEL). The $464,000 grant will fund renovations to the building, which will open its doors as a licensed childcare center and preschool on June 1, 2025. CEL will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, providing working parents with much-needed early care and education options.

The Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences and the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences are partnering in this endeavor, making the University of Mary’s new Center for Early Learning a cutting-edge institution in early childhood education. The center will accommodate approximately 70 to 80 children, from infants as young as eight weeks to children aged 12. The program will offer a high-quality, Montessori-inspired curriculum, rooted in Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine values, nurturing the mind, body, and soul of every child.

“The need for high-quality early childhood environments has never been more urgent,” said Jennifer Barry, director of the University of Mary Center for Early Learning. “We’re providing a service that’s desperately needed, not just in Bismarck-Mandan but across the United States. Our approach is unique because we are offering a truly holistic approach to early childhood care and education by integrating the resources of our Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences and the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences.”

In addition to early childhood education, the Center for Early Learning will offer on-site screening, referral and interventions through partnerships with the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences, including the physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, and nursing programs. This comprehensive approach will ensure children receive personalized care, addressing their unique developmental needs.

“We’re creating an enriched and supportive environment for children. Research shows that 90% of brain development occurs by age five. Providing children with high-quality, nurturing experiences during this critical time will set them up for success later in life.”

The renovation of the Butler Center represents a significant investment in the community’s future. Located across from Kirkwood Mall, the building will feature specialized spaces for infants, toddlers, preschool and kindergarten-aged children. There will be three classrooms dedicated to preschool (for ages 3 to 6), one infant room, and one toddler room and a fenced-in playground. The children in the program will be supported by a combination of licensed early childhood teachers, qualified caregivers, and students and faculty from the University of Mary.

Dr. Kim Marman, chair of education and associate professor of education at the University of Mary, emphasized the hands-on learning opportunities that this facility will offer to university students. “This becomes an observation setting where students can go in and observe behaviors in different children,” Marman said. “Faculty members mentor our students in creating care plans or behavior plans for children with special needs. This practical experience is invaluable, and our students will also be involved in internships, practicum experiences, and student teaching.”

The Center for Early Learning will also participate in the North Dakota Child Care Assistance Program, which helps income-eligible families cover the cost of childcare while they work or attend school. “This is something we want to do right. This is important to do well, especially when we’re caring for kids,” added Marman.

Addressing the childcare shortage has been a key priority for the state Legislature, the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC, and the North Dakota Department of Commerce. Burleigh County currently meets only 21% of the demand for licensed childcare, leaving 79% of working parents to find alternative solutions, including unlicensed care or reliance on family members. In neighboring Morton County, the situation is even more dire, with only 13% of demand being met.

“This center is designed to do more than just offer childcare,” Barry said. “It will support the entire family by providing parental education opportunities and other resources aligned with our Benedictine values. Parents will be able to access parent education resources, which will have lasting positive impacts on their children’s development.”

The concept for a university-affiliated early learning center had been discussed for many years and reemerged as a priority last year. Now, with support from the Regional Workforce Impact Program and the collaborative efforts of the university’s academic schools, the Center for Early Learning is becoming a reality.

“Our goal is to create a model for what early childhood education can look like,” said Barry. “Not only are we addressing a critical community need, but we’re also ensuring that our students gain real-world experience that will help them become better educators and caregivers in the future.”

As the opening day approaches, excitement continues to grow, with families already signing up for enrollment. The University of Mary’s commitment to serving the community, as outlined by its founders — the Benedictine Sister of Annunciation Monastery — is evident in this ambitious and much-needed project.

For more information about the University of Mary Center for Early Learning, including enrollment details and program offerings, visit umary.edu/EarlyLearning or contact Jennifer Barry at (701) 355-8017 or UMCEL@umary.edu.

Anyone who wishes to learn more about the University of Mary can do so at www.umary.edu or  , or by contacting an admissions representative at enroll@umary.edu, or by calling (701) 355-8030. The University of Mary is one of only 15 Recommended Cardinal Newman Society Residential Colleges and Universities in the US. 

SWAG��Ƶ the University of Mary: True to its motto “lumen vitae”—The Light of Life—the University of Mary offers education for the whole of life through cutting-edge professional programs and graduate programs animated by moral courage and leadership in chosen professions and service to the community. A private, co-educational Catholic institution, the University of Mary welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds.

A Christian, Catholic, Benedictine institution founded in 1959 by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Mary offers over 60 bachelor’s, 15 master’s, and five doctoral programs—in Business Administration, Education, Nursing Practice, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. The 19-sport Athletic Department adheres to its Greatness Through Virtue mission under the governance of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) conferences. With more than 3,800 students, Mary has locations in North Dakota, Montana, Arizona, Rome, Italy, as well as vibrant online offerings.