Ferris State University’s new $5.5 million Early Learning Center will feature enhanced educational opportunities for students and additional learning outcomes for children in care. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility on the west side of the Big Rapids campus is planned for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23. The public is welcome. 

Lori Johnson, the Early Learning Center manager, is enthusiastic about moving operations into the new facility, located at 1310 Cramer Drive, in Big Rapids, near Bishop and Cramer halls and the Ferris State Department of Public Safety. 

“We have greatly emphasized improvements to our educational programming,” Johnson said. “The new Early Learning Center was designed to be a calming, natural environment with enhanced safety and security measures. In addition to the nurturing relationships our educators provide to children, we have purchased some of the most current and innovative equipment available.” 

Johnson said an Illumination Station is among the additions. 

“This new interactive equipment will allow our children to explore sand play in a whole new way,” she said. “Not only will young children benefit from our improvements, but it will help prepare academic students in the School of Education for their futures in teaching.” 

Ferris State’s Early Learning Center works closely with the Early Childhood Education academic program offering a hands-on practicum and lab experiences for School of Education students. Faculty supervise the Early Childhood Education students in the facility. 

The board of trustees last year signed off on the plan to design and develop a stand-alone facility, which Johnson said is inspiring for the Early Learning Center staff. 

We will be serving from essentially the same location on campus, but to have more room to work in brand-new spaces and expand the opportunities to support the children of our students is so exciting,” Johnson said. 

Ferris President Bill Pink will be among those speaking at the event, with a festival atmosphere for the guests with food and games continuing until 6 p.m. Johnson noted that Granger Construction has offered to provide dessert.

“We are going through the last steps leading up to the contractor’s punch lists and our move-in,” Johnson said. “In preparing for our celebration, we have invited current and previous families, including parents who were once enrolled at the center and now bring their children to the ELC.” 

With the additional classroom space, Johnson added that the Early Learning Center team is ready to return to serving families from Big Rapids and surrounding communities. 

“We are glad to offer opportunities to area children once again and welcome hearing from any families interested in being part of our learning environment,” Johnson said. 

Since 1987, the Early Learning Center has been in Bishop Hall. 

This link provides information about the Early Learning Center’s accreditation and other attributes.