2-9: Children on Campus – Procedures

These procedures provide information and guidelines to ensure that current and prospective student parents and their children are welcome and safe on the Santa Fe Community College (SFCC or College) campus and events.

1. Definitions
   1. Supervised refers to a situation or location where a designated adult is providing direct care and attention to the child’s health, safety, and welfare.
   2. Unsupervised refers to a situation or location where a designated adult is not providing direct care and attention to the child’s health, safety, and welfare.
2. Authorized Onsite Event Providing Childcare (Unlicensed)
   1. Authorized programs of the College may include event-based, temporary, onsite childcare provided by a College program while parents remain on site for a specific class or activity. Such childcare arrangements are unlicensed and are offered only in relationship to specific campus events or classes.
   2. Any authorized SFCC program offering event-based, temporary, onsite childcare shall inform SFCC Security that onsite childcare will be provided at least three business days before the event.
   3. At least one staff member or student employee providing childcare in each room will have a valid background check through the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care department on file with SFCC. Adults without a valid background check may not supervise children without an adult who has a valid background check present. The childcare room shall be staffed at a ratio of adults per child that is appropriate for the age of the children supervised.
   4. For every child being cared for in temporary, onsite event childcare, staff or students providing childcare will collect emergency contact forms that include child’s full name, date of birth, allergies, medical conditions, any behavioral concerns, and the onsite parent/guardian’s full name, and phone number.
   5. Staff will require parents/guardians to sign the child in and out of any temporary, onsite event child care using a sign-in sheet. Only adults who signed the child in may pick them up from event child care. If staff are uncertain of their identity, proof of identification may be requested.
   6. Parents/guardians must have their phones accessible to them during event childcare and remain on site in order to be immediately available to care for or retrieve their child when contacted by staff in the event childcare space.
   7. If any injuries occur, a staff member will notify the parent/guardian as soon as possible. Any injuries that require medical intervention should also be reported to SFCC Security.
   8. For children in diapers, staff will not perform diaper changes. Parents must return to the onsite event childcare space to retrieve their child for diaper changes.
   9. Staff will ensure that event-based, temporary, onsite childcare is provided in a space that is safe for children to occupy and easily accessible to student parents attending an event.
3. Reporting
   1. New Mexico law requires anyone who suspects or sees child abuse or neglect to report it immediately to local law enforcement. Such incidences should also be reported to SFCC Security.
   2. If a student or employee notices that a child under age 12 appears to be unsupervised, they should try to locate the parent/guardian in the immediate vicinity and notify them of Policy 2-9. If they are not able to locate the parent/guardian in the immediate vicinity or the parent/guardian is not complying with the policy, they should call SFCC Security for assistance locating the parent/guardian and enforcing compliance with the policy.

Contact:          Thomasinia Ortiz-Gallegos, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs
505-428-1238, thomasinia.ortizgall@sfcc.edu
Margaret Peters, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
505-428-1372 | margaret.peters@sfcc.edu

Updated:         X/X/2025