photo by: Dmitry Martirosov/Journal-World

The Hilltop Child Development Center at the University of Kansas is seen on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.

University of Kansas officials on Friday announced the formation of a new work group to address the planned closure of Hilltop Child Development Center.

In a memo released Friday, Provost Arash Mafi said the group will assemble faculty and staff with “relevant expertise” to “identify practical long-term childcare solutions for the KU Lawrence community.”

Mafi was directed by Chancellor Doug Girod to form the group. In his message to Mafi, Girod said the group will engage the KU community and consult both internal and external experts. The group will then submit to Mafi an “actionable” plan with recommendations to assist affected families.

Mafi said members of the group will be announced within two weeks.

The memo comes after Hilltop’s board president, Chari Young, notified parents and staff last month that the childcare center will shut down on Oct. 30. The decision caused an outcry across the Lawrence community and sent families scrambling for solutions. The outcry reached a new level last week when more than 450 faculty, staff and students at KU, and more than a dozen elected officials across Douglas County signed two letters of support urging Girod and Mafi to “pause” their plans.

In his message to Mafi, Girod acknowledged the impact of closing Hilltop. But he also clarified that reversing course isn’t an option.

“While the decision on Hilltop is final, I recognize the significant disruption the closure will create for students, faculty, and staff who rely on these childcare services, particularly given the limited time families have to secure alternative arrangements,” he said.

Girod said the decision to close Hilltop followed a review of the childcare center’s financial, staffing, leadership, regulatory, child-safety, and facilities requirements, echoing previous comments by KU officials who have made similar remarks in recent weeks.

“While I am confident the Board acted with care and diligence in its capacity as a … KU Affiliate Corporation, I am equally certain this decision was not made lightly,” Girod said.

Girod asked Mafi to proceed “expeditiously” and provide him with an action plan and a timeline for the group’s recommendations.

Mafi said that parents are being communicated with directly by KU about support services.