Officials at Piedmont Virginia Community College are hoping they'll soon be able to offer childcare services for students who are parents.

PVCC President Frank Friedman tells the Daily Progress that school officials think there are many potential students who are postponing higher education because they lack childcare. Such a service also would help current students who have children.

Officials at the two-year school hope to start looking at proposals from vendors by 2012, with the goal of having the service in place by fall 2012. The service likely will be able to handle about 60 children.

PVCC wants to model the program in part on the one at Tidewater Community College in southeast Virginia.