2009 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

"Navigating the Future"

March 29–31, 2009
Ocean Place Resort & Spa
One Ocean Blvd
Long Branch, NJ (USA)

Conference Proceedings

Updated as of May 6, 2009

(PL-01) The Role of Community Colleges in the Future of Higher Education (proceeding has not been submitted)
Presenters: Peter F. Burnham, President, Brookdale Community College
Peter Burnham, in his keynote speech on "The Role of Community Colleges in the Future of Higher Education," will speak to the increasing necessity for post-secondary education for success in all strata of the modern work force to meet the fast-paced demands of our "global village." The community college, which by definition must respond quickly and professionally to national and international trends, is the prime mover for education and training initiatives, both credit and non-credit. Its role in tomorrow's higher education will continue to grow and evolve, as the assessment of student learning assumes paramount importance in our efforts to keep pace with the changing character of the classroom, the work place and the economy.

(PL-02) Environmental Scanning: The Heart of Successful Strategic Planning(proceeding has not been submitted)
Joel Lapin Presenters: Joel D. Lapin, Professor, Sociology, The Community College of Baltimore County
One of SCUP's premier environmental scanning experts will start our program with an overview of environmental scanning and its role in improving strategic planning. Key concepts and trends in the external environment will be discussed. This will be followed by case studies of successful applications of environmental scanning in strategic planning activities in colleges and universities. Then each participant will join a simulated scan team charged to read, synthesize and react to data and information on changes effecting higher education. The subsequent group discussion will then explore how to apply environmental scanning to plans that anticipate and meet the needs of institutions and the public's they serve.

(PL-03) The Virginia Education Wizard: Increasing Access, Fostering Prosperity.
Presenters: Craig Herndon, Director of Career and Educational Resources & Project Director for the Virginia Education Wizard, Virginia Community College System
At a time when the economy is placing a greater premium on post-secondary education, training, and re-training, the Virginia Community College System has created and recently launched a web-based tool that helps Virginians explore, plan, and afford credentials leading to high-pay, high-demand occupations. Benefits to a wide variety of stakeholders and its utility as an economic development tool will be discussed. Many are lining up to get behind the Virginia Education Wizard. You'll see why. You won't want to miss this brand new tool."

(CC-01) Managing Our Destiny In Uncertain Times: Using a Foresight Exercise to Develop a Long Range Planning Horizon(proceeding is not yet available)
Presenters: Gordon McConnell, Head, Planning & Administration, Dublin City University
In the 2005 strategic plan for Dublin City University, a key objective was to complete a Foresight Exercise to frame the university and the world it might inhabit in 2028. This was designed to be a long range planning tool to help the university to 'future proof' itself by using scenario planning to come up with two alternative scenarios. By conducting surveys and interview both internally (staff, students) and externally (stakeholders) the process enabled DCU to come up with a set of 'emerging areas' that both further developed current research and knowledge strengths, and also to identify and support emerging areas.

(CC-02) Understanding the Community College Environment:7 Fundamental Rules for Successful Environmental Scanning (proceeding has not been submitted)
Presenters: Joseph T. Isaac, Executive Director, Facilities, Baltimore City Community College
In strategic planning, we often note that sound environmental scanning information breeds good decision making. The method and process of environmental scanning and information synthesis can ensure that strategy is at the core of a planning process. Only with accurate and timely understanding of social, political and economic information can a college be successfully responsive to its marketplace; only with ongoing scanning can a college avoid creating "detached institutional objectives." The presentation will re-emphasize the importance of scanning as a decision- making tool that can foster leadership commitment to planning. The seven fundamental rules for successful environmental planning will be presented as design instructions for collecting relevant data in order construct a strategic plan.

(CC-03) Carbon Footprint Reduction: Vision and Strategies for Colleges (proceeding has not been submitted)
Presenters: Brij Anand, Vice President, Facilities Design and Construction, St. Johns University; Asif Syed, Partner, AKF Group LLC
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a voluntary challenge to higher educational institutions to reduce their carbon foot print by 30% over the next 10 years commonly referred as "3010 Program" or "3010 challenge". St. Johns University accepted this along with other educational institutions in New York. The vision and strategy of St. Johns university to reduce the foot print of their campus will be presented including establishment of baseline, identification of measures, technologies, costs, life cycle costs, operations, cogeneration, and renewable energy, and calculation methodology. Lessons learnt will be shared with architects, engineers, campus planners, and facilities personnel.

(CC-04) Strategic Planning as Though Student Learning Matters
Presenters: Ellie A. Fogarty, Deputy Compliance Officer, The College of New Jersey
What does your strategic plan say about how much your institution supports student learning? This session provides some answers. As the public continues to call for evidence of student learning, we can't just point to Academic Affairs. This session also provides examples from Student Affairs and Facilities divisions since the entire institution is responsible for its learning environment. Attendees will find out the key factor in staying focused on student learning and whether standard planning practices still hold true.

(CC-05) Supporting and Facilitating Science Learning Through Facility Design (proceeding has not been submitted)
Presenters: Jeffrey Fenimore, Registered Architect/Project Leader, DLR Group; Larry Selin, Dean, Manufacturing & Engineering Technology, Hennepin Technical College
Once again the nation is focusing on the urgent need for improved STEM education. This session is a case study of how Hennepin Technical College, a two-year college in Minnesota, sought out and applied best practices to start new science curricula in biology, chemistry and physics in support of their health care, manufacturing, and engineering technology programs. The college and its partner architects developed facilities and programs based on practices learned at a Project Kaleidoscope roundtable.

(CC-06) Park and Go Green on Campus
Presenters: Barbara J. Chance, President & Chief Executive Officer, CHANCE Management Advisors, Inc; Kim E. Jackson, Director, Parking and Transportation Services, Princeton University; Scott Spencer, Senior Transit Consultant, CHANCE Management Advisors, Inc.
Parking and transportation are the threads that binds the "campus quilt" together. Princeton University needed parking and transit solutions to meet the desires of the community and Princeton to reduce the campus carbon footprint, utilize sustainable technologies and address town-gown political concerns. Princeton's new campus transit system is designed to respond to the heterogeneity of the campus and growing parking demands while also furthering the University's goals regarding the environment - all in support of the campus master plan principles.

(CC-07) Creative Financing for a Town and Gown Partnership
Presenters: Richard Friedson, Principal, Friedson Architects; Jay Kahn, Vice President /Finance & Planning, Keene State College; Jay Lenhardt, Director, CSL International
With fund-raising becoming more difficult, it has become especially challenging for colleges and universities to engage in much needed building projects. Thus, institutions are seeking creative methods to beat the funding gap. This session illustrates how Keene State College, the City of Keene, the State of New Hampshire, and local businesses developed an innovative partnership and utilized creative financing mechanisms to plan a new "off-campus" multipurpose field house and ice arena for the community and the college.

(CC-08) Point of Delivery: Current Developments in Classroom Design & Technology
Presenters: Robert Kumlin, Principal, Duca/Huder & Kumlin, P.A.; Terry Sampson, Executive Director/Administration, Atlantic Cape Community College; James Sanphy, Senior Associate, Shen Milsom Wilke
This session focuses on recently completed classroom building for two community colleges. It addresses pedagogy, geometry, acoustics, lighting and day-lighting, seating and work surfaces, and current and future technology such as smart boards, projection, and response systems. Learn what works and does not work to optimize learning spaces, whether built from the ground up or renovated.

(CC-09) Greening the Chemistry Department at St. Mary's College of Maryland
Presenters: Allan K. Hovland, Associate Professor, St. Mary's College of Maryland; Gregory Mella, Principal, SmithGroup
This session will examine the concept of green chemistry and how it has informed both the curriculum and design of the new chemistry laboratory at St. Mary's College of Maryland. An overview of the concept of green chemistry with descriptions of recent trends in greening academic chemistry curriculum will precede a case study of the College's recently completed green laboratory, Goodpaster Hall with specific examples of how the College's chemistry experiments have evolved to reflect green chemistry principles.

(CC-10) Education: The Currency of a Modern Economy (proceeding has not been submitted)
Presenters: Marcia Harrington, Director, Institutional Research, Virginia Community College System
Education is the key to productive human capital and an increase in economic growth. We are facing profound demographic and economic changes in the next 20 years that cause us good reason to be concerned about the future of our national economy - educational attainment is not keeping pace with previous generations; the skilled labor force is aging with few replacements in the younger labor pool; competition and markets are now global; and technology is changing rapidly. These factors demand we move quickly to find new ways to move our students through the educational pipeline and create the workforce required in a competitive economy. One answer is the community college. It is uniquely poised to adapt to and address these educational and workforce challenges. This session will discuss demographic and educational attainment statistics, the implications, and the role community colleges play in countering these challenges.

(CC-11) The Suburban Campus as Regional Cultural Destination (proceeding has not been submitted)
Presenters: Michael Farewell, Partner, Farewell Mills Gatsch Architects; Margaret E.L. Howard, Vice President/Administration & University Relations, Drew University; Bonnie J. Monte, Artistic Director, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
Drew University is a regional cultural destination. The campus is home to the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Drew Forum, and a new Concert Hall. Together with a range of continuing education programs, they have helped to expand the role of this suburban campus from isolated academy to cultural center. How does this benefit the University economically and socially, and what defines this special learning environment? Three different perspectives will be offered.

(CC-12) Charting a Course for Site Sustainability In a Campus Plan (proceeding has not been submitted)
Presenters: Neil Kittredge, Partner & Director, Urban Design & Planning, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP; Judith Nitsch, President, Nitsch Engineering; Natalie W. Shivers, Associate University Architect for Planning, Princeton University
Campus planners (both university employees and private consultants) need direction to navigate strategies for site sustainability. Historical perspectives from original campus plans to bygone permitting requirements influence how we use our campus grounds today. By integrating the campus landscape with stormwater management, opportunities can arise that aren't available in individual building projects. Watershed-based solutions facilitate numerous building projects without multiple stormwater facilities, saving land and money. Charting the university's grounds course today will help ensure smooth sailing for tomorrow's planners.

(CC-13) Walk this Way: The Campus Tour as a Masterplanning Tool
Presenters: Margaret E.L. Howard, Vice President/Administration & University Relations, Drew University; Margaret Rew, Student, Tufts University; Pamela Lucas Rew, Partner, KSS Architects, LLP
As sailors, navigation came easily for the prospective freshman and her architect mother. However, the countless "golden walks" they took gave them pause for thought until they each found a way to take the helm and grow from their experiences. This session will describe their accounts in the context of how thoughtful master planning can enliven campus life, embody the essence of an institution, and create pathways for student recruitment. It will explore the case study of Drew University, which strived to improve their golden walk by retooling their master plan, and ended up with much more.

(CC-14) Should We Offer This Degree Program? A Framework for Planners
Presenters: Heather Gibbs, Assistant Vice President, Long Island University; Daniel Rodas, Vice President for Planning, Long Island University
With growing frequency, college and university leaders are creating new academic programs to further institutional missions, respond to student demand, meet employer needs, and achieve a competitive advantage. Deciding whether or not to offer a new degree can be difficult without a well thought out and rigorous evaluation process. All too often, the decision process is ad hoc and subjective. This session will give planners a concrete roadmap to inform decisions about academic program creation.

(CC-15) How to Fund Your Campus Renewable Energy Project
Presenters: Ferman Milster, Associate Director of Utilities, University of Iowa; Michael D. Philips, Principal, Energy Ventures International LLC
Colleges are increasingly pursuing large-scale renewable energy projects, in many cases as part of their carbon emission reduction commitment. Most projects have some grant funding, but few are funded entirely by grants. So where does the rest of the capital come from? What are some of the financing structures being employed by colleges implementing solar, wind, geothermal, or biomass projects that will contribute a sizable share of the campus energy supply? How are deals being structured with private investors?

(HT-01) Navigating a Student Focus Group
Presenters: Ellen C. Ulf, Senior Associate, Anderson Strickler, LLC
Students like to be consulted and because they are consulted, the outcome of the planning process carries greater weight. Focus groups help institutions understand how students think or feel about a proposed project or existing facilities. Participants will learn how to prepare for and plan focus group sessions, how to moderate the sessions, and how to report the results. In addition, we will look at what focus groups can tell you - and what they cannot tell you.

(HT-02) Incremental Investments and Transformative Ideas: Creating an Effective Masterplan (proceeding has not been submitted)
Presenters: Christopher McCready, Director of the SOM Education Lab, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP; Darrell Puffer, Senior Designer, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Increasing construction costs and current economic challenges are changing the dynamics of campus planning. Decision makers must work with new models of growth to achieve strategic goals. The case study presented will walk through a campus master plan that incorporates small incremental investments and transformative architectural ideas. Attendees will walk away with nine strategies that can focus and enhance their planning efforts and goals while meeting current budget challenges. The session will benefit architects, campus planners and university professionals.

(HT-03) Planning to Present Your Plan? Tips for Effective Presentations
Presenters: Katharine Mace Learned, Director of Facilities, Northfield Mount Hermon School
Presentations of processes, progress, and findings are often the critical links between a planner's ideas and their successful implementation. Many planners are good listeners, practiced data collectors, capable information synthesizers, and clear writers; few are good presenters. This quick session will provide you with insiders' tips and techniques for effective presentations. Learn how to structure materials, to decide what to say and when to say it; learn ways to present yourself and your facts and figures to support your messages; and, learn the advantages and disadvantages of various methods of illustrating your presentation.

(HT-04) Improving Academic Workplace Effectiveness and Sustainability
Presenters: David Craig, Director, DEGW North America; Elliot Felix, Associate Director, DEGW North America
The nature of work is changing. It is becoming increasingly collaborative, technology-rich, and mobile. This creates opportunities to reevaluate the academic workplace in terms of its effectiveness in supporting work and its sustainability–then to understand that these go hand in hand. New approaches for programming, allocating, and using spaces are urgently needed. This session will offer 6 ways to improve the academic workplace, using concrete examples and techniques drawn from decades of research on corporate and academic offices.

Society for College and University Planning

2009 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

"Navigating the Future"

Conference Proceedings