Learning Resources

Supporting Neurodiversity in Higher Education

When Every Space Counts

By: Kathleen Kelly, MBA, AIA, LEED A+P

By integrating several unique campus voices, we can realize that unassignable space is highly valuable to the neurodivergent campus occupant.

From Volume 51 Number 4 | July–September 2023

Abstract: While universities have long been bastions of intellectual diversity, they are now embracing a broader understanding of diversity that extends beyond race, gender, and socioeconomic background. Neurodiversity, a concept celebrating the natural variations in human neurological functioning, is gaining prominence as an essential aspect of fostering a truly inclusive educational environment.

Institutions Mentioned: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, University of Southern Denmark, Syracuse University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Washington-Seattle Campus, University of Toronto-Downtown Toronto (St. George), Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Accessibility, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Health and Wellness, Informal Learning Environments, Space Assessment

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Conference Recordings

Published
March 18, 2021

2021 North Atlantic Regional Conference | March 2021

Setting Building Energy Standards

Learning from City, State, and Utility Incentive Programs

By: Michael Grant, Stantec | Ruth Bennett, Tufts University | Kim Cullinane, Eversource (utility) | John Dalzell, Boston Planning & Development Agency | Jacob Knowles, BR+A Consulting Engineers

Individual cities, states, and utility incentive programs are going beyond carbon neutral standards to embrace energy consumption limits—this session will present these new strategies as models and options for campus building energy standards.

Abstract: It isn't enough that institutions require all-electric campus buildings that rely on renewable energy—they must also be low load and low energy consumption. Individual cities, states, and utility incentive programs are going beyond carbon neutral standards to embrace energy consumption limits. This session will present these new strategies as models and options for campus building energy standards that address a variety of university sustainability goals. Come learn how your institution can avoid re-inventing the wheel when defining truly impactful campus guidelines by using these methodologies to limit energy consumption and peak demand.

Institutions Mentioned: Tufts University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Carbon Neutral, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Energy Infrastructure, Facilities Planning, SCUP 2021 North Atlantic Regional Conference, Sustainability (Environmental)

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Webinar Recordings

Published
September 17, 2020

Out of the Fire and Into the Future

Insights on Essential Planning Strategies Post COVID

By: Pete Zuraw, Vice President, Market Strategy and Development, Gordian (Moderator) | Michael McCormick, Associate Vice President Asset Management and University Architect, University of Washington | Mina Amundsen, Assistant Vice President, Facilities and Capital Planning, Colby College

The integrative process of short-term planning during the pandemic effectively brought together academic, financial, and physical planning, and presents a unique opportunity to continue work across traditional planning silos. Explore new planning modes being used during this crisis and their long-term application.

Abstract: Higher education has been responding in crisis mode since spring and racing toward an entirely new kind of academic year this fall. How can we turn this experience into productive new strategies for planning and leadership?

Existing siloed decision making would not have allowed for a successful response to the rapidly changing conditions brought on by the pandemic. The integrative process of short-term planning effectively brought together academic, financial, and physical planning, and presents a unique opportunity to continue work across traditional planning silos and modes of learning and living.

Institutions Mentioned: University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Colby College
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: COVID-19, Response Planning

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Developing Successful Campus Collaborations and Trust During COVID

By: Host: Debi McDonald, Co-Chair, BSA/SCUP College + University Roundtable | Moderator: Jack Maguire, Founder and Chair, Maguire Associates | Presenters: Gretchen Von Grossmann, Director of Capital Programs, Tufts University; Sarah Madden, Project and Change Manager, University Administration, Harvard University; Kelly McQueeney, Director Project Support Services, Harvard University Environmental Health and Safety

In this webinar, Gretchen Von Grossmann of Tufts University and Sarah Madden and Kelly McQueeney of Harvard University shared how they have brought their campus communities together to tackle COVID challenges and what protocols and perspectives are becoming “game changers” in the process.

This is part of the series “Less Talk, More Action: Tactical Topics to Return to Campus.”

Abstract: In the current COVID environment, each day brings our academic institutions more information and insight regarding what their physical campuses can handle and what their returning students and faculty are comfortable with.

Join us as we learn from representatives at Tufts University and Harvard University how they have brought their campus communities together to tackle COVID challenges and what aspects may become “game changers” in the process. We will learn current perspectives and protocols and how these institutions came to these conclusions. The presenters will share how they have prepared for a range of outcomes, offering some valuable examples of effective leadership in this time of crisis.

Institutions Mentioned: Harvard University, Tufts University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: COVID-19, Facilities Planning

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Webinar Recordings

Published
June 8, 2020

Campuses Learning From Each Other

By: Co-Host and Moderator: Rena Cheskis-Gold, Principal and Founder, Demographic Perspectives | Co-Host and Panelist: Laura Pirie, Principal and Founder, Pirie Associates | Panelists: Michael Perez, Associate Vice Chancellor, Vanderbilt University; Jennifer Stone, Partner, Robert A.M. Stern Architects; Pam Schreiber, Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Executive Director, Housing & Food Services, University of Washington

COVID-19 has left universities overwhelmed and struggling to rapidly shift to new ways of operating Focusing on the interactions between people, policy, facilities, and technology is more important than ever on campuses. Colleagues from Demographic Perspectives and Pirie Associates, in affiliation with SCUP, discussed the challenges, priorities, solutions, and opportunities to change the way campuses operate for the future.

Abstract: COVID-19 has left universities overwhelmed and struggling to rapidly shift to new ways of operating effectively. Focusing on the interactions between people, policy, facilities, and technology is more important than ever on higher education campuses. The short-term solutions colleges are now implementing need to be embraced as lessons for the long-term. What can we learn from others working in and with higher education? What are the challenges, priorities, and solutions and, where are the opportunities to change the way campuses operate for the future?

Institutions Mentioned: Vanderbilt University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: COVID-19, Response Planning

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Conference Presentations

Published
March 8, 2020

2020 North Atlantic Regional Conference | March 2020

Roadmap to a Capital Renewal Program

By: Taylan Ekici, Associate Director, Capital Renewal Planning, Tufts University | Margaret Moylan, Planner Project Manager, Tufts University

We will share how Tufts University manages its capital renewal program using a ranking strategy that considers building condition, utilization, modernization needs, and academic priority.

Abstract: Most universities don't have enough funds to address all capital renewal needs. Understanding the condition of physical infrastructure and benchmarking against the institutional mission optimizes limited funds allocated for deferred maintenance. We will share how Tufts University manages its capital renewal program using a ranking strategy that considers building condition, utilization, modernization needs, and academic priority. We will cover how to collect and process data to establish a 10-year capital renewal plan, considering initiatives like sustainability and carbon neutrality.

Institutions Mentioned: Tufts University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Deferred Maintenance, Facilities Planning, SCUP 2020 North Atlantic Regional Conference

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Conference Presentations

Published
March 8, 2019

2019 North Atlantic Regional Conference | March 2019

Expanding Residential Accommodation With Limited New Construction

By: Heidi R. Sokol, Lois Stanley, Gretchen Von Grossmann

Come learn how a 2016 housing planning study that started with an inventory analysis quickly evolved into an ongoing program to add 100+ beds per year beginning in 2017.

Abstract: New dorm construction takes time and funding that often competes with the ongoing need to upgrade existing dorms. Despite limited resources, campus planning and capital programs teams are successfully doing both. Tufts University's first housing program since the 1970s is transforming the undergraduate residential experience two-fold: by rapidly increasing the on-campus bed supply in existing facilities and by renewing residential buildings. Come learn how a 2016 housing planning study that started with an inventory analysis quickly evolved into an ongoing program to add 100+ beds per year beginning in 2017.

Institutions Mentioned: Tufts University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Capital Planning, SCUP 2019 North Atlantic Regional Conference, Student Housing

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Creating a Sense of Community on Urban College and University Campuses

Implications for Planning and Design

By: Peter A. Bacevice, Bennet Dunkley

Urban campuses have unique planning and design challenges when it comes to creating a sense of place that reflects both their global ambitions and local commitments to a variety of stakeholders.

From Volume 47 Number 1 | October–December 2018

Institutions Mentioned: Fordham University, CUNY Brooklyn College, Loyola University Chicago, New York University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Urban Campus

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P3 Performance for Higher Education

By: Nic de Salaberry, Ryerson University

This is a SCUP Fellow Research Project Final Report for the 2016–2017 program. The researcher’s intention was to better understand P3 models and learn how they have performed, possibly generating some useful lessons for how P3 models can be applied with desired outcomes.

Abstract: Public-Private Partnership (“P3”) procurement models for built infrastructure serving higher learning institutions started to gain attention in North America in the late 1990s—mostly as an alternative approach to adding student housing at select universities and colleges. More recently, P3 models have been applied to a diverse range of higher learning projects, with some serving core academic and research functions.

Although many institutions are considering P3 approaches among their options to address emerging pressures to expand or update their facilities, their implementation is not yet common. The researcher’s intention was to better understand P3 models and learn how they have performed, possibly generating some useful lessons for how P3 models can be applied with desired outcomes.

Institutions Mentioned: Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, University of Toronto-Scarborough, Drexel University, Ohio State University-Main Campus, York University-Keele Campus, University of Washington-Seattle Campus, University of California-Merced, Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Original Research, Public-Private Partnerships (P3)

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Book Review: Degrees That Matter

Climate Change and the University

By: Ann M. McEntee

Greening the Ivory Tower and Degrees That Matter provide an enlightening case study of Tufts University’s sustainability initiatives over the past 17 years.

From Volume 36 Number 1 | October–December 2007

Abstract: Greening the Ivory Tower and Degrees That Matter provide an enlightening case study of Tufts University’s sustainability initiatives over the past 17 years. While Greening the Ivory Tower could be aptly titled Lessons Learned from the Field, its sequel, Degrees That Matter, could be renamed More Lessons Learned. As companion pieces, these works offer comprehensive and accessible information for creating a campus environmental sustainability program that addresses waste reduction, energy efficiency, transportation reform, and purchasing practices.

Institutions Mentioned: Tufts University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Sustainability (Environmental)

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