Learning Resources

Abstract: “Will innovative environments like a smart building expand STEM education and reach more underrepresented groups? If technology can support remote work, then why haven’t the previous proofs of concept become fully adopted?” The author pursued these questions through her SCUP Fellows research, exploring the hypothesis that user-centered design would better address STEM student needs and could increase the likelihood of a broader adoption of remote labs. Although the COVID-19 pandemic required a hard pivot in her research plan, she was able to leverage the world's new focus on remote activities and work with students to design a prototype mobile application for a digital, interactive twin of a STEM building on campus.

Abstract: Colleges and universities are in the midst of a transition from an access mindset to a success mindset, and campus facilities can play a role in this shift. Institutions don’t have to guess at how—a large body of research can and should inform how we plan, design, and operate our campuses. In this article, the author draws upon research from his book How to Get the Most Out of College to highlight the evidence that campus planners and designers can use to help drive student success.

Abstract: Historic campus buildings are often perceived as a burden, but by integrating them into your campus planning, their continued reuse can help solve some of the specific challenges facing university planners today, specifically in the context of sustainability. There are numerous case studies that demonstrate the successful adaptive reuse of varied campus buildings as well as an undeniable body of evidence showing the benefits of such an approach in working toward carbon neutrality. As long-term stewards of their built environments, colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to realize enduring savings from investing in the energy performance of existing buildings.

Abstract: How can we reimagine the traditional campus-based learning model to make higher education more affordable, flexible, and accessible? For many higher education institutions, the pandemic has exacerbated the challenges they were already facing: the competition for students in a landscape of changing demographics, a drastically altered world of work, and the seemingly uncontrollable escalation of costs. Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is redefining the future of higher education by developing new programs and degree pathways, scaling online and virtual learning platforms, reducing tuition to increase accessibility, and investing in their physical campus.

We are thrilled to have you join us for an extraordinary afternoon headlined by the visionary leader of the university, Dr. Paul LeBlanc and key leaders from the SNHU community who are tackling these challenges by radically reinventing places, platforms, and products for teaching and learning.