Learning Resources

Optimizing for Growth

Long-Term Planning Is Essential During an Institutional Merger, Acquisition, and/or Geographic Expansion

By: Clayton Mitchell, MS, PE, CEM, and Chuck Rudalavage, BArch, AIA, LEED AP

Thomas Jefferson University focused on culture, communications, and collaboration during a transformational period of combining institutions.

From Volume 51 Number 3 | April–June 2023

Abstract: Accurately planning long-term strategy can be a shaky task for quickly-growing organizations, especially those that desire to maintain a strong impression on their stakeholders and surrounding communities. History shows that mergers and acquisitions can negatively impact an organization’s culture, communication initiatives, and internal and external experiences. Thomas Jefferson University, a longstanding private medical research university in Philadelphia, educating scholars since 1824, in recent years merged with Philadelphia University and further expanded its footprint through the aligned Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The authors of this article describe how to collaboratively optimize growth during a transformational period.

Institutions Mentioned: Thomas Jefferson University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Change Management, Engaging Stakeholders, Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Medical / Allied Health Facility, Organizational Change, Placemaking, Planning Processes, Renovation

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Transformation Best Practices in the Decade Ahead

By: Donald M. Norris, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc. | Joseph (Tim) Gilmour, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc. | Linda B. Baer, PhD, Strategic Initiatives, Inc.

Inexorable challenges demand that higher education transform . . . and that transformation needs to start now. Learn more about these challenges and the knowledge, skills, and capabilities an institution needs to transform in the coming decade from the authors of the new book Transforming for Turbulent Times: An Action Agenda for Higher Education Leaders.

Institutions Mentioned: Austin Community College District, Georgia Institute of Technology, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Mott Community College, Mount Saint Mary College, Ocean County College, Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University
Planning Types: Strategic Planning, Academic Planning
Tags: Disruptive Change, Higher Ed Trends, Leadership, Online Learning, Organizational Change, Planning Processes, Trends External to Higher Ed, Workforce Development

Member Price:
Free | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Transforming for Turbulent Times

An Action Agenda for Higher Education Leaders

By: Donald Norris, Joseph (Tim) Gilmour, Linda Baer

Transforming for Turbulent Times: An Action Agenda for Higher Education Leaders can prepare your institution for the new learning ecosystem that will revolutionize work and learning by 2030. This book outlines a proven, eight-step process for planning, leading, navigating, and orchestrating the transformation necessary to thrive in the new world of knowledge, work, and learning. Whatever your role in your college, university, or learning enterprise, you’ll learn the principles, techniques, and actions that will make you indispensable to its transformation in these turbulent times.

Abstract: Higher education is entering a period of unparalleled turbulence. By 2030, a global knowledge, work, and learning ecosystem will revolutionize work and learning. It will empower individuals to fuse learning, living, and work over 60-year time spans. Tens of millions of additional learners—or even more—will be added to the global learning force. To compete in this rapidly expanding arena, traditional institutions will need to transform, starting now.

Transforming for Turbulent Times: An Action Agenda for Higher Education Leaders will help you support your institution in its efforts to rise to these challenges.

This book outlines a proven, eight-step process for planning, leading, navigating, and orchestrating the transformations necessary to thrive in this new ecosystem. Whatever your role in your college, university, or learning enterprise, you’ll learn the principles, techniques, and actions that will make you indispensable to its transformation in these turbulent times.

Institutions Mentioned: Austin Community College District, Georgia Institute of Technology, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Mott Community College, Mount Saint Mary College, Ocean County College, Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University
Planning Types: Strategic Planning, Academic Planning
Tags: Disruptive Change, Higher Ed Trends, Leadership, Online Learning, Organizational Change, Planning Processes, Trends External to Higher Ed, Workforce Development

Member Price:
$20 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$40

Webinar Recordings

Published
December 9, 2021

How Assessment Can Improve Your Campus’s Active Learning Spaces

By: David M. Zaiser, HDR | Shannon Dowling, Ayers Saint Gross | Alice Donlan, University of Maryland | Hilary Gossett, University of Maryland | Jeffrey Ashley, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University)

Come join us for an engaging and interactive session that will provide you with critical, campus-tested planning tools that you can use in your own classroom assessment to improve your campus learning environment.

Abstract: Higher education planners recognize the crucial role that active learning spaces play in improving student outcomes, but identifying the specific characteristics that make these environments most beneficial for student success is still an evolving process. Representatives from two institutions—one private, the other public—will share their experiences and highlight the planning tools they use to assess active learning spaces aimed at powering student gains. Come join us for an engaging and interactive session that will provide you with critical, campus-tested planning tools that you can use in your own classroom assessment to improve your campus learning environment. This webinar was brought to you by the SCUP Mid-Atlantic region.

Institutions Mentioned: Thomas Jefferson University, University of Maryland-College Park
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Active Learning Environments, Analyzing Stakeholders, Assessment / Analytics, Facilities Assessment, Facilities Planning, Learning Environments, Space Assessment

Member Price:
$119 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$65

Conference Recordings

Published
October 4, 2021

2021 Southern Regional Conference | October 2021

Learning From A Living Building

Facing (Un)foreseen Challenges

By: Shan Arora, Georgia Institute of Technology | Joshua Gassman, Lord Aeck Sargent | John Starr, Lord Aeck Sargent

The Kendeda Building, a deep green LEED Platinum Living Building, offers many lessons learned and best practices regarding net-positive water, energy, and waste that you can use to fight climate change and COVID-19 on your campus.

Abstract: At a time when institutions must change the status quo in their approach to addressing the climate crisis through the campus built environment, the Kendeda Building at the Georgia Institute of Technology shows us that successful change is possible. The Kendeda Building, a deep green LEED Platinum Living Building, offers many lessons learned and best practices regarding net-positive water, energy, and waste that you can use to fight climate change and COVID-19 on your campus. Come learn how to overcome design and operational challenges—both expected and unexpected—of high-performance buildings to create a healthier and safer campus environment.

Institutions Mentioned: Georgia Institute of Technology
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Carbon Neutral, COVID-19, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Science / Engineering Facility, SCUP 2021 Southern Regional Conference, Sustainability (Environmental)

Member Price:
$35 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Recordings

Published
July 15, 2021

2021 Annual Conference | July 2021

Go Outside! Learnscapes and Optimizing the Spaces In Between

By: Heidi Creighton, BuroHappold Engineering | Julie Hendricks, University of California-Santa Barbara | Alice Kimm, JFAK Architects | Mia Lehrer, Studio-MLA

In this session, we'll discuss how to connect structure, landscape, and sustainability to counter VUCA and establish stable and productive learning environments that enhance performance, creativity, and wellness through connections to nature and newly-expanded views and perspectives.

Abstract: Pandemics aren't going away, which is why institutions must invest in permanent outdoor learnscapes to optimize educational outcomes. In this session, we'll discuss how to connect structure, landscape, and sustainability to counter VUCA and establish stable and productive learning environments that enhance performance, creativity, and wellness through connections to nature and newly-expanded views and perspectives. Come discover new ways to transform your outdoor campus spaces with wellness-oriented designs to offset enrollment decline, maintain stable learning conditions, and stabilize class sizes.

Institutions Mentioned: University of California-Santa Barbara
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Landscape / Open Space, Learning Environments, SCUP 2021 Annual Conference

Member Price:
$35 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Recordings

Published
July 12, 2021

2021 Annual Conference | July 2021

The Next Chapter in the Paradigm Shift for Hands-on Learning

A higher education design expert, an educator, and a panel of students across hands-on disciplines will share their perspectives on how education spaces might evolve as hybrid learning becomes the new normal.

Abstract: Future-proofing education spaces through hybrid learning models is an opportunity to empower students, spark innovation, and strengthen connections between the campus and its community. A higher education design expert, an educator, and a panel of students across hands-on disciplines will share their perspectives on how education spaces might evolve as hybrid learning becomes the new normal. As we accelerate towards a blended future of physical and virtual learning environments, you can begin rethinking how your institution's educational spaces can provide diversity, multimodality, and flexibility.

Institutions Mentioned: Thomas Jefferson University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Learning Environments, Online Learning, SCUP 2021 Annual Conference

Member Price:
$35 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Recordings

Published
June 16, 2021

2021 Mid-Atlantic Symposium | June 2021

Integrating Place and Pedagogy to Foster Active Learning

What Works

By: Jeffrey Ashley, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) | Alice Donlan, University of Maryland | Shannon Dowling, Ayers Saint Gross | Kate Drabinski, University of Maryland Baltimore County | Hilary Gossett, University of Maryland | Richard Minturn, University of Virginia | John Notis, University of Virginia | Wynne Stuart, University of Virginia | Nancy Sturm, NV5 | Steven Anderson, UMBC Division of Information Technology

Planners from four universities will explore how active learning environments are evolving on their campuses, leading to more engaging learning experiences and improving student outcomes.

Abstract: Over the past year the pandemic has brought many challenges to higher education as well as opportunities to shape future learning spaces. Planners from four universities will explore how active learning environments are evolving on their campuses, leading to more engaging learning experiences and improving student outcomes. Come join us for a lively discussion about how space optimization, thoughtful furniture selection, and strategic technology implementation all contribute to the design of “the perfect active learning classroom”.

Institutions Mentioned: Thomas Jefferson University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Virginia-Main Campus
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Active Learning, Active Learning Environments, Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Learning Environments, SCUP 2021 Mid-Atlantic Symposium | June

Member Price:
$65 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$119

Conference Recordings

Published
April 30, 2021

2021 Pacific Regional Conference | April–June 2021

Mindful Redesign for New and Effective Learning Environments

By: Alice Kimm, John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects (JFAK) | Collette Creppell, Chapman University | Heidi Creighton, BuroHappold Engineering | Mia Lehrer, Studio-MLA | Julie Hendricks, University of California-Santa Barbara | Jennifer Milliron, LMN Architects | Helen Chu, Stanford University | Leesa Beck, University of California-Santa Barbara | David Gier, University of Michigan | Royce Smith, Montana State University – Bozeman | Timothy Waters, Sextant Group / NV5 Engineering & Technology

Join us to discuss what our campuses are planning for the immediate and distant future of teaching and learning.

Abstract: This session will focus on how changes in academic planning—accelerated in large part due to COVID-19—are resulting in new physical and virtual frameworks for learning. These range from enhanced online platforms to flexible hybrid environments, including the reappropriation and redesign of ‘found spaces,’ such as valuable and underutilized exterior zones on our existing campuses. Join us to discuss what our campuses are planning for the immediate and distant future of teaching and learning.

Institutions Mentioned: Chapman University, Montana State University – Bozeman, Stanford University, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Planning Types: Academic Planning, Campus Planning
Tags: Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Flexible Learning Spaces, Learning Environments, Online Learning, SCUP 2021 Pacific Regional Conference, Teaching and Learning

Member Price:
$65 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$119

Webinar Recordings

Published
January 19, 2021

Unleashing the Power of Difference

Creating Neuro-Inclusive Learning Spaces

By: Jennifer Carpenter, Verona Carpenter Architects | Irina Verona, Verona Carpenter Architects | Marie-Christine Potvin, Thomas Jefferson University | Monique Chabot, Thomas Jefferson University | Josh Humbel, SCUP

We live in a neurodiverse world. Spaces that support sensory needs can allow a wider range of students to flourish, creating a more equitable—and more flexible—environment. Leaders from Thomas Jefferson University and Verona Carpenter Architects will share examples across typologies of innovative solutions, unleashing the generative power of difference.

Abstract: We live in a neurodiverse world. Students, whether or not they have formal diagnoses, learn in different ways, and the converging crises of our day demand new paradigms of inclusion across the campus. Spaces that support sensory needs can allow a wider range of students to flourish, creating a more equitable—and more flexible—environment.

Leaders from Thomas Jefferson University and Verona Carpenter Architects will share examples across typologies of innovative solutions, unleashing the generative power of difference. Use the examples and discussion points to create a healthier, more attractive space on campus for all learning types.

Institutions Mentioned: Thomas Jefferson University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: COVID-19, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Learning Environments, Underserved Students

Member Price:
$39 | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Planning Types

Challenges