Learning Resources

Regionalism, Ecology, and Field-Based Learning

Partnerships Broaden Study Opportunities

By: Josh Harrold, BArch, BFA, AIA

In the rural and remote heart of the Ozark Mountains, Missouri State University and its Ozarks Education Center leverage the unique characteristics of the region to create a setting that supports hands-on active learning.

From Volume 51 Number 4 | July–September 2023

Abstract: Missouri State University’s Ozarks Education Center, in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, provides a case study for outdoor, field-based, and architectural regionalism education. It offers unparalleled student opportunities for tailored regional learning experiences and research options, while fostering partnerships with external organizations outside of the main campus environment. In this article, we share how being true to the region’s historical architecture and ecology, especially in undervalued and isolated locations, and incorporating site-specific approaches in a remote setting support off-the-grid learning in the post-COVID academic landscape.

Institutions Mentioned: Missouri State University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Active Learning Environments, External Collaboration / Partnerships, Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Landscape / Open Space, Learning Environments, Placemaking, Rural Campus, Science / Engineering Facility

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You Belong Here

Plan for and Design Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Campus Spaces

By: Shannon Dowling, MArch, AIA, LEEDAP

Many marginalized student populations don’t see themselves as higher education material. Creating places on campus that reaffirm to them that they belong is vital.

From Volume 51 Number 1 | October–December 2022

Abstract: When carefully considered and thoughtfully planned, physical campus space has the power to reinforce an institution’s values around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Institutions Mentioned: Virginia Commonwealth University, North Carolina State University at Raleigh, Ryerson University, Chapman University, Bennett College
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Active Learning Environments, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Health and Wellness, Informal Learning Environments, Landscape / Open Space, Learning Environments, Original Research, Placemaking, Student Experience, Underserved Students

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Smart Building, Smart Campus

By: Angela Foss, Autodesk (previously of Southern New Hampshire University)

This is a SCUP Fellow Research Project Final Report for the 2019–2020 program. This report explores the hypothesis that user-centered design would better address STEM student needs and could increase the likelihood of a broader adoption of remote labs.

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.

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Scaling Active Learning Classrooms

Adopt 11 Best Practices to Transform Existing Spaces to Support Student Success

By: Sharon Beaudry, JD, SPHR

A large-scale study uncovered factors that led to successful scaling of active learning spaces and pedagogical approaches in colleges and universities.

From Volume 50 Number 3 | April–June 2022

Abstract: Active learning has been a growing trend in higher education for decades based on its positive impact on student learning and success. Colleges and universities have invested resources into expanding this teaching approach by using active learning classrooms (ALCs). But why have some institutions been successful at rapidly growing their ALCs and learning spaces, while others have struggled? This article, focusing on the higher education arena, summarizes the best practices from a large-scale study that uncovered factors that led to successful scaling of learning spaces and pedagogical approaches in colleges and universities.

Institutions Mentioned: Oregon Institute of Technology
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Active Learning Environments, Alignment, Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Laboratory Facility, Learning Environments, Original Research, Science / Engineering Facility, Teaching and Learning

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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

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Conference Recordings

Published
July 16, 2021

2021 Annual Conference | July 2021

Developing Programs and Facilities for Next Generation Industry Leaders

By: Tobias Newham, The Beck Group | Christa Slejko, Dallas County Community College District | Russell Vaughn, Texas AirSystems LLC

We'll illustrate how industry-academic partnerships led to the reimagining of vocational education in a new, didactic facility for construction sciences.

Abstract: With a shortage of skilled labor in the construction industry, the construction technology program at North Lake College aims to close that gap while creating an attractive, career-focused educational alternative to the traditional four-year college degree. We'll illustrate how industry-academic partnerships led to the reimagining of vocational education in a new, didactic facility for construction sciences. Come find out how your institution can inspire the next generation of industry leaders by elevating vocational education programs and facilities.

Institutions Mentioned: North Lake College
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Active Learning Environments, Community College, External Collaboration / Partnerships, Facilities Planning, Learning Environments, SCUP 2021 Annual Conference, Workforce Development

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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

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Good Academic Planning Is What Happens . . .

. . . When Opportunity Meets with Integration

By: David A. Jenks, PhD, and Brendan Bowen, MPA

The division of Academic Affairs at the University of West Georgia worked with SCUP to integrate academic planning with facilities, accreditation, budget, student affairs, and student success.

From Volume 49 Number 3 | April–June 2021

Abstract: The division of Academic Affairs at the University of West Georgia became involved with the Society for College and University Planning and integrated planning over four years ago. The result was slowly integrating academic planning with facilities, accreditation, budget, student affairs, and student success. Just as Thomas Edison was probably not thinking about integrated planning when he was quoted on planning, we had no idea how fruitful our efforts would become. We enhanced and assessed student scheduling, learning spaces, faculty support, and student success and support services in a meaningful way that resulted in positive and measurable outcomes for improving learning and reducing costs.

Institutions Mentioned: University of West Georgia
Planning Types: Campus Planning, Academic Planning
Tags: Active Learning Environments, Alignment, Facilities Planning, Faculty, Learning Environments, Space Management, Student Support Services

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Book Review: Academic Library Makerspaces

A Practical Guide to Planning, Collaborating, and Supporting Campus Innovation

By: Karen Merritt, PhD

Built on the authors’ wide-ranging examination of the literature and examples drawn from a variety of higher education institutions, this book offers a detailed roadmap of steps and strategies for planning these facilities and successfully integrating them into the academic fabric of an institution.

From Volume 49 Number 2 | January–March 2021

Abstract: by Katy B. Mathuews and Daniel J. Harper
Rowman & Littlefield: Lanham, MD: 2020
166 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4408-7206-6
ISBN (e-book): 978-1-4408-7207-4

Institutions Mentioned: Ohio University-Main Campus
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Active Learning Environments, Learning Environments, Library, Library Planning, Maker Space

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The Connected Campus

Building Long-Term Value and Agility by Connecting Offerings, Organizations and Operations

By: Elliot Felix, MArch

Campus environments play a vital role in student success. By making changes to their combination of spaces, institutions can respond to the shifts transforming higher education. Elliot Felix shares how colleges and universities can prepare for a more blended world by bringing together the digital and physical, enabling greater diversity and inclusion, and implementing flexible structures, staffing, space, and services. Sponsored Content: Knoll and brightspot strategy.

Abstract: Historic separations that defined higher education are dissolving: research is more interdisciplinary, online and on-campus learning are converging, wet and dry labs are blending, teaching and research overlap, and academia forges relationships with corporate partners. Institutions, by improving how they connect what they offer, how they are organized, and how they operate, can build value and agility to better assist their people on campus. Real-world examples in this white paper from Knoll and brightspot strategy discuss how campus spaces support student success, including how to fully use the campus; creating spaces that sustain diverse and flexible ways of working; thinking phygitally; and creating environments where today’s purpose-driven and entrepreneurial students (Gen Z) will thrive as they prepare to enter the workforce.

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