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Your Higher Education Planning Library

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
August 18, 2025

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Strategic Alignment for Degree Completion

Leverage an Integrated Planning Approach to Improve Credit Momentum and Student Success

By: Nicole DeCapua, EdD, Mildred Mihlon, PhD, and Tracy Louisse S. Chacon, MEd

By coordinating cross-functional teams, employing real-time data, and strengthening communication systems, a university bolstered student retention and completion without requiring new funding or staff.

From Volume 53 Number 4 | July–September 2025

Abstract: This article presents how a small, resource-constrained university leveraged integrated institutional planning to launch a 30-credit completion strategy that significantly improved student momentum, graduation rates, and institutional planning culture. By coordinating cross-functional teams, employing real-time data, and strengthening communication systems, the university built a scalable and sustainable framework that bolstered student retention and completion without requiring new funding or staff. This case offers a roadmap for similarly situated institutions aiming to align credit accumulation initiatives with broader strategic goals to drive measurable student success outcomes.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
July 16, 2025

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Keeping the Focus Month by Month

Improve Stakeholder Engagement and Outcomes with a Goal Communications Calendar

By: Tina Dee, MS

By strategically aligning monthly communications with its institutional goals, Muskegon Community College increased its connection with students, employees, and the community while reinforcing a shared sense of ownership.

From Volume 53 Number 3 | April–June 2025

Abstract: Muskegon Community College’s (MCC) Goal in Focus communications program reshaped stakeholder engagement and strengthened institutional alignment, driving more effective strategic outcomes. Grounded in the Society for College and University Planning’s Integrated Planning Competencies, our approach fostered a planning culture that is transparent, adaptable, and collaborative. By strategically aligning monthly communications with its institutional goals, MCC increased engagement with students, employees, and the community while reinforcing a shared sense of ownership. A goal-focused communications calendar enriches sustainability, builds relationships, strengthens alignment, and improves preparedness for change.

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Conference Presentations,Conference Recordings

Published
June 16, 2025

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Designing a Flexible and Resilient Research Building Through Integrated Planning

By: Geoff Bock, Director of Operations, N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Charles Mummert, Design Principal, Flad Architects | Bob Sherman, Principal/Project Manager, Affiliated Engineers, Inc.

This session will highlight how a collaborative team promoted innovation to enable decision making throughout the Plant Sciences Initiative design process at North Carolina State University (NCSU).
Abstract: This session will highlight how a collaborative team promoted innovation to enable decision making throughout the Plant Sciences Initiative design process at North Carolina State University (NCSU). Built pre-pandemic, this future-proofed building continues to successfully serve as an energizing hub for innovation. NCSU's integrated planning and data-driven process for designing a flexible academic research building has inspired cross-functional collaboration, leading to increased industry partnerships and innovations. Come learn how leveraging benchmarking, analytics, and an integrated planning process can produce a successfully designed, forward-thinking research building.

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Conference Presentations,Conference Recordings

Published
June 4, 2025

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Designing for Intentional Community: Dartmouth’s Housing Transformation

By: Ben Carlson, Principal, Goody Clancy | Lisa Ferreira, Principal, Student Life Practice Leader, Goody Clancy | Joanna Whitcomb, Director of Campus Planning, Dartmouth College

Planning processes must be versatile and nimble to accommodate changing priorities.
Abstract: Planning processes must be versatile and nimble to accommodate changing priorities. This session will show how a design team developed a flexible data visualization tool that allows Dartmouth University to play out scenarios as priorities change over time. As Dartmouth renews its plans, we'll provide a comprehensive look at how the team considered parity, distribution, and student wellness in a three-part planning effort. Discover how you can apply our data visualization tool to describe complex variables to stakeholders, as well as use scenario planning to align cost, student experience, and institutional goals over the course of your plan's realization.

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Conference Presentations

Published
April 8, 2025

Designing for Intentional Community: Dartmouth’s Housing Transformation

Abstract: Planning processes must be versatile and nimble to accommodate changing priorities. This session will show how a design team developed a flexible data visualization tool that allows Dartmouth University to play out scenarios as priorities change over time. As Dartmouth renews its plans, we'll provide a comprehensive look at how the team considered parity, distribution, and student wellness in a three-part planning effort. Discover how you can apply our data visualization tool to describe complex variables to stakeholders, as well as use scenario planning to align cost, student experience, and institutional goals over the course of your plan's realization.

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Conference Presentations

Published
April 8, 2025

Decisions That Stick: Applying the CBA Matrix to Complex Projects

Abstract: The Choosing by Advantage (CBA) Matrix is a powerful tool for decision-making in the design and construction industry, from the planning process through project completion, and it delivers efficiency through fewer changes. CBAs take all stakeholders into account when defining advantages, so campus planners can achieve quality, an on-time schedule, and cost savings at every stage. Via simulation, we'll demonstrate how you can apply CBAs across all phases of a project. By presenting and providing step-by-step, compelling visuals, our team will enable you to implement CBAs tactically and early in your next project.

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Conference Presentations

Published
April 7, 2025

Promoting Decarbonization and Wellbeing through a Residence Hall Renovation

Abstract: Universities must decide what to do with their high-rise residence halls that don't meet modern standards for energy efficiency and student expectations. Renovation often proves to be the best solution for a variety of reasons. At Boston University (BU), what started as a building systems upgrade evolved into a major renovation, which elevated the student experience, social and emotional wellbeing, and campus decarbonization goals. Using BU's Warren Towers as a model of decision making, this session will help you work through the possibilities of a major renovation on your campus with the aim of meeting student wellbeing and decarbonization objectives.

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Conference Presentations

Published
April 2, 2025

A Data-driven Approach to Revolutionize Campus Planning

Abstract: Many campuses face real estate pressures, reduced funding, and aging assets, but often lack complete data sets or tools for visualizing the connection between campus priorities. Bold strategies and tools can help us find commonalities and opportunities in a time of limitless needs and constrained resources. We will detail an approach that considers cost, campus vision, and asset management goals to enable flexible solutions with a data-driven analysis of capital planning alternatives. Come learn how to determine which data matters and how to approach your campus's challenges in a way that better supports the institutional mission and adaptation to change.

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Conference Presentations

Published
July 23, 2024

Finding the Beauty in Right-sizing the KU Campus

By: Barbara Bichelmeyer, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor | Callie Long, Interim Vice Provost | Mark Reiske| Gautam Sundaram, Principal

The constraints that universities face in terms of capital, declining enrollment, and surplus capacity in campus facilities causes escalation of deferred maintenance costs.
Abstract: The constraints that universities face in terms of capital, declining enrollment, and surplus capacity in campus facilities causes escalation of deferred maintenance costs. The University of Kansas (KU) master plan focuses on the value and impact of right-sizing the campus through change management and the implementation of a data dashboard. This session will share a sustainable path to establish a culture of transparency in decision making, stakeholder engagement, and environmental stewardship. We'll outline a data-driven process and lessons learned for leveraging resources, enacting policies that enable change management, and meeting the challenges of implementing a bold cultural shift.

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Conference Presentations

Published
July 23, 2024

The Architecture of Belonging: Informing Planning Through Social Research

By: Christopher Gluesing, Senior Director, Planning & Project Delivery | Loren Rullman, Principal & Director, Higher Education| Brian Schermer, Principal & Director, Design Research | Lora Strigens, VP Planning & Facilities

A sense of belonging is critical for student wellbeing, engagement, and academic success.
Abstract: A sense of belonging is critical for student wellbeing, engagement, and academic success. Social research at Marquette University illuminates how students from different identity groups perceive campus places and informs campus planning priorities. Guided by social research and inclusive placemaking, this session highlights strategies, frameworks, and implications for fostering belonging in diverse campus environments. We'll explore participatory mapping and other tactics for assessing campus belonging from a physical place perspective as well as proposing research-informed changes for future policy, operational, and design interventions.

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