Learning Resources

Abstract: For many years, the focus in higher education has been higher, more, and better. Higher rankings. More programs. Better services. And while these aims can be worthwhile, moments of vulnerability (like the one we're in now) are opportunities to rethink how we go about our work, reconnect to its meaning, and reimagine higher education's place in the world. What if, instead of going higher, what's needed is for us to go deeper?

Hawaiian ways of being and knowing acknowledge the power of going deeper—deeper into our relationships, deeper within our communities, deeper connections with the land. In particular, the power of place recognizes the importance of our surroundings, the people within them, and the interconnectedness of the two. It helps us remember fundamental truths about living in balance with our ecosystems and those we share them with.

In this keynote, Alapaki Nahale-a, a leader in Hawaiian community-building efforts, will share indigenous Hawaiian understandings and insights that can give you a new lens on integrated planning and higher education's role in the world. In particular, he'll share how connecting more deeply—to place and to each other—can be a source of meaning and strength for each of us, regardless of where our "place" is. Let Hawaii and the essence of who we are inspire you to embrace integrated planning as a way to unite us in purpose and action for the greater good.

Abstract: Community collaboration hasn't always been a priority in design education. This session will showcase a program that leverages the public school system as a learning environment for professionals and graduate students in architecture to identify socioeconomic opportunities. The Architecture + Education Program provides institutions opportunities to work actively with the communities they serve, and raises awareness of design careers among public school kids to increase and diversify its talent pipeline. This unique program involves multiple generations, including design professionals alongside public school and university students and instructors. Join us to discover opportunities for innovative community programs in your own backyard.

Abstract: Every campus has underused edges it can leverage as important connections to community within and beyond its boundaries Transformative reuse provides an opportunity to deploy new programs, restore important historic structures, and foster community in different ways. In this session, we’ll discuss how Wesleyan University and Amherst College invested in an underused, historic campus-edge buildings to develop a nexus for creative community, a student run hub, and a think tank for the humanities. You will discover parallels and ways of employing similar strategies to create meaningful connections between the campus and community. Furthermore, we’ll demonstrate how the reuse of existing buildings offers design inspiration while avoiding the embodied carbon of building new.

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.

Abstract: This session will share the inclusive design behind the Agnes Reimagined project, a museum decolonization process with a focus on community engagement, decolonization, and sustainability. This project highlights a community-based design process that integrates Indigenous traditions, hospitality, and inclusivity. Through exploring our approach to inclusive design, engagement, decolonization, and sustainability, you will learn how to integrate indigenous perspectives and balance heritage preservation while creating a space of belonging that contributes to a healthy environment.

Abstract: Creative use of campus green space does more than enhance curb appeal; it has a major impact on recruitment, active learning, and student success. The science behind green spaces is based on the idea that exposure to nature can improve performance. Academic green spaces serve as settings for physical activity, recreation, and social interaction, all of which enhance student health and wellbeing through respite from academic life. This session will demonstrate how to maximize the impact of campus green space on student success, focusing on small, practical steps, and develop a plan for future collaborative opportunities in student engagement.

Abstract: Community collaboration hasn't always been a priority in design education. This session will showcase a program that leverages the public school system as a learning environment for professionals and graduate students in architecture to identify socioeconomic opportunities. The Architecture + Education Program provides institutions opportunities to work actively with the communities they serve, and raises awareness of design careers among public school kids to increase and diversify its talent pipeline. This unique program involves multiple generations, including design professionals alongside public school and university students and instructors. Join us to discover opportunities for innovative community programs in your own backyard.

Abstract: Integrated planning prepares your institution for change by ensuring its decisions are informed by realities in the external environment.

What are key movements and trends within higher education? From addressing pandemic learning loss to grappling with generative AI in the classroom, learn the forces and changes directly impacting higher education, now and in the future.

This issue curates and summarizes 40-50 trends happening inside the world of higher education that could impact colleges and universities. Each trend includes a brief summary, a footnoted source, and discussion questions to help you analyze and act on the trend.