SCUP
 

Learning Resources

Your Higher Education Planning Library

Combine search terms, filters, institution names, and tags to find the vital resources to help you and your team tackle today’s challenges and plan for the future. Get started below, or learn how the library works.

FOUND 44 RESOURCES

REFINED BY:

  • Tags: Modifying the PlanxAdaptable PlansxProject Management / Deliveryx

Clear All
ABSTRACT:  | 
SORT BY:  | 
Blog Post

Published
September 2, 2025

How Strategic Is Your Strategic Plan?

Identify Its Shortcomings and Ask Key Questions

By: Sarah L Collie, PhD, Associate Vice President for Organizational Excellence, University of Virginia

Today, strategic planning in colleges and universities is more crucial than ever. Yet many strategic plans in higher education lack a clear strategy, instead resembling a long-range plan.

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Tool

Published
May 13, 2025

Featured Image

Campus Contingency Planner

By: Elliot Felix, Buro Happold | Nicholas Santilli, PhD, SCUP

This tool is a template for lightweight, rapid contingency planning. It guides you through a process that identifies the impacts of change, how decisions during contingency planning will be made, and the operational components of programs and offerings that will need to be adapted in response.
Abstract: Times of rapid change can interrupt operations and implementation efforts. Preventing this requires an ability to quickly adapt our programs and offerings to the changing landscape. Unfortunately, operational complexity and the disorienting nature of uncertainty become a hurdle to rapid response. Either we get overwhelmed trying to identify all that needs to change, or we respond haphazardly, missing crucial details.

Contingency planning can help. It is a method for preparing for potential changes that identifies how operations and action plans need to shift in response. It can also be used to respond to changes after they happen.

The Campus Contingency Planner is a template for lightweight, rapid contingency planning. It guides you through a process that identifies the impacts of change, how decisions during contingency planning will be made, and the operational components of programs and offerings that will need to be adapted in response.

Whether you manage student-facing programs (like academic programs or student affairs activities), or direct services that are internally supportive (like space management or IT), the Campus Contingency Planner can help you respond to change with flexibility, minimizing disruption and moving your institution forward.

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

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.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
July 23, 2024

Measuring Campus Initiative Outcomes of Diversity and High-performance Teams

By: Beyazmin Jimenez, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Culture | Ai Kurokawa, Principal | Tammy Trung Ngo, Energy Designer | Tim Singleton, Assistant Vice President of Capital Projects

The planning, designing, and building of campus initiatives requires broad and diverse perspectives.
Abstract: The planning, designing, and building of campus initiatives requires broad and diverse perspectives. This session will present the case for implementing sustainable ways of diversifying the owner, design, and construction industry through emergent data collection. We'll explore the link between diversity and high-performance of project development, process, and teams, and discuss the developing research and data related to owner satisfaction. Join us to find out how diverse and high-performance teams can add to the continuous improvement of processes and create sustainable changes towards a more diverse pipeline of multiple disciplines that impact the campus.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
July 23, 2024

Leveraging Progressive Design-Build Delivery for Capital Projects

By: Brandon Dekker, Principal | Brian Pratt, Associate Vice Chancellor and Campus Architect | Marijke Smit, Principal, Education Strategies | Khristina Stone, Preconstruction Manager

California recently passed legislation that permits its public entities to leverage Progressive Design-Build (PDB) delivery methods for capital projects.
Abstract: California recently passed legislation that permits its public entities to leverage Progressive Design-Build (PDB) delivery methods for capital projects. Other states are following suit, which will upend traditional planning and design processes. This session will outline necessary changes to pre-design planning processes and considerations to set projects up for success under a PDB delivery model. We'll share tools that will help you achieve better outcomes in your planning and design processes, including lessons learned from our own successes and challenges of using PDB as a project delivery method.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
July 23, 2024

Building a New Medical School With Integrated Project Delivery

By: Jacqueline Norman, Campus Architect | Linda Reimann, Chief of Staff and Assistant Dean, Strategic Innitatives | James Simeo, Principal

Effective means and methods for building projects result in campus environments that advance institutional missions and goals, ensure student success, and support campus communities working for change.
Abstract: Effective means and methods for building projects result in campus environments that advance institutional missions and goals, ensure student success, and support campus communities working for change. This session will demonstrate how administrators, planners, and designers joined forces to coordinate an integrated project delivery to build a new medical school that promotes success for a diverse student body. We'll highlight strategies for prioritizing during the decision-making process, including identifying physical space needs to support program initiatives, developing planning guidelines for those needs, and enacting a design-build process to meet those needs in the built environment.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
July 23, 2024

What’s In It For Me? The Benefits of Data Asset Management

By: Elizabeth Greaney, Chief Business/Financial Strategy Officer | Surayya Johnson, Director of the Office of Student Life| Paul Miller, Professional Development Director | Nadine Porter, Deputy Chief Analytics and Insights Officer

Data is a pillar for organizational mission and for driving results. Planners must not undervalue the importance of data-informed decision-making and its link to institutional wellbeing and sustainability. Montgomery College's (MC) integrated planning incorporated robust community input that culminated into a successfully built plan that supports agility and flexibility.
Abstract: Data is a pillar for organizational mission and for driving results. Planners must not undervalue the importance of data-informed decision-making and its link to institutional wellbeing and sustainability. Montgomery College's (MC) integrated planning incorporated robust community input that culminated into a successfully built plan that supports agility and flexibility. MC continuously reminds and educates the campus community about 'what's in it for me' and the benefits of collaborating on this growth mindset. This session will demonstrate how data-driven planning fosters ownership, accountability, buy-in, and increases effectiveness and trustworthiness of institutional decision-making, resulting in positive outcomes and decreased risk.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
July 23, 2024

Keep Focus: Improve Outcomes and Engagement With a Communications Calendar

By: Tina Dee, Director of Strategic Initiatives

Focusing on a specific goal each month increases strategic plan success.
Abstract: Focusing on a specific goal each month increases strategic plan success. Tactical discussions among stakeholders enhance ownership, identify more effective strategies, and ensure adaptations to the strategic plan as needed to meet evolving needs. This session will illustrate how aligning strategic goals with a monthly 'goal in focus' communications calendar can improve goal attainment by prioritizing focus, engagement, and ownership. Join us to find out how you can use a monthly communications calendar to achieve better outcomes for your strategic plan.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
July 22, 2024

How to Create a Flexible, Holistic Campus Master Plan

By: Catherine Brown, Director of Planning and Projects | Megan Jarosz, Associate Partner | Aaron Persen, Director of Facilities Planning and Construction

Developing a flexible master plan is critical for keeping up with the pace of education, increasing enrollment, and improving the surrounding community.
Abstract: Developing a flexible master plan is critical for keeping up with the pace of education, increasing enrollment, and improving the surrounding community. This session will share tools for creating a planning framework to facilitate discussion and decision-making in the ever-changing landscape of higher education. A master plan that approaches the campus from a holistic perspective can provide the flexibility to plan and execute projects for years into the future. Come learn how Metropolitan Community College’s (MCC) master plan considers campus goals, space utilization, public and private partnerships, and overall community impact to provide a solid framework for future planning.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50