Learning Resources

Financial Planning for Central Utility Plant Decarbonization

Divide and Conquer the Lift Across Different Funding Options

By: Andrew Honeyman, BSME, and Paul Graves, BSME

Vital stakeholder feedback and consensus from various university departments reveal the proper approach to building issues. Institutions such as the University of North Dakota used technical planning to produce well-informed financial modeling and right-sized financial plans.

From Volume 52 Number 2 | January–March 2024

Abstract: Implementing central utility plant (CUP) decarbonization projects requires strategic financial planning, collaboration, and consensus-building from the entire university community. This article describes gathering support from facilities management, executive staff, and lawmakers through technical and financial charrettes. Learn how technical planning produces well-informed financial modeling and right-sized financial plans, and how shared planning between design teams and facility planners creates tailored funding options, including IRA incentives, to fund decarbonization.

Institutions Mentioned: University of North Dakota, Kentucky State University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Alignment, Carbon Neutral, Energy Infrastructure, Engaging Stakeholders, Facilities Funding, Facilities Planning, Public-Private Partnerships (P3), Sustainability (Environmental)

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Conference Presentations

Published
March 5, 2024

New School of Nursing: Innovative Educational Technologies Wrapped in Tradition

By: Debra Nauta-Rodriguez, The Catholic University of America | Nicole Ostrander, Ayers Saint Gross | Jennifer Stone, Robert A.M. Stern Architects | Thomas Striegel, The Catholic University of America

Many campuses face challenges integrating with their surrounding urban contexts. Gateway buildings along campus edges can reinvigorate campus-city connectivity while a contextual design can contribute to an institution’s sense of place.

Abstract: Many campuses face challenges integrating with their surrounding urban contexts. Gateway buildings along campus edges can reinvigorate campus-city connectivity while a contextual design can contribute to an institution’s sense of place. The Catholic University of America’s newly completed School of Nursing and gateway plaza serves as a threshold between the urban fabric and pastoral landscape with a collegiate gothic exterior and an educationally advanced, innovative interior. This session will illustrate a project case study that engages the surrounding urban context with sustainable, responsible design, combining a historically responsive exterior with technology-rich, contemporary interior spaces.

Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Facilities Design, Flexible Learning Spaces, Landscape / Open Space, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Learning Environments, Medical / Allied Health Facility

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Conference Presentations

Published
March 5, 2024

Placemaking, Programming, and Plaza: An Innovative P3 Approach to Activation

By: Dan Biederman, Biederman Redevelopment Ventures | Brian Naumick, Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate | Cathy Pinskey, George Mason University | Melissa Thierry, George Mason University

For colleges and universities to achieve their goals with extremely limited resources, they must rely on constructive partnerships. This session will focus on building those connections for placemaking on campus, which is a critical aspect of activating a successful innovation ecosystem.

Abstract: For colleges and universities to achieve their goals with extremely limited resources, they must rely on constructive partnerships. This session will focus on building those connections for placemaking on campus, which is a critical aspect of activating a successful innovation ecosystem. Activation does not simply happen because a plaza exists; rather, it requires organizational structure, programming, funding models, and partnership. This session will explore cross-disciplinary planning?internally within the institution and with external partners?as well as provide resources for creating a framework for public space activation.

Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Landscape / Open Space, Placemaking, Public-Private Partnerships (P3)

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Institutional Process Mapping

A College Eliminates Service Gaps and Improves Efficiency and Collaboration

By: Steve Erickson, EdD, and G.L. Tucker, BS

Minnesota State Community and Technical College coordinated and integrated processes for student onboarding to support institutional performance.

From Volume 52 Number 2 | January–March 2024

Abstract: Students experience institutional processes differently than employees within an institution. Process mapping and evaluation, or Value Stream Mapping, is a purposeful way to coordinate and integrate processes to support institutional performance through the identification of inefficiencies, increased interdepartmental collaboration, and ultimately the creation of new processes that eliminate service gaps. This article will introduce key elements in process mapping, process evaluation, and the process management lifecycle. Those concepts will be described through one collegiate institution’s practical application of student onboarding evaluations across several departments, including recruiting, admissions, financial aid, and advising.

Institutions Mentioned: Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Tags: Community College, Continuous Improvement, Operational Planning, Planning Processes, Student Services

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Overcoming a $90M Budget Overage in Vanderbilt University’s Residential Colleges

A Multifaceted Team Worked Collaboratively to Stem Overruns

By: David Bailey, BA, AIA, LEED AP, and Walt Massey, BA

The University, architects, engineers, strategic planning consultants, and contractor teams worked hand in hand to peel back the onion to stem the overruns.

From Volume 52 Number 1 | October–December 2023

Abstract: When Vanderbilt University began seeing signs that cost escalation, scope additions, campus requirements, and authentic Collegiate Gothic architecture for their proposed new residence halls were all pressuring the budget, a multifaceted team worked collaboratively and arduously to stem the overruns.

Institutions Mentioned: Vanderbilt University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Academic Facility, Engaging Stakeholders, Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Implementation, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Mixed-Use, Modifying the Plan, Project Management, Project Management / Delivery, Student Housing

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Blog Post

Published
October 5, 2023

Fall 2023 Tech and Economic Trends: What I Think

By: Brittany Cipollone, MBA, MAT

SCUP's Trends in Higher Ed webinar touched on some of the trends mentioned in the 2023 Fall Trends in Higher Ed Report. Brittany Cipollone, MBA, MAT, director of integrated planning and effectiveness in the Division of Institutional Effectiveness at Augusta University, shares her thoughts and experience about two of the those trends.

Tags: Higher Ed Trends, Information Technology, Information Technology Planning, Trends External to Higher Ed

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Example Plans

Published
May 17, 2023

Bridge Plan

Public Associate’s College (Arizona, United States)

From April 2020, the institution’s president led faculty and staff in a rigorous planning and exploration process to ensure that the college remained accessible and thriving through the pandemic and beyond. This bridge plan document details the action steps resulting from that process.

Planning Types: Continuity Planning
Resource Types: Bridge Plan
Tags: Bridge Planning, Community College, COVID-19, Goals, Hybrid Learning, Leadership Attitude Toward Planning, Online Learning, Operational Planning, Organizational Culture, Response Planning, Scenario Planning, Strategies and Tactics, Student Experience, Teaching and Learning

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The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Align Strategic, Physical, and Capital Planning for the Next Generation of Students

By: Jacob Guter, MPA, RA, and Doug Kozma, BSLA, PLA

Michigan Technological University used active stakeholder engagement, frequent reviews, and vigorous discussion to develop its aspirational master plan.

From Volume 51 Number 3 | April–June 2023

Abstract: Profound technological changes are occurring today, and universities need to prepare our students to work and live in this new world. Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) is addressing the future of technology in society, academia, and the campus through our Tech Forward Strategic Plan, a bold enrollment and retention initiative, an aggressive capital campaign, and a dynamic hiring initiative. Our aspirational campus master plan, developed in partnership with SmithGroup, an integrated design firm, integrates and supports these initiatives and goals. Active stakeholder engagement, frequent reviews, and vigorous discussion allowed us to craft a campus master plan aligning strategic, physical, and capital planning that supports and drives the university’s 2035 Vision.

Institutions Mentioned: Michigan Technological University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Campus Master Planning, Community Engagement, Engaging Stakeholders, Facilities Assessment, Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Innovation Center, Laboratory Facility, Landscape / Open Space, Placemaking, Public-Private Partnerships (P3), Science / Engineering Facility, Space Assessment, Student Housing

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Blog Post

Published
March 17, 2023

Cultivating 55+ Communities on Campus

Higher Education and Senior Living

By: Apryl Motley, CAE, SASM

To gain insight into the potential opportunities and obstacles university-based retirement communities (UBRCs) present for higher education, we turned to Andrew Carle, adjunct faculty member, senior living administration for Georgetown University’s Master of Science Program in Aging & Health.

Institutions Mentioned: Georgetown University, Indiana University-Bloomington, Iowa State University
Planning Types: Campus Planning, Resource Planning
Tags: Demographics, Higher Ed Trends, Public-Private Partnerships (P3), Real Estate, Town and Gown, Trends External to Higher Ed

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Campus Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse

Leverage These Tools to Achieve Your Planning and Sustainability Goals

By: Meaghan Finney, MS, and Michael Patrick, M.Arch, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

By integrating historic buildings into your campus planning, their continued reuse can help solve some of the specific challenges facing university planners today.

From Volume 50 Number 4 | July–September 2022

Abstract: Historic campus buildings are often perceived as a burden, but by integrating them into your campus planning, their continued reuse can help solve some of the specific challenges facing university planners today, specifically in the context of sustainability. There are numerous case studies that demonstrate the successful adaptive reuse of varied campus buildings as well as an undeniable body of evidence showing the benefits of such an approach in working toward carbon neutrality. As long-term stewards of their built environments, colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to realize enduring savings from investing in the energy performance of existing buildings.

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Challenges