Learning Resources

Abstract: Office space makes up about a third of all non-residential space on campuses. Post-COVID, many institutional offices struggle with providing enough office space while simultaneously creating a sense of workplace vibrancy due to the rise in remote and hybrid employees. Promoting change in higher education is tough—is it possible to fulfill the needs of all institutional offices through one style of workplace or is it necessary to consider unique needs of offices and individual employees? Join us to explore two institutional workplace case studies and apply the lessons learned on your campus.

Abstract: Integrated planning in higher education requires a broad set of skills, knowledge, and qualities. Some of these might seem obvious (like planning knowledge). Others may be less so—particularly expertise related to “soft” skills or human skills, like communication or collaboration.

Build capacity for integrated planning more efficiently with SCUP’s Integrated Planning Competencies. This framework identifies the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for successful integrated planning across the institution. We will provide an overview of the competencies, describe how they were developed, and share insights from competency research.

Whatever planning activities you’re involved in—whether you’re responsible for planning across your institution, coordinating your institution’s next strategic plan, implementing your campus master plan, working within your department to improve student success, etc.—an integrated planning approach is key. Join us and demystify the skills, knowledge, and dispositions you need to get there.

Abstract: Triton College’s strategic plan focuses on short- and mid-term institution-wide neurodiversity efforts to create a neuroinclusive campus culture. Key aspects of success include a multi-year administrative commitment; connecting the work to the open-access mission; including committee members from across the college; and focusing on programming, space, and partnerships. Triton College built support and overcame barriers by amplifying advocates and identifying champions, tying the work to campus-wide initiatives, ensuring strategic and operational leadership, securing seed funding, including stakeholders, starting small, reducing risk, allowing for development time, defining the work, building on wins, and adhering to an open-access mission.

Abstract: Flexible classroom space is at a premium, making it necessary to link design with utilization to facilitate projected academic program growth. Including faculty in classroom planning and design processes is a vital part of supporting pedagogical innovation in campus learning spaces. This session will highlight recent strategic planning efforts with faculty and staff at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) focused on Central Pool classrooms and support for teaching and learning. We'll share ideas about how to facilitate collaboration between faculty, staff, and experts in the industry to maintain and advance flexible classrooms that support pedagogy and program development.

Abstract: Traditional, siloed faculty offices are no longer the best option for serving student and staff needs. Open-concept faculty neighborhoods benefit staff by creating a collaborative working environment, and they benefit students by providing space for them to speak openly with professors. This session will demonstrate how innovative faculty neighborhoods increase collaboration and dialogue, supporting the working and learning experience for faculty, students, and the whole institution. We'll demonstrate how you can get the most out of your campus working environments by implementing creative layouts that are designed to boost collaboration and connection while retaining space for personal reflection and rejuvenation.

Abstract: Academic office spaces have historically followed established norms. These patterns are changing to maximize and condense real estate, minimize operating costs, and adjust to remote and hybrid work. This session will examine fundamentals of faculty and administrative offices and review student adjacencies, hot-desking and co-sharing space trends, and the future of hybrid work environments. We'll spotlight three unique academic office solutions that cover both new construction and existing renovation construction types. Join us to benefit from lessons learned, identifying potential pitfalls and new opportunities.

Abstract: Build Capacity for Integrated Planning

Whether you’re preparing a committee for an upcoming planning process or simply looking for directions for your own professional development, the Integrated Planning Competencies can help you determine the knowledge, skills, and dispositions your institution needs to advance integrated planning.

Integrated planning requires building capacity in the people who do planning so they have the necessary knowledge and skills for success. But higher education institutions that focus only on developing planning-related expertise often face hurdles when they attempt integrated planning. Why? Because colleges and universities are complex environments and using an integrated planning approach in those environments requires a wide range of knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Some of the required expertise might seem obvious (like writing goals or analyzing information). But some of it may be less so—particularly expertise related to “soft” skills or human skills, like communication or collaboration.

To provide more clear and specific guidance, SCUP identified competencies—knowledge, skills, and dispositions—that individuals need for successful integrated planning. We analyzed the experiences and viewpoints of around 300 planners and higher education administrators in order to surface the competencies—both obvious and inconspicuous—that underpin integrated planning success.

Abstract:

Interpreting diverse perspectives and synthesizing qualitative and quantitative information are key to making impactful and informed long-term decisions that drive successful student, institutional, and facility development. In order to meet mounting demand, the historical center for administration at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania needed to reflect the university's forward-thinking ethos and offer flexible work settings to meet current and future occupant needs. We'll explore how the Wharton School used a performance measurement tool to examine space effectiveness and leverage lessons learned to create a more agile, resilient, and equitable future.

Abstract: The death of George Floyd in 2020 and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement have renewed the focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), particularly in higher education planning. As a result of this attention, higher education has reexamined its commitment to DEI. A student voice survey found that college students were underwhelmed by actions taken by their institutions to address DEI on campus (Inside Higher Education 2021). Institutional units across higher education require coordinated, integrated planning to meet student expectations. This article highlights the results of a study that examined professional development strategies for higher education professionals in the context of the post-George Floyd–era.