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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
October 23, 2025

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A New Campus Planning Paradigm Emerges . . .

. . . Addressing Declining Enrollment, Evolving Academic Technology, Online Learning, and Facilities Maintenance Costs

By: Mohammed Abdelaal, PhD, and Robert L. Ryan, PhD, FASLA

By reviewing campus plans and interviewing senior planners and administrators, the authors examined how 11 public universities in the Northeast and Midwest are responding to growing financial, pedagogical, and facilities risks.

From Volume 54 Number 1 | October–December 2025

Abstract: After decades of significant investment in campus development, US universities are now confronted with enormous challenges, including declining enrollment, evolving academic technology, online learning, and rising facilities maintenance costs. The authors of this research examined how 11 public R1 universities in the Northeast and Midwest are addressing these challenges through a review of campus plans and interviews with senior planners and administrators. This study argues that a new campus planning paradigm is gradually emerging in response to these risks, which highlights innovative strategies for place-based institutions to rapidly reexamine their prevailing capital planning priorities with a focus on adaptability and right-sizing campus facilities.

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Conference Presentations,Conference Recordings

Published
June 2, 2025

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Planning for Access, Equity, and Belonging at Buffalo State University

By: Arlita McNamee, Practice Strategy | Planner, Architectural Resources | Peter Murad, Principal, Architectural Resources | Sarah Reid, Facilities Planner, Buffalo State SUNY

As an urban-engaged university, Buffalo State University's strategic commitment to diversity, inclusion, and access has strengthened and diversified student recruitment, raised retention rates, and built community within and beyond the campus. Buffalo State's reputation of providing quality education, access, equity, and engagement requires inclusive, multi-functional spaces that foster a sense of community and develop a welcoming and equity-minded culture for all students.
Abstract: As an urban-engaged university, Buffalo State University's strategic commitment to diversity, inclusion, and access has strengthened and diversified student recruitment, raised retention rates, and built community within and beyond the campus. Buffalo State's reputation of providing quality education, access, equity, and engagement requires inclusive, multi-functional spaces that foster a sense of community and develop a welcoming and equity-minded culture for all students. This session will provide actionable design strategies for reimagining existing campus spaces as learning environments that can build community, foster a sense of belonging, and drive student success.

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Report

Published
May 23, 2025

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The Future of University Planning in 2040 (and Beyond)

I Used Foresight Analysis to Help SCUP Look Ahead, Adapt, and Innovate

By: Lisa Jasinski, PhD, President, Associated Colleges of the Midwest

This is a SCUP FellowResearch Project Final Report for the 2023–2024 program. This report explores how foresight analysis can be used to prepare and plan for uncertain futures in higher education.
Abstract: In this SCUP fellowship project, Lisa Jasinski applies strategic foresight methods to explore what university planning could look like in 2040—and how we can better prepare for it today.

Informed by environmental scanning, futures thinking, and stakeholder engagement with SCUP members and campus leaders, she developed four plausible scenarios grounded in current trends such as AI, climate change, political polarization, and declining public trust. These scenarios aren’t predictions; they are planning tools that help teams and organizations stress-test strategies, surface assumptions, and engage in meaningful future-focused conversations.

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Tool

Published
May 13, 2025

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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.

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Conference Presentations

Published
April 7, 2025

Planning for Access, Equity, and Belonging at Buffalo State University

Abstract: As an urban-engaged university, Buffalo State University's strategic commitment to diversity, inclusion, and access has strengthened and diversified student recruitment, raised retention rates, and built community within and beyond the campus. Buffalo State's reputation of providing quality education, access, equity, and engagement requires inclusive, multi-functional spaces that foster a sense of community and develop a welcoming and equity-minded culture for all students. This session will provide actionable design strategies for reimagining existing campus spaces as learning environments that can build community, foster a sense of belonging, and drive student success.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
March 4, 2025

Collaborative Planning Deepens Town-Gown Relationships

Carlow University Develops a Best-Practice Framework with the City of Pittsburgh

By: Lisa Witzig, PhD, EdD, Michelle Figlar, EdD, and Joy Pugh, EdD

Implementing a four-quadrant assessment of purposeful communication, participatory engagement, collaborative planning, and shared resources produced actionable, impactful, and relevant improvement recommendations for the urban university.

From Volume 53 Number 2 | January–March 2025

Abstract: The president of Carlow University identified the university’s town-gown relationships as needing assessment as the institution embarked on a significant campus revitalization that required close coordination with the City of Pittsburgh. We developed a four-quadrant framework of best practices based on an extensive literature review. To assess town-gown interactions against the framework, we interviewed city and higher education leaders, reviewed the City of Pittsburgh’s and university documents, and analyzed the university’s social media presence. Our process generated specific, actionable recommendations that resulted in the university reorganizing senior leadership position descriptions and responsibilities, revamping its social media strategy, and aligning organizational efforts to increase its visibility.

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Conference Presentations

Published
October 23, 2024

Campus Library Planning to Meet Evolving Student Needs

By: Aaron Shrimplin, Associate Dean, University Libraries, Miami University-Oxford | Nicholas Sillies, Associate, GBBN Architects | Mike Smith, Manager of Operations and Planning, Miami University-Oxford | Zachary Zettler, Principal | Director of Higher Education, GBBN Architects

Libraries impact every student on campus, and as neutral third spaces, libraries are positioned to provide services equitably. Today's library services have expanded from the traditional book stacks to include a range of diverse resources.
Abstract: Libraries impact every student on campus, and as neutral third spaces, libraries are positioned to provide services equitably. Today's library services have expanded from the traditional book stacks to include a range of diverse resources. The master planning process for Miami University's King Library identified renovation projects that transform the ground floors into a dynamic marketplace and active hub that provides access to resources campuswide. Come learn how your institution's library can adapt to stay relevant and useful for students through careful master planning, designing for flexibility, and forming strategic partnerships for student resources.

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Conference Presentations

Published
October 23, 2024

Using the Student Success Trifecta to Boost Enrollment and Retention

By: Catherine Campbell, Dean, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Saint Edward's University | DOROTHY Harpool, Executive Director of Engagement and Prominence, Wichita State University | Janette Scott, Senior Associate, Gensler | Christopher Shook, Professor and Dean, University of Alabama at Birmingham

As higher education faces the demographic cliff, institutions must find ways to boost enrollment, improve retention, and promote student success with a focus on first-generation students, DEI, and students with learning differences.
Abstract: As higher education faces the demographic cliff, institutions must find ways to boost enrollment, improve retention, and promote student success with a focus on first-generation students, DEI, and students with learning differences. This session will define the student success trifecta: boosting student learning in their field of study; encouraging the development of strong interpersonal relationships; and embracing the life skills that come with the college experience. We'll combine research with unique, firsthand experience to demonstrate how promoting engagement and designing for a sense of belonging for students on campus looks different for each individual student, institution, and field of study.

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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.

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