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 113 RESOURCES

REFINED BY:

  • Tags: Original ResearchxSCUP Research ProgramxResiliencyxCarbon Neutralx

Clear All
ABSTRACT:  | 
SORT BY:  | 
Conference Presentations

Published
April 2, 2025

Campus Planning for a Sustainable, All-electric, and Decarbonized Future

Abstract: Buildings contribute over a third of global carbon emissions and are a key focus for decarbonization. As legislation phases out natural gas and enforces stricter efficiencies, campuses must adapt to the demands of all-electric building design. In this session, experts from the University of California (UC) will cover strategies, insights, and costs of decarbonization with the goal of building a more sustainable and healthy future. Join us to gain effective, practical tools and project strategies for campus decarbonization as well as discover how electrification impacts utilities and requires cross-disciplinary teamwork.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

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.

Member Price:
Free  | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Conference Presentations

Published
October 23, 2024

Culture-infused Master Plans: Transforming UTTC Through Regenerative Design

By: Leander McDonald, President, United Tribes Technical College | Melvin Miner, Campus Planner, United Tribes Technical College | Heidi Neumueller, Principal, Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc. | Emily White Hat, Vice President, Programs, American Indian College Fund

This session will share lessons learned from United Tribes Technical College's (UTTC) master plan that serves as a living document and adapts to changing needs. We'll explore how this culture-infused master plan applied an integrated approach to campus development over five years, addressing five primary needs with a focus on culture, regenerative design, and phasing to support strategic alignment.
Abstract: This session will share lessons learned from United Tribes Technical College's (UTTC) master plan that serves as a living document and adapts to changing needs. We'll explore how this culture-infused master plan applied an integrated approach to campus development over five years, addressing five primary needs with a focus on culture, regenerative design, and phasing to support strategic alignment. Join us to discover how you can implement campuswide resiliency strategies to safeguard the campus environment and gain insights into the phased implementation approach for ensuring the plan's success and sustainability over time.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
October 22, 2024

Mass Timber: The Future of Carbon Neutral Campuses

By: Mike Love, Superintendent, PCL Construction Enterprises, Inc. | Carol Phillips, Partner, Moriyama Teshima Architects | Nerys Rau, Director, Design and Construction, George Brown College | Ted Watson, Partner, MJMA

Higher education must lead by example to promote widespread adoption of carbon sequestering mass timber while also delivering an enriched student experience.
Abstract: Higher education must lead by example to promote widespread adoption of carbon sequestering mass timber while also delivering an enriched student experience. This session will use two leading-edge examples to discuss the state of mass timber, its significant benefits, challenges, mitigations, and integrated delivery. Through lessons learned from our integrated planning processes, we'll show you how to lead, advocate for, and manage mass timber and advanced sustainability efforts to deliver a healthy, sustainable carbon neutral campus environment.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
August 29, 2024

Featured Image

Stepping Toward Carbon Neutrality

Capital Planning and Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement Set a Pathway to Sustainability and Resiliency

By: Megan Campbell, BArch; Tracy Steward, MBA; Tanvi Sharma, MCP; and Mary Anne Ocampo, MArch II, MAUD

The University of Louisville’s Planning, Design, and Construction Office strategically used campus planning efforts to collect data, analyze the built environment, and foster robust stakeholder engagement with the campus community and city agencies.

From Volume 52 Number 4 | July–September 2024

Abstract: Learn about the University of Louisville’s (UofL) journey toward carbon neutrality, navigating challenges such as aging infrastructure, substantial deferred maintenance, dependence on city utilities, and financial constraints. UofL’s Planning, Design, and Construction Office strategically used campus planning efforts to collect data, analyze the built environment, and foster robust stakeholder engagement with the campus community and city agencies. This approach raises carbon neutrality awareness, aligns goals, and establishes a financially viable pathway to success—all to position UofL to achieve a 60 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and attain full carbon neutrality by 2050.

Member Price:
Free  | Login

Member-only Resource

Join now to have access

Conference Presentations,Conference Recordings

Published
July 23, 2024

Complexity and Contradiction: Integrating Decarbonization Planning and Actions

By: Jennifer Garman, Architect | Jeffrey Mandyck, Principal | Marc Partridge, University Architect, Capital Project Management | Shane Stennes, Chief Sustainability Officer

Campus decarbonization requires flexible and adaptable approaches at all scales. Determining the appropriate mix of action plans helps campuses prepare for an increasing number of existing building performance and carbon reduction policies.
Abstract: Campus decarbonization requires flexible and adaptable approaches at all scales. Determining the appropriate mix of action plans helps campuses prepare for an increasing number of existing building performance and carbon reduction policies. The University of Minnesota's (U of M) multi-campus system, one of the largest in the U.S., is planning and taking actions to become net zero. This unconventional approach addresses decarbonization across regional climates, campus-systems, and building scales. In this session, we'll provide transferrable decarbonization planning processes, best practices, and lessons learned from actions across geographical regions, diverse campus-wide energy systems, and existing facilities net zero strategies.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
July 22, 2024

Pursuing Carbon Neutrality Through Campus Master Planning

By: Meg Campbell, AVP Planning Design and Construction | Mary Anne Ocampo, Principal | Urban Designer | Tracy Steward, Partner

Climate commitments and carbon neutrality are becoming top priorities for many campuses.
Abstract: Climate commitments and carbon neutrality are becoming top priorities for many campuses. Since building engineering systems account for seventy-to-eighty percent of carbon production, all campus stakeholders are contributors to the future success of emissions goals. Despite established infrastructure, reliance on city utilities, high deferred maintenance, and financial constraints, the University of Louisville (UofL) is pursuing carbon neutrality and is on track to achieve a sixty percent reduction by 2030 and one hundred percent by 2050. This session will share necessary master planning strategies for pursuing carbon neutrality at the campus level, emphasizing the need for rigorous, multi-disciplinary stakeholder engagement.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
July 22, 2024

Master Planning for Campus Water Resilience

By: Joss Hurford, Resilience Consultant | Russell Rodecap, Associate Vice President

Water-related disasters pose a serious risk to an institution's mission, physical assets, and reputation.
Abstract: Water-related disasters pose a serious risk to an institution's mission, physical assets, and reputation. While the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Galveston is largely resilient to its harsh weather conditions, some critical threats remain. Its challenging path to water resilience serves as roadmap for other institutions seeking to mitigate risk and increase safety. This session will discuss UTMB's in-place campus climate resilience, its remaining challenges, how its revised master plan sets the course to mitigate flood and water service risks. Join us to discover how this ambitious but practical journey is applicable to all institutions subject to water-related events.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Conference Presentations

Published
July 22, 2024

Fearlessly Forward: Charting a Path from Suburban Flagship to Innovation Center

By: Rebecca Arnold, Assistant Director | Michael Austin, Senior Associate | Mike Aziz, Partner | Jonathan Friedan, Principal

Transforming older campuses into healthy, walkable green environments with high-impact programming requires investments in infrastructure, circulation, and buildings?all while addressing legacy assets?
Abstract: Transforming older campuses into healthy, walkable green environments with high-impact programming requires investments in infrastructure, circulation, and buildings? All while addressing legacy assets? Is a major challenge for institutions today. The University of Maryland College Park's (UMD) campus plan sets a visionary yet achievable roadmap for key institutional goals, enabling the evolution of a suburban flagship campus into a vibrant, urban, multi-modal, and carbon-neutral innovation center. This session will offer practical strategies for planners to align diverse interests and stakeholders from across the campus community, clear decision-making hurdles, and balance long-range strategic goals with near-term needs.

Member Price:
$35  | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Report

Published
July 3, 2024

Featured Image

When City Parks Are Your Quad

Urban Campus Planning for Safety and Well-Being

By: Joel Pettigrew, MA, Higher Education Administrator and Strategist

This is a SCUP Fellow Research Project Final Report for the 2022–2023 program. This report explores how the urban campus can best support student development in a safe, yet open environment.
Abstract: How can the campus best support student development in a safe, yet open environment? On an urban campus, these concerns are intensified: There is much more localized activity for students to engage with in their city environment, and many more stakeholders influence how the institution can assert itself in that environment.

In this 2022-2023 SCUP Fellow research report, Joel Pettigrew reflects on how campus edge dynamics and student sense of security play out at several urban campuses. Pettigrew weaves together his operational understanding of campus life with a design understanding of how planners and architects approach the campus to explore how these “two languages” inform student security and well-being, and notes in conclusion that there are many research threads yet to follow.

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free