Learning Resources

Blog Post

Published
December 11, 2023

Addressing Employee Needs in Higher Education:

A Path to Transformation and Excellence

By: Loren Rullman, PhD, Workshop Architects | Pam Watts, CAE, NIRSA | Kelsey Harmon Finn, Compass Group

In recent years, higher education staff throughout North America have increasingly expressed concern about compensation, work/life balance, and sense of agency over work. 24% of all staff are actively seeking roles outside of higher education, and 70% of staff at large or public universities would consider changing jobs. A recent survey form over 400 college and university staff provides actionable steps for a brighter future.

Tags: Health and Wellness, Human Resources, Original Research

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Responsive Design

Purposeful Planning Can Be Inclusive for Neurodiverse Students and Support the Well-Being of All

By: Shannon Dowling, MArch, AIA, LEEDAP, and James A. Baumann, MA

By incorporating student choice and voice into the planning and allowing autonomy in scale and adaptability, campuses can provide the environment where all students are most comfortable participating in any given activity.

From Volume 52 Number 1 | October–December 2023

Abstract: Research has shown that neurodivergent students report a lower sense of belonging and are less likely to feel welcomed, accepted, and like they belong on campus than their neurotypical peers. Considering this, a host of barriers to participation and belonging can be in effect across a college or university. While there are a few campus offices and departments that might address different aspects of these concerns independently, the most successful results occur when these groups—along with outside contractors such as design partners—work in strategic symphony.

This article is co-presented by the Association of College & University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I) and the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) and is being published in publications for both organizations.

Institutions Mentioned: Colorado School of Mines, Denison University, Lewis & Clark College, Montana State University, Ohio State University-Main Campus, The State University of New York at Albany, University of Georgia, University of Oregon
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Health and Wellness, Informal Learning Environments, Learning Environments, Placemaking, Student Housing

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Example Plans

Published
November 13, 2023

Example Plan

Private Doctoral/Research University (Maryland, United States)

The research university’s 2023 strategic plan.

Planning Types: Strategic Planning
Tags: Academic Planning, Academic Program Review, Alignment, Community Engagement, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Faculty, Goals, Graduate Degree Program, Learning Environments, Strategies and Tactics, Sustainability (Environmental), Town and Gown

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Supporting Neurodiversity in Higher Education

When Every Space Counts

By: Kathleen Kelly, MBA, AIA, LEED A+P

By integrating several unique campus voices, we can realize that unassignable space is highly valuable to the neurodivergent campus occupant.

From Volume 51 Number 4 | July–September 2023

Abstract: While universities have long been bastions of intellectual diversity, they are now embracing a broader understanding of diversity that extends beyond race, gender, and socioeconomic background. Neurodiversity, a concept celebrating the natural variations in human neurological functioning, is gaining prominence as an essential aspect of fostering a truly inclusive educational environment.

Institutions Mentioned: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, University of Southern Denmark, Syracuse University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Washington-Seattle Campus, University of Toronto-Downtown Toronto (St. George), Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Accessibility, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Health and Wellness, Informal Learning Environments, Space Assessment

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Blog Post

Published
September 5, 2023

What If the Building We Work in Could Make Us Healthier?

By: Lisa Jasinski, PhD, University of Texas at San Antonio

During the recent 2023 Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) 2023 Annual Conference in Cleveland, Niraj Dangoria, Stanford University’s associate dean of facilities planning, and management, and Paul Woolford and Julia Cooper of HOK, reported how they used integrated planning to construct the Center for Academic Medicine for the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Institutions Mentioned: Stanford University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Academic Facility, Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Health and Wellness, Medical / Allied Health Facility

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Example Plans

Published
June 30, 2023

Strategic Plan, Strategic Planning Website

Multiple Locations

Strategic plan for the university system developed by the state’s board of higher education.

Planning Types: Strategic Planning, Academic Planning
Resource Types: Strategic Plan, Strategic Planning Website
Tags: Attracting and Retaining Underrepresented Students, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Faculty Productivity, Goals, Governance, Measuring the Plan, Metrics, Racial Equity, Strategies and Tactics, Student Success, Workforce Development

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What Is Your Crisis ‘What If’?

Create a Sustainable Approach to Emergency Response Planning

By: Jessica A. Luedtke, PhD, and Mary M. Reinke, MBA, MS

The Medical College of Wisconsin planned strategically, engaged executive leadership, and operationalized an Administrative Response Team to navigate critical incidents impacting the university.

From Volume 51 Number 3 | April–June 2023

Institutions Mentioned: Medical College of Wisconsin
Planning Types: Continuity Planning
Tags: Building (or Writing) the Plan, Communication, Crisis and Disaster Management, External Collaboration / Partnerships, Leadership, Medical / Allied Health Education, Modifying the Plan, Recovery Planning, Response Planning, Risk Management, Scenario Planning, Security

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Optimizing for Growth

Long-Term Planning Is Essential During an Institutional Merger, Acquisition, and/or Geographic Expansion

By: Clayton Mitchell, MS, PE, CEM, and Chuck Rudalavage, BArch, AIA, LEED AP

Thomas Jefferson University focused on culture, communications, and collaboration during a transformational period of combining institutions.

From Volume 51 Number 3 | April–June 2023

Abstract: Accurately planning long-term strategy can be a shaky task for quickly-growing organizations, especially those that desire to maintain a strong impression on their stakeholders and surrounding communities. History shows that mergers and acquisitions can negatively impact an organization’s culture, communication initiatives, and internal and external experiences. Thomas Jefferson University, a longstanding private medical research university in Philadelphia, educating scholars since 1824, in recent years merged with Philadelphia University and further expanded its footprint through the aligned Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The authors of this article describe how to collaboratively optimize growth during a transformational period.

Institutions Mentioned: Thomas Jefferson University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Change Management, Engaging Stakeholders, Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Medical / Allied Health Facility, Organizational Change, Placemaking, Planning Processes, Renovation

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Quickly Building a Bridge

Use an Institutional Effectiveness Planning Model to Drive Strategic Planning

By: Jason Nicholas, MS, Daniel Cullen, PhD, and Ellen Koski, MPH

Executive leadership changes at Northern Michigan University led the interim president, interim provost, and Board of Trustees to call for a bridge plan to clearly articulate strategic work happening throughout campus. This article describes how the university was able to develop an interim strategic plan with broad campus engagement in less than half a year.

From Volume 51 Number 3 | April–June 2023

Institutions Mentioned: Northern Michigan University
Planning Types: Strategic Planning, Institutional Effectiveness Planning
Tags: Alignment, Assessment / Analytics, Bridge Planning, Engaging Stakeholders, Institutional Effectiveness, Institutional Planning, Institutional Research, Metrics, Planning Processes, Presidential Leadership, Response Planning, Selecting Metrics, Student Engagement

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Example Plans

Published
May 17, 2023

Strategic Plan

Public Master’s College or University (Colorado, United States)

The institution’s 2020–2030 strategic plan.

Planning Types: Strategic Planning
Resource Types: Strategic Plan
Tags: Budget Planning, Enrollment Management, Goals, Metrics, Strategies and Tactics, System of Colleges or Universities

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Planning Types

Challenges