Learning Resources

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.

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: Buildings are a major source of carbon emissions. Campuses need solutions for meeting rigorous energy goals while capturing programmatic needs, improving occupant health and wellness, and meeting bottom-line financial requirements. What are the key steps in planning and delivering a fully-electric, highly-sustainable student residence, dining, and services building? Using the Harmony Commons at the University of Toronto-Scarborough (UTSC) as a case study, we'll share planning perspectives from administrative, financial, design, and construction standpoints. This session will raise awareness of available solutions for planning and building an all-electric building and provide a pathway for success through integrated planning.

Abstract: Institutions can move beyond design project engagement activities by actively collaborating with students to explore issues of belonging and mattering to make more meaningful design choices. This session will delve into research created with students from racial minorities at North Carolina State University's (NCSU) D. H. Jr. Hill Library, which explores their perceptions and offers their visions for more just and equitable spaces. Along with learning how to connect students' sense of belonging and mattering to campus design through meaningful collaboration, you'll leave this session with a replicable research model to use with students to envision more inclusive learning environments.

Abstract: With the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events continuing to increase across the country, the need for resilience planning is more critical than ever before.

Numerous campuses across the California State University (CSU) system have direct experience with wildfires, extended drought, floods, extreme heat, public safety power shutoffs, hurricanes, and sea level rise. The CSU is currently working toward increasing resilience in response to catastrophic events through systemwide technical guidance resources on building and infrastructure design and retrofit. These extreme conditions further prompted the need for vulnerability assessments systemwide and coordinated climate resilience planning and investment activities.

Using the activities of CSU climate action and adaptation planning, 2022-2023 SCUP Fellow Tamara Wallace’s SCUP Fellows project sought to achieve three (3) primary objectives:

1. Review planning documents and policies that consider climate resiliency governance versus climate resiliency implementation.


2. Identify key stakeholders to develop a primer for addressing and incorporating campus-community implementation priorities.


3. Raise awareness with the broader higher education planning community to collect feedback and share model practices.

Abstract: With the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events continuing to increase across the country, the need for resilience planning is more critical than ever before.

Numerous campuses across the California State University (CSU) system have direct experience with wildfires, extended drought, floods, extreme heat, public safety power shutoffs, hurricanes, and sea level rise. The CSU is currently working toward increasing resilience in response to catastrophic events through systemwide technical guidance resources on building and infrastructure design and retrofit. These extreme conditions further prompted the need for vulnerability assessments systemwide and coordinated climate resilience planning and investment activities.

Using the activities of CSU climate action and adaptation planning, Wallace’s SCUP Fellows project sought to achieve three (3) primary objectives:

Review planning documents and policies that consider climate resiliency governance versus climate resiliency implementation.
Identify key stakeholders to develop a primer for addressing and incorporating campus-community implementation priorities.
Raise awareness with the broader higher education planning community to collect feedback and share model practices.
Join 2022-2023 SCUP Fellow Tamara Wallace as she shares her findings to help you and your team proactively plan for climate change to mitigate risks, prevent damage, and ensure continued learning from lived experiences.

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.

Abstract: Today’s students are coming to school with diverse gender identities. Designing facilities with gender equity in mind helps to support marginalized communities and future proof the campus. This session will present case studies and inclusive best practices for ‘designing beyond the binary’ to foster belonging in campus housing, restrooms, and gathering spaces. You’ll discover strategies to foster belonging and wellbeing for a spectrum of gender identities through programming and operations as well as learn about design tools and tips to create belonging in spatial environments.

Abstract: Planning for inclusive spaces where students can see themselves and achieve success requires critical approaches, diverse perspectives, and representative processes. This session will explore ways of incorporating indigenous experiences and perspectives into the process of placemaking, using The Evergreen State College’s (TESC) renovation of the Seminar 1 building?Äîhome of the Native Pathways Program?Äîas a case study. Join us to find out how you can improve your planning and design processes to create inclusive, vital places of life, learning, and wellbeing on your campus.

Abstract: In order for institutions to support students’ desire for engagement and impact within their local, regional, and national communities, they must plan and design spaces that foster instruction, discourse, and invention. This session will evaluate Thurgood Marshall Hall on its promise as an integrated scholar-practitioner community within the University of Maryland’s (UMD) Do Good Campus for social impact education. After a year of occupation, we’ll share how we conducted a qualitative assessment of the building with a wide cross-section of stakeholders and how the resulting lessons will impact the campus’s ‘Do Good’ mission and inform future planning and design.