Learning Resources

Abstract: Discover how the University of Pittsburgh delivers diverse expertise and support to communities in need through an off-campus community engagement center initiative. Colleges and universities have a responsibility to use their expansive expertise and knowledge to assist and inspire community members and to broaden the student's perspective. Through a candid discussion about our collective experiences and lessons learned in this new community outreach effort, we will provide you with a roadmap of the various obstacles you must consider at your own institution.

Abstract: This session will examine the successful process behind planning Trippe Hall, a residence hall at Penn State Behrend. The design process incorporated student input at various stages, from schematic design to furniture selection. Attracting prospective students means providing spaces where they want to cultivate their education and community. You will discover new ways to foster student engagement throughout your building design process, resulting in spaces that are ideal for today’s students.

Abstract: The built environment directly affects human health and sustainability coordinators and campus planners are uniquely positioned to advocate for healthier buildings for their students, faculty, and staff. Smith College is a prime example of how a higher education institution can inspire market transformation. The Neilson Library renovation went above and beyond Smith College’s campus sustainability policy by implementing a sustainability charter, prioritizing health and wellness, and advocating for positive change. In this session, you will learn how material transparency and optimization can act as an avenue to address health and wellness in your institution's built environment.

Abstract: 2019 presents a changing landscape as concerns mount over environmental decline, increasing atmospheric carbon, and competition for resources. Across field after field, research demonstrates the impact of the built environment on climate change and the essential role retooling the built environment must play in addressing it. Globally, a massive reallocation of resources has begun as nations commit to addressing climate change and the social and economic equity challenges confronting our increasingly crowded planet.

To achieve Paris Agreement targets and advance the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III, architects, planners, and owners must fundamentally transform how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated. Creative and courageous people are forging new pathways full of promise and hope.

Institutions of higher learning have always been laboratories for testing new approaches at multiple scales—building, campus, and institutional. This keynote will articulate the compelling 21st century challenges and opportunities for the design and planning fields in higher education.

Abstract: Colleges and universities—especially those in urban areas—are often landlocked by their campus boundaries. Binghamton University has become a catalyst for transforming and revitalizing an economically-challenged community while maintaining its historical footprint. Come learn how to grow your academic programs and campus while assisting the community and putting students closer to employers. We will share our ideas for expanding your campus footprint and repurposing existing buildings to directly impact the surrounding community.

Abstract: Wellesley College enabled the revitalization of their largest academic building, the science center, by transforming the way people thought about temporary classrooms—from "breaking bad" to breaking norms. We will demonstrate how advances in modular building delivery are being applied to sophisticated buildings (including BL2 and vivarium) such that users perceive them as an improvement to the current condition. Come learn how to be better a problem-solver and be able to detect flaws-in-thinking before they become flaws-in-doing.

Abstract: Enrollment management is a term used in higher education to describe a wide range of issues, including recruitment, admissions, financial aid, student success, and more. To be successful, institutions must break with past practices and reconstitute organizational structures that are expandable. Using Kotter’s change management model as a guide, California State University Los Angeles LA’s addressed maximizing classroom capacity to meet enrollment demand following quarter to semester conversion and significant enrollment increases.

Abstract: Over their 150-year history, land-grant universities have played a tremendous and vital role in the development of the United States and the education of its people. Most of these institutions were established as the result of the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862. How has this mission, drafted in a much different time, held up over the years? As we move toward the third decade of the twenty-first century, many universities are evolving to better embrace changing student demographics; build industry partnerships; and reframe campus legacies to ensure that the land-grant mission still supports the needs of our times.