Learning Resources

Abstract: This report from the SCUP Campus Facilities Inventory (CFI) aggregates space data submitted to the CFI survey from 2006 and 2007. Institutions submitting a CFI survey quantify how their space is allocated using classifications from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Facilities Inventory and Classification Manual (FICM).

Abstract: This paper reports on a study of changing demands for space in United Kingdom (UK) higher education. Physical spaces that universities require are related to their functions in complex ways, and the connections between space and academic performance are not well understood. No simple algorithm can calculate a single university's space needs, but a number of identified drivers frame space considerations. Space designations are blurring, increasingly multi-functional, and exploited more efficiently. The planning of institutional estates must be incorporated into strategic planning initiatives if institutions are to achieve their academic objectives.

Abstract: U.S. transportation data suggest that the number of vehicle miles traveled has far surpassed new capacity, resulting in increased traffic congestion in many communities throughout the country. This article reports on traffic congestion around a university campus located within a small town. The mix of trip purposes varies considerably in this context, with the majority of trips related to student movement to and from classes. The university itself becomes a major traffic generator, but in a complex way. This article describes how congestion in a university setting differs from that in a nonuniversity setting; what components drive this congestion; how best to reduce this congestion while adhering to overall university planning objectives; and how to set a foundation for traffic management strategies that provide environmental, social, and economic benefit to the university and, importantly, to the surrounding community. The information presented here applies beyond the campus setting to any community that contains nontraditional traffic generators and shows why context does matter when analyzing and managing traffic.

Abstract: Greening the Ivory Tower and Degrees That Matter provide an enlightening case study of Tufts University’s sustainability initiatives over the past 17 years. While Greening the Ivory Tower could be aptly titled Lessons Learned from the Field, its sequel, Degrees That Matter, could be renamed More Lessons Learned. As companion pieces, these works offer comprehensive and accessible information for creating a campus environmental sustainability program that addresses waste reduction, energy efficiency, transportation reform, and purchasing practices.

Abstract: This study examined the quality and the factors which contributed positively and negatively to the quality of some selected students residential facilities in Nigeria. A user-perspective approach was adopted. The quality of the selected facilities was examined at three levels of environmental interaction and from architectural and social dimensions. Twenty purpose-built halls of residence were selected from four Universities in Nigeria and two thousand students were selected from these halls using the stratified method of sampling. The results revealed that students’ halls of residence were perceived to be below average in overall quality and the attributes which contributed the most to this low level of quality were the socio-physical characteristics. Out of the three levels of interaction examined, the bedroom was the only level that was assessed as poor in quality. The results further showed that the social unit size defined at the level of the bedroom as well as the bedroom for studying were the factors, which contributed most negatively to overall quality, signifying their importance. Finally, the implications of the findings for planning and designing future residential facilities were highlighted.

Abstract: This study addresses several common shortcomings of current university campus sustainability initiatives, including a lack of attention to integrative issues such as land use, housing, and transportation, and a generally reactive rather than proactive approach to sustainability. To engage these concerns, we develop a model for assessing the relative sustainability of three different future configurations of campus land use, including a "current trends" scenario and two "smart growth" scenarios. The model uses computer-based mapping software to measure a set of six sustainability indicators for each land use scenario. We test the model using the University of Michigan's North Campus as a case analysis.