Survey Says...

Earlier this summer, College Planning & Management sent out a readers’ survey, asking for your feedback on what we’re doing right, what we could do better, what topics you’d like us to cover more often or more in-depth, and how you want to receive this information from us. I want to thank all of you who took the time to respond to the survey and add that you are welcome at any time to contact me with your suggestions, observations, article ideas, requests, compliments, and complaints. You are the reason this publication exists.

From your responses, I’ve learned that some topics you are very interested in learning more about are trends (especially design trends), facilities-related matters (construction, maintenance, sustainability), staffing (models, management, diversity), funding, and case histories (what’s happening on other campuses). You are especially keen to hear from your peers in order to learn what they’re doing and how their initiatives are working out.

Other suggestions on content you’d like to see include more international submissions, more about mailing, event planning, resiliency, risk management, and cybersecurity. These are all good suggestions and provide me with ideas for future content.

Now that I have this input in hand from you, I’m going to ask for more. Knowing that your peers want to learn about what is working on other campuses, for other administrators, please send me an email or give me a call and tell me about an initiative you are proud of, that is a success for your campus community, and that you would be excited for others to know about. I will find a way to share your story. For those who indicated on the survey that you would like more information on trends, please let me know what form of trends intrigue you. Design was mentioned a number of times, but what others? Construction? Curriculum delivery? Benchmarking? Sustainability? Fundraising? Public-private partnerships? I will look into what you’re interested in, see what’s out there, and present it you through this resource.

College Planning & Management works best when we work with you as well as for you. Thanks for being in touch through the survey; please keep in touch so that we can continue to be a helpful resource for you as you go about the important business of higher education.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management September 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.

  • GeoCam and UCLA: Modernizing Campus Accessibility Mapping

    In early 2025, UCLA partnered with GeoCam to capture and modernize its pedestrian infrastructure data. The goal was ambitious but clear: to produce a high-accuracy, imagery-backed digital map of every sidewalk, pathway, ramp, and ADA-related feature on UCLA’s 419-acre campus.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.

  • Children walking along bright school corridor with motion blur

    How Next-Gen Design Is Reshaping the Student Experience

    The environments where students learn play a crucial role in shaping their growth in and out of the classroom. By centering design on well-being, flexibility, and purpose, districts can ensure their facilities remain vibrant community assets for many years to come.