Gone are the days of independent study with a stack of books and a librarian who glares if you sneeze and hushes if you read out loud to yourself. Those days have been replaced with both small- and large-group collaboration and research from both books an
While evaluating a campus preparedness plan for a client recently, I noticed a common problem. The plan was painstakingly developed with superb detail. But as I reviewed the action steps for each protocol, it became apparent that the voice of the plan cha
Colleges and universities across the nation have been making the decision to allow security officers to carry firearms. This month we talked with Bill Corner, Calvin College's campus safety director. Located in Grand Rapids, MI, Calvin College, will
When it comes to roofing purchases, school administrators typically have two things to protect: the building envelope and the taxpayer pocketbook. The good news is that, for schools throughout the country, new delivery options are streamlining the roof pr
Free! Robust e-mail platform that offers six gigabytes of storage space, familiar Web-based interface, integrated chat and calendar software, superior spam blocking and virus protection, no data backup necessary, and no hardware or software upgrades. All
Most mid-sized and large public K-12 school systems and many independent K-12 schools have had some form of emergency notification system (ENS) in place for several years. Though some institutions of higher learning have also had these systems in place, m
Enrollment in Baldwin County Public Schools is increasing. Along with this growth is a demand to produce a more skilled workforce. While there was agreement about a commitment to student achievement and the need to more tightly integrate career technical
Baltimore's Morgan State University is positioning itself to meet this challenge by evaluating all marketing efforts and determining which are going to work and keep us within our budgets. One of the ways we are doing this is through the use of mobil
If there is always a better way to build the proverbial mousetrap, does this extend to something as complex as building a school facility? One man who responds to a positive yes to this question is Stephen Swisher, AlA. As opposed to the traditional metho
Maintenance professionals play a critical role in an institution's environmental program, and the procedures and tools at their disposal continue to evolve as new products and equipment or improvements to existing offerings become avail
Precast has emerged as the effective and economical method to fulfilling the architectural needs and construction challenges of schools. From compressed construction schedules to reduced construction and operating costs to "green," healthy, and
A school built around a pod design does not force a teacher to change methodology, but should he or she or the next teacher want to, the pod provides options and opportunities that corridors do not. Double-loaded corridors duplicate the past. Pods with co
Anything green grabs the headlines today, so it's no surprise manufacturers lead off the benefits list with metal roofs' earth-saving traits. The actual steel or aluminum itself is typically made from 60 percent recycled materials, according to
Campus safety concerns extend beyond emergency communications and adequate lighting. Asbestos, lead, mold, and radon pose health risks that must be addressed and remediated.
Fuel prices have been rising steadily in recent years, and these high prices have become a constant topic in the news, and even in our current Presidential election. This month we focused on solutions colleges and universities are employing to compensate
The EPA's HealthySEAT software enables districts to track and manage information on environmental conditions in each school.
With oil prices rising to over $130 dollars a barrel, fuel costs have become a significant concern for school districts' budgets.
The lack of priority that many districts place on maintenance has far reaching effects. The obvious is the deterioration of our buildings and equipment, or the voiding of warranties. The less obvious is the negative effect of building conditions on studen
Online university programs have the power to leverage the Internet to transcend distance and time constraints, providing new and expanded ways of teaching, learning, and collaboration on an international level. Unfortunately, these programs can also be th
Cleaning is the removal of unwanted matter, including macro soil we can see: dirt, debris, and spills; and micro soil: harmful bacteria, viruses, spores, dust particles, and chemical substances below the threshold of human perception. Micro soils, with th
What if there was a single tool to help your school district evaluate and manage all of its environmental, safety, and health issues, as opposed to having numerous files scattered across multiple offices and buildings? There is. It's a software progr