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

  • Designing for Every Mind

    Learning environments have the power to shape not just what students know, but who they become. When a school is designed with genuine empathy—for the full range of ways students think, sense, and engage with the world—it becomes more than a building. It becomes a catalyst for growth, confidence, and belonging. That is the animating idea behind neurodiverse design, and it is one that is transforming how more architects and designers are thinking about school design.

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Tomball ISD Opens New Tomball West High School

    Tomball Independent School District in Tomball, Texas, recently celebrated the official opening of Tomball West High School, the district's third comprehensive high school, with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a district news release.