Some analysts consider netbooks to be merely small, cheap, and underpowered laptops. But that dismissive regard fails to recognize the most important point about netbooks: they are designed to be small and highly portable computers. That's one of the
Evaluating school safety and crisis plans almost every week, one cannot help but note certain patterns. One concern I have found in hundreds of these plans over the years is the use of language that could be interpreted as a promise to provide a level of
Anonymous hotlines play an important role in campus security, even if no one actually uses them.
I have been fortunate enough to sit on a number of architectural juries in the past few years. I have always enjoyed reviewing the projects and seeing what was new, but it wasn't until the last year or so that I really began to see schools where the
One institution taking steps to integrate sustainability into its curriculum to better prepare students for green building jobs is Edison State College in southwest Florida. Edison State was recently awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for $
Not all campus furniture and furnishings live a comfortable, indoor life, protected from wind, snow, dirt, rain, mud, and one of the most unpredictable forces of nature students.
By the end of last school year, swine flu and its effects had made a full circle through the news. Schools quickly set plans in place to deal with a possible pandemic, a vaccine was put in the works, and then everyone went on summer break. With a vaccine
Starting in October, K-12 schools will play a major role in immunizing Americans against swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, which will make a return visit to the northern hemisphere this winter. We explore how to prepare staff, facilities and commun
As today's urban colleges and universities rethink their place in the city, they shift their mindset from their own narrow needs to the greater public interest. They move from scientific enclaves to drivers of public agendas with great force. Accordi
Despite the recession, many colleges and universities have building and renovation projects planned or in progress. But, are the recession and shrinking budgets affecting the choices institutions make in these projects?
Using key elements in the design of music therapy rooms will create bright, lively and inviting spaces for our children to continue on a positive path of growth and development. It is well known that music therapy rooms affect and change the lives of indi
Space management involves efforts to improve human supervision through placement of legitimate activities in an area of risk or, more commonly, through simply locking doors. Unlocked and unoccupied spaces on higher education campuses create opportunity fo
We are accustomed to wireless coverage, particularly for cell phones, that works well almost anywhere at anytime. However, there are still many areas where coverage is spotty, and college and university campuses are not immune. One solution is to install
Enhanced amplification is be a learning boon to all students, whether they have special needs or not. As companies have created new offerings over the years, the improved technology has also often resulted in greater ease of use and lower cost. It has als
As you think about strategically positioning your presidency and your institution for regional leadership and beyond, consider ways in which your new alliances will add value, especially for alumni. How can you capitalize on potential partnerships to incr
Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology is a software-based approach to building design that incorporates 3D data, performance data, and more. BIM is not new technology. It is, however, just now "rising to the consciousness of a substantial nu
Residence hall amenities include laundry and kitchen facilities, but where are they, and who maintains them?
Facilities DO impact learning. Researchers have repeatedly found a difference of between five-17 percentile points between achievement of students in poor buildings and those students in above-standard buildings (when the socioeconomic status of students
While the goal of optimizing energy efficiency once required such straightforward considerations as the orientation of the building on a site or the installation of high-performance HVAC systems and flexible lighting controls, the range of alternatives to
On July 21st, Bill Gates spoke to the National Conference of State Legislatures meeting in Philadelphia about creating common national standards and data systems to measure and document student and teacher achievement. We spoke with Harry Barfoot about th
Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology is a software-based approach to building design that incorporates 3D data, performance data, and more. BIM is not new technology. It is, however, just now "rising to the consciousness of a substantial nu