Colleges and universities can make a positive difference by having detailed plans and policies in place, working with members of the campus and surrounding communities, and identifying potential flare-ups. All can work hand-in-hand with those one-on-one i
"Crises can come and go, whether that means hurricanes, fires, or hostile intruders," says Greg Krikorian, Lebanon Valley's vice president for student affairs and dean of students. "At the end of the day, whatever the issue, we need to
Student centers function as the campus heart with lively places for dining, lounging, meeting, and playing games. They're often described as the "third place" in a student's everyday life (other than work and home). While these spaces
The ability of any staff member in a campus facility to initiate the lockdown process during the first critical 30 seconds of an event no matter which employee becomes aware of the threat, where he or she is on campus, or what the nature of the threat req
Providing a high-quality educational experience for a diverse group of students, meeting academic goals, and staying within budget means that administrators, campus planners, and architects need to optimize new construction projects and maximize existing
We often define the problem of school violence too narrowly. The focus is usually on interpersonal violence between students or by students toward their teachers. When in reality, any instance of crime or violence at a school not only affects the individu
The Great Recession is being blamed for increasing deferred maintenance. But is it the only cause of this challenge? What do administrators need to do to turn the situation around? What is going to happen if they don't? Here, E. Lander Medlin, execut
What happens when everyone tries to log on to that coverage at the same time? Perhaps the most famous example occurred to the late Steve Jobs during an important product launch. About 40 minutes into the Apple CEO's keynote speech where he was introd
How can student center floors stand up to the resulting wear and tear, and with flooring that's environmentally sustainable, affordable, and easy on the eye? What goes into the process of choosing flooring systems in such crucial places?
If women and minorities are to make significant inroads with regard to leading our colleges and universities, the most significant change we can make will be in the composition of the governing boards of our institutions. The diversification we have witne
The TD Bank Sports Center, with twin NCAA Division I hockey and basketball arenas for men's and women's teams, was the first structure to be built on the entirely new 240-acre campus carved out of a rocky hilltop in Hamden, CT. It was the semina
The Obama administration is challenging colleges and universities to provide clearer and more comparable information about financial aid and the cost of college. On the surface, this challenge seems relatively straightforward. But you don't need to d
What started in the '70s as pre-recorded closed-circuit TV, digital signage made a showy, and expensive, debut in places like Times Square and Las Vegas. Today, low-cost equipment and high-speed Internet means that digital signage is everywhere from
When it comes to campus facilities, administrators always want a tight building envelope. A tight building envelope ensures that your facility is energy-efficient, safe, and healthy. Achieving a tight building envelope begins with an appreciation for its
Enrollment continues to grow, but to attract 
and retain those students depends in part 
on the quality of housing at your institution.
Colleges and universities own some of the most valuable real estate in the world. Despite aging facilities and budget cuts, they are doing an admirable job protecting the assets they have. The funding gap is being counterbalanced by the extra efforts of t
A fire alarm system and accessory components are, without doubt, a necessity for life safety. By monitoring the environment and noticing any changes potentially related to unsafe conditions, a fire alarm system alerts the occupants of a building that ther
Military-friendly colleges offer on-campus resources to make learning about and utilizing Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits as easy as possible for veteran and active duty service members. It is advised that military students seek out this individual or office t
Admittedly, not every campus is suited to a wind program. Simply put: wind and space are required to succeed. A strong commitment from the institution's president or chancellor's office also is critical to generating wide-ranging support and mai
New approaches to AV management and controls have led to increased flexibility with the use of open-source products.
The biggest obstacle to the Bucknell Lewisburg Community Development efforts was the status quo: A community that was generally comfortable with how it looked and a University that saw no compelling reason to do something different from what it had been d
The start of fall for most of our programs is the start of a new budget year and a flurry of life-safety construction projects that we hope to complete before students return from summer vacation. It should also be a time when we look back at the past yea
Through creative design decisions to address previous problem areas and well-thought-out strategies to maximize FEMA funding, the University of Texas Medical Branch has emerged from the impact of Hurricane Ike with not only improved functionality, but als
Getting talented women into male-dominated careers is one struggle, while keeping them is another. The issue is especially apparent in STEM careers, which are extremely important to the global economy. Attracting and retaining more women in STEM careers w
No question
today's community colleges play a vital role in serving both a diverse student body and the community in which they are located, and it's time for us to give credit where credit is due.
The Varick Street Incubator is successful, in part, because it stands as an example of how a tight budget does not necessarily limit the ability of a creative team of architects, designers, and administrators to create an impactful and vibrant space. Crea
Expanding the arts into more areas of university teaching has been a trendy topic in recent years. A recent report by the College Board recommended "placing arts at the core of education" and "integrating arts across the curriculum," i
Many fatal campus crisis situations involve critical of delays in the implementation of life-saving action steps such as room clear, lockdown, sheltering from severe weather, reverse evacuation, or other critical action steps. Catastrophic plan failure ca
Learning on the college campus moved beyond the lecture hall years ago. Distance learning solutions are the wave of the future, as students and faculty demand more flexibility in learning and teaching. While a successful distance learning plan can bring i
Understanding the sources of indoor environmental contaminants and controlling them during construction through thoughtful IEQ details prevents or resolves building-related symptoms and health conditions. Translation: It results in better attendance, prod
The trend that students are attending college later in life while having families and working full-time influences pedagogy, curriculum, and building design. To attract new students and keep up with competition, higher education institutions will need to
The interior environment of a residence hall influences everything from sleep and wellness to social connections and whether students build community. When your reality surrounding residential life is, "What can we afford?" consider these four i
Distance learning allows students to take classes online from instructors employed by their university either as tenured faculty or adjunct professors. The instructors set the curriculum and assign readings and assignments. Then they, or their TAs, grade
When California State University, Fullerton flipped the switch early this year on its latest solar installation, a crowd of industry and utility representatives joined University officials on a rooftop, alongside massive solar panels and electric vehicle
If the higher education sustainability movement were a song, it would sound something like Tina Turner's rendition of the John Fogerty classic, "Proud Mary." In past years, the movement has been defined by successes on single campuses, much like
With building owners seeking to reduce energy use in every square inch of a facility, commissioning is more important than ever. Commissioning can improve a building's operations and is a requirement in the LEED Green Building certification process.
Something is growing on the campus of Messiah College in Grantham, PA. They can stand more than eight feet tall, will triple in number this year, and are poised to have a huge impact on campus. What are they? Sunflowers.
Judging building performance requires evaluation of the impact the building has upon people, our planet, and profit for the owner. These three factors constitute the triple bottom line and define the metrics by which building performance can be measured a
Global Village was designed to ease cramped space on the growing campus while keeping higher standards for sustainability in mind. The Village consists of multiple buildings surrounding a central, protected courtyard, which serves as a social hub and prom