Who runs your school's bookstore? The Follet Corporation? Barnes & Noble? Or do you run it yourself? The University of Missouri proposes a third option. They have successfully implemented a shared services model that brings profits to all parties
Sure, it's easy to experience success in a bull market but, in a bear market, do you have the nerve to ask for money for a new facility instead of patching the leaky roof for the hundredth time? Here are the rules of engagement for any economy.
College campuses are changing. One very visible change is the addition of digital signage networks. Digital signage networks are a network of electronic screens placed in strategic, highly visible locations. The content displayed on the screens can be ind
Big dreams to propel your organization forward are often interrupted by the harsh reality of budget cuts, nay-saying in high places, and the slow but steady erosion created by incremental compromises that add up to huge deviations from the original vision
Those who will be successful are those who have stopped mourning for the old economy, stopped poking it with a sharp stick to see if it moves, and started thinking about what can be done with what we now have. It is much like working through the five stag
Since the late 1980s, college administrators and architects who design higher-education facilities have trained their sights on creating learning environments that support greater student engagement and enhance student collaboration. But only recently has
Higher education is facing enormous challenges. Diminishing financial support, heightened public accountability, prolonged economic recession, and numerous other issues confront our institutions. Competition is fierce, and the need for operational efficie
In recent years, many college and university police and security organizations have changed or at least refined the way they monitor and manage access to campuses and campus buildings in an effort to improve crime prevention.
The effects of stress on human performance are well documented and should be taken into account when developing emergency preparedness plans; conducting training sessions; and when planning, coordinating, and evaluating emergency drills and exercises.
If a building has been constructed or renovated using PCB-containing caulking, PCB impacts may not be limited to the caulking itself. Through natural mechanisms such as weathering, leaching, or deterioration, PCBs may be found in the materials adjacent to
Auxiliary services need to be more than budget-neutral these days, but what is the best way to turn a profit? Keeping them in-house? Outsourcing them to the pros? Or a hybrid of the two? Experts hash through the options
and the answers may surprise
Do more and do it with less. Manage more data and do it efficiently. Reduce waste to be more environmentally friendly without sacrificing quality. These are only a few of the challenges facing college and university administrators and staff. Enter the mul
Whether your campus is small and intimate or large and sprawling, visitors require a signage system to find their way around. A campus wayfinding system must strike a precarious balance between being effective, accessible, correct, current, complementary,
An increasing number of our buildings and systems have reached or outlived their projected life expectancies. We have long been crying that we need more dollars to deal with the exponentially growing backlog of capital needs, whether upgrades or renewals.
sing Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, our approach is to find out why the pest is present. All the pesticide in the world can't prevent pest problems pesticides just treat the symptoms. While IPM is not anti-pesticide effective pestic
Colleges house EOCs in campus police or public safety buildings, a classroom or training facility, physical plant management building, or elsewhere. Campuses typically set criteria for activating EOCs, designate alternate sites, and coordinate response po
As part of College Planning & Management's recent maintenance survey we asked the question, "What is the one best piece of advice you would give to other maintenance professionals to assist them in doing their job?" After all, who knows
If your department has a plan, this is a reminder to dust it off and ask staff what they think their roles are. If they hesitate or simply don't know, take the time to start a review. Start off small; break the review process down into small monthly
Limited state funds are available for education. The dropout/non-completion rate is soaring. The current workforce is retiring and by 2018 two-thirds of jobs will require a higher level of education. The American education system, once touted as producing
The technology and materials associated with windows and doors is certainly not as cutting-edge as advancements in a building's HVAC, security, or audio-visual systems. While perhaps unheralded by those outside the building industry, recent improveme
Replacing our filters on a regular interval provides a healthy learning, living, and working environment for our students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, it is important to the operational longevity of our air conditioning equipment.
Sustainability, green, high-performance
different words, similar meaning. In the '60s it was about the environment. In the '70s it was about gasoline shortages and energy efficiency. Today's green building movement grew out of the need and desi
Launched in September 2009, Marshall's Sustainability Department is partnering with other campus offices including Housing and Residence Life and students to address important energy and environmental conservation issues that affect the
Across the country, college and university administrators are devising innovative programs to help protect our most valuable asset our planet. Here, we take a look at programs on three campuses.
Colleges and universities are turning to advanced technology to manage facilities and coordinate appointments between people. These technologies, often referred to as event management systems, can work within individual buildings, colleges on university c
With few exceptions, crisis situations at institutions of higher learning have not resulted in such wide public awareness that a single word or phrase has become recognizable. As with the other incidents mentioned, these tragedies have fortunately resulte
For those college and university administrators who would like a greater campus-wide commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption, perhaps following that simple principle is a good way to start: first leverage a small commi
Cyberbullying, a recent trend with the increasing use of technology among students, is a pernicious form of harassment that can cause serious damage on college campuses. It is often said that nothing on the Internet is private, and when students cyberbull
Study abroad enrollment for students at U.S. colleges and universities is projected to increase six percent in 2010-2011 over 2009-2010 numbers, according to the 2010 IES Abroad Membership Survey Report, an annual survey of the 185 top tier public and pri
Universal, one-size-fits-all classrooms cannot match the demands of the 21st century. Instead, campus planners and administrators should consider a range of solutions to fit different academic disciplines, faculty and student needs, and administrative req
Crimes on campus robberies, assaults, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts, arson, and worse damage an institution's reputation, recruiting efforts, and retention capability. A technology like video analytics that can help prevent crime can also
Because atriums are so fundamental to a building's geometry, their effects should be studied early, and as thoroughly as possible. While energy modeling is usually undertaken only at the end of construction documentation, it's usually impossible to go bac
In reality, there are green or sustainable alternatives for every product used in a restroom from the ceiling to the floor, including those components that are located behind the walls. Designing a sustainable restroom requires the same approach that must
Higher education institutions across the nation are establishing a growing trend in providing EMS from within the institution, often with student-based volunteers. According to the National Collegiate EMS Foundation (NCEMSF an advocacy group for co
How do you prepare for a natural disaster? When Hurricane Ike struck Texas, the University of Houston was ready, and eventually received $26.3M for both obvious physical damage and hidden moisture damage as a result of the storm.
Campus safety assessments can reveal how different paper plans and actual practices are at institutions of higher learning. The gaps found and corrected through these processes are often the types of concerns that can recur if a system is not developed to
More and more, there are requirements for our departments to provide our campuses a safer and healthier living, working, and learning environment. Studies performed by ASHRAE link student performance to IAQ conditions. It is up to us to ensure our custome
Advances in technology have led to multiple types of distractions; texting while driving or difficulties staying focused on college homework. Yet, the latest classroom technology is perhaps changing that course by requiring students to be more responsive
As professors and programs jockey for position, how does your school determine who gets the real estate, who gets wait-listed, and who gets the Friday 8 a.m. slot? We ask a few schools for some answers.
With activities on most college campuses occurring year-round, there are many instances in which construction must occur while school is in session. Therefore, safety in and around a university construction site takes on a whole new level of importance. T