An innovative re-use of material destined for the landfill wooden bleachers is just one aspect of sustainable initiatives underway at Vermont's Johnson State College.
The LEED-Gold certified renovation of Oregon State University's (OSU) Kearney Hall demonstrates how to successfully balance history and sustainability within a modern learning environment designed so that the building itself becomes a teaching tool.
As part of its campus-wide sustainability initiatives, Luther College brings vermicomposting to residence halls.
Green cleaning for hard surfaces has progressed on a continuum from reducing toxic chemistries to eliminating them wherever possible. Now technology and cleaning science have helped us to return to the most essential of cleaners and solvents water
From energy economics and sustainable building designs to water conservation and biofuels made from algae, sharply higher numbers of UC San Diego undergraduates are opting for majors and minors, classes, internships, and research projects that emphasize e
In the wake of the tragic event at Virginia Tech, there have been significant changes at the University, as well as other institutions of higher learning, and also within the architecture profession. Among the lessons of the Virginia Tech tragedy, archite
Mercy College recently announced a notable expansion in enrollment for the 2009-2010 academic year, as its total number of quality students approaches 10,000. Deirdre Whitman, vice president of enrollment management, cited a number of reasons for this gro
Numerous studies have indeed shown that, under some circumstances, a building's air conditioning-related energy consumption can be reduced through the use of reflective roofing. These studies, along with some overly enthusiastic marketing efforts, ha
The pursuit of energy efficiency and sustainability is a major focus in the U.S. today, influencing our choice of everything from automobiles to windows to the foods we eat. The higher education community is immersed in this drive toward environmental res
Through the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) network, more than 675 institutions have come together to provide leadership-by-example for other sectors by pledging to take immediate actions, create longer-term
Aware students are secure students. Is your campus doing enough to encourage and empower student safety groups? And can there be too much of a good thing?
Fire safety programs have seen dramatic changes during the last year because of budgets. Fewer people, the same amount of work, and in most cases, more work, were comments heard from attendees from all geographic regions. All were optimistic that they wou
There's a quiet revolution occurring within information technology departments on some college campuses. They are taking notice of the energy used to power desktops and data centers and they are starting to make adjustments to shift the burden.
Stetson University has developed a new learning and teaching environment in the form of an organic garden that has taken root on the grounds of the University's Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Environmental Learning Center (RELC), located adjacent to th
For those of you who are doubters green is here to stay! Not only is the movement gaining steam on campuses across the country, it's also gaining steam in American homes as well.
As interest in green building grows, hardwoods have also become desirable for their ability to contribute to sustainable design. Wood products are a natural and renewable material that can store more atmospheric carbon throughout their useful lives than i
As with safety efforts in many other settings, higher-education safety officials must compete with the busy schedules of students and staff in order to find time to provide training, practice, and to disseminate information. Few higher-education organizat
Generally, the choice to "reuse" will include the decision to renovate a significant portion of the existing facility to accommodate the new program. When evaluating "reuse" versus "build new," it is important to consider the
The design of residence halls has changed significantly through the years, and perhaps no element has undergone a more involved evolution than its furniture. Pieces found in residence halls today are more home-like than what was used years ago. Requiremen
In July of last year, while we were in the grips of the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression, President Obama announced plans for the American Graduation Initiative (AGI). This landmark proposal promises to provide unprecedented federa
We all know attention can be a good thing, or a bad one. Everyone needs to be aware of the challenges faced by colleges and universities trying to provide a quality education. They also need to be aware of the plight of many families forced into working m
Offering distance learning isn't strictly about having the right IT tools in place. Administrators, faculty, and staff must adjust to successfully deliver the right content, too.
The tragic deaths of Yale graduate student Annie Le in an off-campus research lab and the Virginia Tech rampage by student Seung-Hui Cho focus attention on access card security. The issue's importance extends from student victims to roommates, famili
A quick look at three different efforts being made to improve the availability of funds for school construction and renovation, pending bills in the House and Senate, and the pending Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (HR 3962).
Young Harris' updated vision and strategic plan calls for virtually doubling the student population from the current 700 to between 1,200 and 1,500 over the next few years; significant faculty growth; expanded academic programs; and, of course, a con
Recognizing the challenges of first-generation students, many schools offer them tailored support, including orientation and mentoring programs, tutoring and other forms of academic assistance, summer programs before freshman year to introduce them to col
President Obama proposed on February 1st an education budget for fiscal year 2011 which includes a historic commitment to increasing college access and success by dramatically expanding financial aid making it simpler, more reliable, and more effic
As competition for good students and supportive alumni has grown, and as "gourmet" burritos and mocha lattes have become standards in the "real world," colleges and universities have had to rethink what makes a truly invi
There are ups and there are downs. In 1995, when College Planning & Management came on the scene, $6.1B worth of college construction was put in place. By 2000, college construction was shifting into high gear. During three years 2005, 2
The recession is over, but college and university IT divisions are progressing cautiously, still forging ahead with the newest trends, but at a slower pace.
BACnet: "The global standard for building automation." This not-so-new technology, still evolving, continues to generate expanding interest among the major suppliers of systems generally categorized as building control systems.
For many campuses, we have cut all there is to cut out of our budgets. Across the country, we are doing less; if a program costs money, we are probably not moving forward with it this year. New initiatives unless they save money from the start 
Precast concrete can solve many of your campus's hardscape problems. Is this durable, sustainable material right for your next project?
Security, as a responsibility, involves keen observation skills, curiosity, common sense mixed with a dash of good timing, and plenty of routine procedures. For college campuses this decade, it also requires a good amount of technology. And like many thin
One of the best ways for all personnel to know what to do in a crisis is an emergency operations plan that is appropriately designed by role-specific yet integrated plan components.
Time to look forward to the campus trends that promise to shape our next year and decade.
There's a lot of value in opening campus fitness centers to a wider audience, but the move requires some changes in everything from design to policy.
Every year, a number of college ranking reports are compiled and published for students and parents looking to find the right institution. These reports include rankings based solely on academic programs and institutions as a whole. Schools are pitted aga
Large and small, public and private school administrators share what they've learned from the H1N1 pandemic.
Constructing new and efficient buildings on a college or university campus is cause for celebration. Unfortunately, there is not much celebrating when a parking deck is repaired, worn carpet is replaced, or a leaky faucet is fixed. Deferred maintenance is