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
When the University of Maryland needed a high-performance, campus-wide, code-compliant, integrated fire alarm monitoring system, they took the time to research the options and plan for the best solution.
In today's economy it's becoming increasingly difficult for graduates to find that elusive first job. Employers have cut back significantly on internship programs, which means that many graduates are attempting to enter the workforce without any
It takes a village to raise a child, but that's nothing compared with designing spaces on a college campus. A variety of voices need to be heard to pull off a successful project. How do you know if the right players are on your team?
A handful of designers and suppliers offer their combined knowledge and experience so that designers and administrators can better know what to consider when making decisions about which doors and windows to use in new building or renovation projects in o
As schools implement sustainable initiatives across campus, many are looking at renewable energy sources as a way to uphold green practices and save money. While some campus initiatives can cost little, short of students volunteering their time, the cost
Facility personnel have hundreds of choices when it comes to selecting the best insulation for a project. Some products have been on the market for decades, while others are relatively new. Following some key points will help to ensure that the selected i
Despite the negative effects of the economy, the one factor that has helped students thrive in school this past year is an increased emphasis being placed on engagement. Engagement is fostered in many ways. It is about building connections students
The Global Positioning System (GPS) that has now become so commonplace began with the launch of the system's first navigational satellite in 1978. GPS was originally developed for the military, but has since become widely used for civilian purposes.
Increasingly popular, digital signage performs a number of tasks on campus.
While today's market offers exceptional buying opportunities for colleges and universities, it is also fraught with peril. What's a Facility Department to do? How can you take advantage of available savings, while ensuring quality? Here are some
Since the basic idea of bidding out campus safety consulting or equipment purchase project is for the client to obtain the highest quality services and/or products at the lowest price, the way a request for proposal (RFP) or other bid solicitation documen
Life is full of choices. Thankfully, that includes the hundreds of green flooring products available in the marketplace. Facility professionals have much more to choose from than bamboo, including luxury vinyl tile, rubber flooring, tile, wood, and carpet
A moment of silence as libraries of old morph from a single-student model to a group learning setting. What technologies and configurations are needed in these new learning commons? College Planning & Management takes a look.
Partnerships, interactive marketing, and social media are converging to change the face of advertising and that's a gift for many university athletic departments seeking ways to keep the dollars flowing.
The 1987 Brundtland Commission report, Our Common Future, presented a model for successful economic development in which the importance of identifying and minimizing the adverse impact of economic development on the environment is addressed. At the heart
AEDs have become so commonplace that the public expects access to the devices in most places. In fact, laws, regulations, or other legislation may eventually require the placement of these devices at specific locations. A centralized program is necessary
Traditionally, libraries are chosen as important venues because these majestic buildings represent knowledge. On occasion, libraries have also served as community gathering locales where individuals converge and, in the face of injustice, make their voice
When a roof begins to show signs of fatigue or potential failure, it's easy to assume that a replacement is in order. In easier economic times, facility managers would proceed accordingly. But today's tough economy is encouraging many to conside
When it comes to fundraising, universities have not tapped out all of their revenue streams, as several campuses are proving. Breaking into new audiences to reach students and patents isn't a cakewalk, but if you go with the myth that young people aren't
The current stock of more than 83,000 college and university buildings presents significant opportunities to save energy and "go green" by improving environmental sustainability. The simplest change involves replacing these lamps and ballasts wi