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
Colleges and universities now have a new way to help mitigate the amount of methane gas entering the atmosphere and earn carbon offset credits that can be sold on the carbon market, generating revenue. The Climate Action Reserve recently released the Orga
The largest hurdle for colleges is to get the student population to provide their cell phone numbers in order to receive first-hand alerts. Without access, security officials must rely on individuals to forward messages or multiple systems that come at a
From the point of view of sustainable practice, a campus is a group of buildings and a landscape that operate together. When we connect sustainability to the idea of campus planning, it is essential that we look at the broader picture; not only at the imp
Although LED (light-emitting diode) lighting technology has advanced rapidly through the past decade, it has not become a practical alternative for general ambient lighting until this year. Universities are now using LED overhead lighting virtually anywhe
Administrators at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL), a private university with 11,396 full-time students, are committed to campus sustainability. At the same time, they struggle with an issue that plagues many administrators across the country: a
As your school year ends it would be a good time to look at your fire losses, and look at not only what types of training need to take place to reduce the risk of these fires happening again, but to also look at what went right as far as training and buil
Universities and medical institutions can either be enhanced or compromised by their surroundings. A successful larger community provides the institution with a healthy, safe, and attractive context, helping to improve the campus's own environment, securi
Administrators and facility managers recognize the impact substandard conditions can have on student, faculty, and staff health and performance. Dozens of studies have found links between student performance and such indoor environmental factors as temper
In newspapers this past week were a number of interesting (and troubling) articles on the growth or demise of higher education as we know it. One of the articles that caught my attention was asking the question, "Is higher education
Interactive whiteboards are a pretty impressive piece of technology. More than just a dry-erase surface, the board works like a computer screen that runs all the latest software while allowing Internet access. Teachers write on the screen via a virtual ke
Technology has changed the way students expect to receive and share information. Just as it has revolutionized social communication, technology is flooding the world of education. While instructors may misjudge students' digital competency in the cla
While campus mail services are designed to process incoming and outgoing mail, there are many ways in which this is accomplished. Since no single system is the best, the question then becomes: What makes for a department that successfully serves students,
Apps are perhaps best known from smartphones such as the iPhone, but they now exist on nearly every active digital device we use, from wristwatches to cars. Clearly, application software has been around a long time. But the new generation of apps is funda
Recognizing a paradigm shift, colleges and universities across the continent are undergoing revitalization to achieve an "interprofessional education," or IPE, learning model and are creating the new physical space to accommodate it. In the IPE
The most visually arresting, modern, and up-to-date design won't succeed if occupants can't hear over all of the bells and whistles. How can schools create cafeterias and other social spaces to shout about, not over?
With multiple projects on tight, firm deadlines, it was essential for the designers, construction managers, sub-contractors, and engineers to function as a seamless team working from the same playbook. The only way to achieve this cohesion for Lewis Unive
There are often occasions where one discipline can learn valuable concepts from another discipline. For example, campus leaders can learn a great deal about decision making under pressure from public safety and emergency professionals. Law enforcement off
Introduced into the House on April 22, HR 5116, America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, is an attempt to concentrate federal resources to establish revise, and extend specified STEM programs and engineering, research, and training programs according
In reviewing this year's Living on Campus survey, I was quite frankly surprised at the number of comments we received on student behavior -- ranging from alcohol use to lack of personal responsibility. This topic has come up before, but this year it seeme
Maintaining and upgrading your fire alarm systems can become a frustrating battle, especially if you have fire alarm systems equipment from different manufacturers installed in various buildings on your campus. You can implement a strategic plan to mainta
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