Regional Development, Regional Leadership . . . by Colleges and Universities

From the Association of American State Colleges and University's Public Purpose magazine, a thoughtful article about four regional development efforts centered around higher education institutions:

In the area around Cincinnati, civic leaders turn to James C. Votruba, the president of Northern Kentucky University, to co-chair a major planning process that leads to a bold strategic blueprint for the region’s future.

In central California, the home base for the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley is the Office of Community and Economic Development at California State University, Fresno—part of a determined effort to “fully realize the community-university partnership potential.”

In the mountains near Asheville, Western Carolina University helps regional businesses develop products and apply technologies through its Center for Rapid Product Realization, while also creating hands-on opportunities for engaged learning by students.

Across Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa’s Institute for Decision Making has consulted with community-based groups in more than half of the state’s 952 towns, helping local residents map plans for economic and community development.

AASCU's 2007 President-to-Presidents Lecture by Richard Pattenaude, Chancellor, University of Maine System

AASCU's 2007 President-to-Presidents Lecture by Richard Pattenaude, Chancellor, University of Maine System: "Now, to put it a bit more thoughtfully: Soles of Your Shoes - Work from your highest principles; Eye on the Ball - Keep your focus on your priorities; Presidential Medallion - Have some humility and be a real person; Lazy Man - Tell the truth; Kenny Rogers - Be willing to admit error. Life at the top of the pyramid is challenging but also enormously rewarding. Some days it is a struggle, but I hope you find joy in that struggle. I know I have."

College Board Reports

It might be easy to overlook College Board reports, or to take them for granted. This item is here to remind you that you can find plenty of good stuff at the College Board, including resources on: Trends in College Pricing 2007, Trends in Student Aid 2007, Education Pays, Tuition Discounting, and the Higher Education Landscape.

Mitigating Hazards in School Facilities

This concise, 4-page PDG document from the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF) is focused on K-12, but has plenty of useful information for higher education: It "describes a process for assessing the safety and security of school buildings and grounds, making a hazard mitigation plan, and implementing the plan. Steps include: select an assessment tool; assemble an assessment team; look at the record; perform the assessment; write up the results; create a standing committee on hazard mitigation; prepare a hazard mitigation plan; understand risk; weigh passive vs. active safety; select security technology with care; improve school climate; calculate costs, locate funding; seek input; coordinate hazard mitigation with crisis planning; start small, think big; justify thoroughly; meet regularly, advocate continually; and benefit mutually."

A Wiki Result: Guide For Planning Higher Education Library Spaces

A Wiki Result: Guide For Planning Higher Education Library Spaces

This collaboratively-produced resource, with tons of links, should be in everyone's bookmarks: "In response to frequent inquiries for information about planning academic library buildings, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) have joined forces to provide a basic framework for architects, planners, and librarians embarking on planning and design of libraries for higher education."

Renovation Versus New Construction: Key Factors to Consider

Renovation Versus New Construction: Key Factors to Consider, from Healthcare Design magazine:

"The first step in considering either renovation or new construction is to gather assumptions. Starting here rather than a 'goal-setting' meeting helps reveal the real goals of the stakeholders and allows assumptions to be tested. In the end, challenging assumptions allows for more creative problem solving and solutions to emerge as you weigh the options to renovate or build new. The next step is to define goals with clarity of purpose. Project goals are not cliches, but rather have specific desired outcomes - a difference shown in the table. Clearly defining goals helps to tie the project to the operational pathway. It is also important to prioritize goals and to specifically answer the question, "Our definition of success will be fill-in-the-blank.'"

Why 'Open Space' in LA?

Why 'Open Space' in LA?, from Architecture Week.

Public Space LA! was held in October 2007. This article summarizes some of the discussion: "Despite the breadth of posited questions, the summit's focus largely boiled down to parks. That narrowed scope almost implied that parks are the entirety of public open space rather than a subset of it, and one hopes that the next such summit will remedy this issue. That criticism aside, there were plenty of ideas to fill this worthwhile day. No one is going to say 'No' to parks as such - only in comparison to other things competing for funds. Various panelists stated as much, and so the talk quickly moved to leveraging the benefits of parks to convince voters, investors, and politicians that parks are not just icing, but the cake itself." [more]
Tags: open space, landscape architecture�

Framing Action Analytics and Putting Them to Work

Framing Action Analytics and Putting Them to Work, from Donald Norris, Joan Leonard, Louis Pugliese, Linda Baer, and Paul Lefrere.

A Web-only companion resource to the item we shared last week in "SCUP Email News": "Strategic Planning Analytics enable institutions to strategically plan for success in competitive environments and deliver on the promised value propositions. In this context, strategic means 'dealing with the enterprise's relationship with its competitive environment.' These analytics are the instrument for articulating the value that institutions provide to learners and other stakeholders. Today's emerging environment requires institutions to be held accountable, transparently. This includes the extent to which institutional goals, curricula, and practices are aligned to employment and workforce requirements. Strategic Planning Analytics draw from all of the other functional areas in providing summative metrics on the performance of the institution as a whole, with drill-downs to constituent colleges, departments, and programs."

We Prefer Hurricanes to Tornados

We Prefer Hurricanes to Tornados (PDF)

That sounds like sports talk, but it's not. It's facilities managers at Embry-Riddle, speaking about managing the recovery from weather damage to campus facilities: "Over the years, the facilities management department has prepared the Daytona Beach campus for hurricanes, most notably for the three that blew through the campus in 2004. However, no one had thought much about preparing for a tornado. That is, until an F2 tornado ripped through our campus at 120 MPH on Christmas Day [2006]."

Ways to Work the Problem: From NACUBO Award Winners

Ways to Work the Problem: From NACUBO Award Winners

Seven NACUBO award-winning higher education business officers answer such questions as: "Some careers are straight shot: others take a winding road. What lessons have you learned along your professional pathway?", "What is the biggest issue facing higher education today?" and "What will higher education institutions be like in 10 years?" �

One of the responses to that last one: "The higher education community is on the verge of stepping beyond its traditional boundaries, broadening its capacity and seizing upon new and different opportunities to further the pursuit of education. With this development and growth, we, as stewards, will be challenged on strategic, economic, and financial levels. In many ways, these changes are ours to define and make. "

New National Academy of Environmental Design (NAED)

New National Academy of Environmental Design (NAED)

"[A] coalition of education and professional organizations in architecture, landscape architecture, and city and regional planning have announced a proposal to establish a new National Academy of Environmental Design (NAED). The academy, which is proposed to be housed within the the existing National Academies, would share the academies' mission to address critical national issues and provide advice to the federal government and the public."

The 2008 "Electronic AIR" Limerick Contest

The 2008 "Electronic AIR" Limerick Contest
The "Electronic AIR" is the monthly email newsletter of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR), and the only email newsletter that we know of which is older than "SCUP Email News": By one month. Each year, it has a contest to see who can compose the most entertaining limerick about institutional research. If you are so inclined, you have until March 1 to enter the contest. Here is last year's winning limerick:

Ode to Solving the Problem

When demand for more data is great
Try to hire an assistant first rate
Then you'll both live to tell
Of a life that is swell
And the service to campus is great!

Higher Education in a Warming World: The Business Case for Climate Leadership on Campus

From our friends at the Campus Ecology Project: "This richly detailed guide to climate action at colleges and universities focuses on the numbers -- with examples from dozens of schools showing how they cut emissions, saved money and made a difference. For campuses just starting out, it gives how-to steps for conducting an inventory, creating a plan and leading toward a sustainable future."

Top 10 State Policy Issues for Higher Education in 2008

From our friends at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU): "What lies ahead for 2008? Presented here are the top 10 state issues most likely to be at the forefront of discussion and action that will affect public higher education across the 50 states, in the view of the state policy analysis and research staff at AASCU. While numerous topics shape state higher education policy, each affecting the issues of affordability and quality, our focus is on the overarching issue of college access. This synopsis is informed by an environmental scan of state policy activities of the past year, trend analysis, and events that will continue to shape the policy landscape. Some issues are perennial in nature, while others reflect attention to near-term actions in state policy and public discourse. The influence of any given issue across individual states will, of course, vary."

Accreditors Agonistes

A Chronicle online Colloquoy with Judith Easton: "Last month college leaders breathed a collective sigh of relief as Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said she would require "no one-size-fits-all measures, no standardized tests" from federally recognized agencies accrediting colleges. For months, colleges have been fighting language supported by the Bush administration in the reauthorized Higher Education Act that could impose assessment guidelines rather than giving colleges the ability to create their own. How will the debate shake out? Would college-created measures provide enough useful information to accreditors?

2007 Notable Projects: College+University

From Architype Review: "Architype finds inspiration in projects that somehow redefine our understanding of a certain typology. Through good design, these architects created smart and forward thinking solutions to the particular constraints or challenges presented by each project. Grouped together by type, they provide a survey of innovation taking place at several different scales, promoted by both large and small firms. Presented here in the words and images of their own creative team, the following projects also offer an index of ideas and solutions as well as creative people and products within the industry."

What Can Architects Do With Wikis?

What can architects do with wikis? "We've been talking recently about the 'wiki' phenomenon of community-created web sites–and what they might mean to architecture–both in terms of wikis in general, and in the context of the ArchitectureWeek web family. This week we're going to roll up our sleeves and actually put a bunch of architecture into a wiki, where all the (online) world can see it."

College for All?

From Change magazine by Anthony P. Carnevale: "Postsecondary requirements for workers are increasing in part because jobs that require postsecondary education are concentrated in the growth industries."

The Place of Information Technology in Planning for Innovation

"This anecdote highlights one of the principal paradoxes faced by college and university leaders. On the one hand, we place great value on the academic freedom that allows our faculty to follow their passion, curiosity, and interest as they pursue their research. We look forward to unpredictable innovations that will lead to unprecedented improvements in human health and welfare or a deeper understanding of the moral and physical universe. On the other hand, as administrators, we must strategically plan and invest to support the research programs of the future, which means that somehow we must plan for what cannot be planned for: the unpredictable."

How Many College Graduates Does the U.S. Labor Force Really Need?

From Change magazine by Paul E. Barton: "Despite a common assumption that there is great economic demand for more college-educated workers, compelling evidence does not exist that there will be a rapid rise in the general demand for college graduates in the future–or a damaging shortfall in their supply."

Good Policy, Good Practice: Improving Outcomes and Reducing Costs in Higher Education (A Guide for Policymakers)

From the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems: "Together, Parts I and II of this document present the solid base of experience available to policy leaders as they seek to raise the higher education attainment of state residents, even in the face of fiscal constraints. There is more experience and knowledge about improving educational outcomes and policy strategies than is often recognized. We urge policymakers to draw upon and improve these examples when they, as we believe they must, engage in development of state policies and strategies aimed at enhancing student opportunity and success while keeping college affordable for students and states. Good Policy, Good Practice demonstrates that states have tools–policy strategies and levers–to assure a viable economic and educational future for their citizens."

Online learning: What two-year colleges are doing right

"There's a reason why two-year colleges are leading the pack in online learning growth: these institutions have fully embraced the concept and, as a consequence, are reaping the rewards. 'Growth rates for these associate's institutions have exceeded those of all the other institution types, and they now command over 54% of all online enrollments in the U.S.'"

Deferred Maintenance Reporting for the Have-Nots (PDF)

'This topic is not for institutions that have plenty of money, which replace everything in the facilities inventory according to its 'industry standard expected life cycle.' It's nice to be able to travel that route. However, there is broader path that most of us follow. It is usually referred to as 'running systems and equipment to failure.'"

A Realistic Approach to Management: Organizational Effectiveness

"Organizational effectiveness was top of mind during this year's EACUBO Senior Business Officer Roundtable, in Philadelphia. Industry experts guided attendees to better understand the key factors influencing the viability of all types of higher education institutions. To do so, presenters helped event participants explore the shift within human resources from an administrative, nuts-and-bolts operation to one that encourages strategic talent management. Presenters also explained how to develop institutional metrics that work. Advice for dealing with complex change and for making tough decisions completed the program agenda. Chief business officers from across the region came away with new ideas and tools to incorporate into their management practices."

Saying Goodbye to the Two-Year College?

From Mark Milliron: "Calm down. No one is talking about, advocating, or even playing with the idea that we do anything but continue the life-changing, economy-essential work of community and technical colleges. Indeed, the global movement toward this democratic, open-access education model is on the advance–and we are all working to increase its momentum. There is, however, a conversation starting about ending one of our movement's key descriptors, a descriptor that while convenient, is of little to no value. Indeed, it is more often a significant problem."

Coming to Your Campus January 31: A Teach-In on Global Warming

"As part of a national effort to promote environmental activism on campus, professors at more than 1,100 colleges have agreed to discuss issues relating to global warming in their classes on January 31 or take part in panels running throughout the day. Focus the Nation, a project of the nonprofit Green House Network, is being organized on the macro level by a handful of recent college graduates with the help of professors and students who plan events on their campus."

Related ... Are you planning how to make your organization carbon neutral? Sign up for this on line course, NCSP 5100, Carbon Neutral University Planning, through the University of Colorado, Boulder. SCUP, AASHE and the University of Colorado-Boulder are launching an online and live course that will bring together experts and information to expand our understanding of how to reach that goal. Starts February 4: Call 303.492.5148 to register for the credit or non-credit version of this course, or contact Dave Newport, 303.492.8309 and dave.newport@colorado.edu.

The Back-of-the-Envelope Bush Library Design Contest

From The Chronicle of Higher Education, with a deadline for entries of February 1, 2008: "George W. Bush might not have been much of a book reader when he was at Yale University, but like any modern president, he will have a presidential library—likely at Southern Methodist University. Robert A.M. Stern, celebrity architect and dean of the Yale School of Architecture, has been picked to design it. But we are certain that Chronicle readers have their own ideas of what the George W. Bush Presidential Library should look like. We're asking for your back-of-the-envelope designs, as if you'd sat down next to the president and sketched out your idea on a scrap piece of White House stationery. We want designs that are serious, humorous, adventurous, or all of the above. You could win a sleek iPod Touch."

RSS Feed "Being Present in the World": A Conversation With Professor Jose Marques dos Santos

"I think that the Bologna effort will have been worthwhile—very worthwhile. To create a European system of higher education, people will need to be able to understand the nature of academic programs across borders and be able to assess the quality of different programs across borders. I suspect that the landscape of European higher education will be more comprehensible in ten years than it is today and that it will be much stronger and more competitive than it is today. Of course, nationalism and chauvinism stand in the way of this. Too often universities have trouble cooperating even with other universities that are their neighbors."

Informal OECD Ministerial Meeting on Evaluating the Outcomes of Higher Education, Tokyo, 11–12 January 2008

In discussion the attendees noted, among 12 other bullet points, "that higher education is expected to produce a range of outcomes—basic research, technology transfer, the conservation and communication of culture, education for young—and not so young—students, and engagement with wider society—efficiently, fairly and to a high standard; and that Governments and other stakeholders have therefore been turning increasingly to evaluation as a way to meet this challenge"

The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Last week the Wall Street Journal noted SCUP's new campus heritage partnership with The Getty, so we thought wed remind you of this great, already-existing resource, also funded by The Getty: "Most college campuses have an 'Old Main' type building, along perhaps a central quadrangle and other features that seem to be indicative of a traditional collegiate setting. In recent years, studying campuses through their architectural development has become quite popular, and this online project from the Council of Independent Colleges is a great way to learn about this field. Working with a grant from the Getty Foundation, the Historic Campus Architecture Project (HCAP) site documents over 2000 places of historical significance on private college and university campuses. Visitors can browse the database by institution, designer, building style or time period. For each building profiled, visitors can learn about its history and current use, and also view a selection of photos, drawings, or other pieces of documentation. Additionally, visitors should take a look at the glossary provided here to brush up on terms like 'American Colonial' and 'Gothic Revival.' [KMG]" Copyright 2008 Internet Scout Project—http://scout.wisc.edu

Twelve (12) LEED Platinum Buildings on a Single Campus?

"The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development has commissioned a student housing project that aims to be the world�s first US Green Building Council (USGBC) certified LEED platinum student residence halls. Upon completion, the project would yield the world�s largest collection of platinum buildings (twelve) in one location. 'This is a very exciting project—Qatar Foundation is committed to building a state of the art residential complex that incorporates sustainability best practice. Students will live in zero-waste residence halls where each day will provide a new lesson on how green savvy technology can help global citizens to live a responsible sustainability focused life,' according to Qatar Foundation Director of Campus and Residence Life, Kevin Konecny."

Technology Comes to the Table

College and university officials, then, must be creative in establishing financially and nutritionally sound dining programs while satisfying student preferences and lifestyles. The College of William and Mary, . . . [i]n partnership with food service provider ARAMARK, the auxiliary services department worked with William and Mary�s Mason Graduate School of Business to 'wire' the dining program. The resulting team put in place several software tools and start-to-finish technology programs to promote innovative and healthy campus dining. These high-tech touches include a dining Web portal; informational kiosks; and an online, social networking system.

Strengthening Study Abroad: Recommendations for Effective Institutional Management for Presidents, Senior Administrators, and Study Abroad Professiona

The press release for this report from the National Association for Study Abroad (NASFA), which is endorsed by several presidents' organizations, states: "'As study abroad continues to grow, and as demand for study abroad expands, it is the responsibility of institutional leadership to undertake a deliberate and proactive approach to developing and supporting this important component of the education of today's college students�. Attention, involvement, and commitment at the highest levels of an institution's leadership are vital to the success and growth of study abroad.' The report urges campus leaders to confront a set of 'specific challenges that virtually all institutions face,' setting out fourteen criteria for the institutional management of study abroad in four major categories: institutional commitment; infrastructure; resources; and clarity and accountability."

Taking Control, With Room Control Systems

"One might think that adding another level of technology to an already complex IT infrastructure might require additional staff. On the contrary, says O'Rourke. 'There's actually a value added to control systems. Rather than having people constantly running back and forth with media carts, they can now concentrate on a higher value of work.' And Schweibinz says proudly, 'We've gone from fewer than 30 smart classrooms to more than fi ve times that number without increasing staff . We can monitor all the classrooms on all our campuses from one location. I can access a projector in a room 25 miles away. Plus, we can pull statistics from each location to see how many times a projector was turned on and off.' "

Why Doesn't the Public Understand Higher Ed Costs?

"To a certain degree, suspicion and distrust of colleges and universities are problems of the higher education sector�s own making. College and university leaders, most of whom were faculty members at some point, have the professor�s reflex against simplified explanations. Professorial skepticism toward neat, tidy, simple (but often inaccurate) answers is understandable and admirable. But politicians and reporters like to hear coherent and compelling narratives that are easy to understand and easy to retell to their constituents and readers. Higher education has often failed to grasp this. And it shows in the explanations higher education gives about the rising cost issue: They are all too often defensive or obfuscating—leaving the public scratching its head in perplexity."

Related ... A related article from Planning for Higher Education that you might want to read is titled Understanding Higher Education Costs by former SCUP president Michael F. Middaugh.

Community-College Partnerships That Work

"Education stakeholders, including community colleges, are coming together to improve links with the workforce in order to better prepare students. The fruits of these labors are streamlined systems, more clear career paths, and solid cost savings. 'The strength of these public institutions, when they collaborate, is very powerful,' says Dana Mohler-Faria, president of Bridgewater State College (Mass.) and special advisor for education to Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick. 'What we're seeing now is a far better understanding on the part of the institutions about the necessity of [creating collaboration], and about the fact that it's not only in the long-term interest of the Commonwealth, but it's in their own interest.'"

Community Colleges Not Guided by Planning or Even by Logic, But by Tradition?

"But it seems that most community-college leaders give little thought to the actual role the community college plays as a citizen of its community. Indeed, in the literally hundreds of conversations I have had about the community-college mission, I have heard little discussion of the citizenship role. Yet in every one of those discussions, 'serving the local community is paramount. My conclusion is that, in its citizenship role, the community college is guided not by planning or even by logic, but by tradition ('We have always had a health fair') and by the arbitrary decisions of campus leaders that have virtually nothing to do with enhancing the curriculum. In many cases, the whim of an administrator or trustee trumps rational educational planning." (May require subscription or day-pass for access.)

Action Analytics: Measuring and Improving Performance That Matters in Higher Education

"Most colleges and universities underutilize their data and analytical resources. Even though they may be awash in data, they may lack the specific information they need to identify the performance aspects that truly matter to them and their audiences - aspects that are not necessarily those captured in the key performance indicators of today's institutions. Moreover, academic culture favors analysis over action. Traditionally, institutions have placed a greater degree of importance on reputation (prestige) than on improvements in academic performance. In practice, academic freedom too often translates into autonomy rather than accountability, making concerted action more complex. Yet in spite of these limitations, many institutions have found creative ways to measure and analyze performance and value."

Related ... Note that the lead author of this EDUCAUSE Review article is SCUP's Distinguished Service Award Donald M. Norris, co-author of A Guide for New Planners. Norris and his co-author, Nick Poulton, are right now hard at work on a completely revamped replacement for that SCUP publication.

American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment Signs Its First Big 10 School

"In December, The Chronicle ran a story about the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, which included a box on four institutions that, so far, had refused to sign. *** It seemed that Robert H. Bruininks, the university president, would never sign. Yet on January 8, Mr. Bruininks added the University of Minnesota system to the list of signatories, making Minnesota the first Big 10 university to commit. He did so without a lot of fanfare. Although student groups celebrated the signing, the university never even issued a news release about it."

Related ... This coming October 22, SCUP will continue its commitment to integrated planning in the service of campus sustainability, when hundreds of campuses celebrate the Sixth Annual Campus Sustainability Day. In order to help your campus plan its event for this October (and also to pilot the use of "niche" social networking functionality), SCUP has created a Campus Sustainability Planning Network, which you are invited to view, join, and become active within. You will learn more than about campus sustainability.