While doing research for a presentation entitled “Learning Spaces for the Future”, I came across the e-Book “Learning Spaces”, published through Educause. The book came up recently in conversation and I was reminded of what a great source of information it is. The book is organized into two parts; part one, “Principles and Practices”, contains a series of articles on learning space design. Part two contains case studies where innovative approaches were taken to create highly successful learning environments. “Learning Spaces” is a truly inspirational resource for taking alternative approaches to traditional classroom design.
I last wrote about the perception of community colleges and the opportunities to not only change that perception but to effectively change the reality. Another common theme I heard when meeting with the many community colleges was strategic partnerships
Strategic Partnerships:The question of future funding from the state for community colleges is a cause for great concern; “it’s not whether the cut from the state will or won’t take place, it’s how deep will it be and how will we deal with it.” How then will community colleges meet the needs of a growing student body with shrinking state dollars?
With state funding in doubt and pressure to keep tuition costs competitive, partnerships with private industry within the community along with philanthropic support is seen as the way of the future.
At the White House Community College Summit, held on October 5, 2010, private corporations were strongly encouraged to partner with community colleges with the goal of graduating an additional 5,000,000 people to enter the workforce by 2020. That same day, a $35,000,000 grant by the Gates Foundation, targeting Ohio as one of the nine states, to improve the graduation rate at community colleges was established.
Over the summer of 2010, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview community college presidents, provosts, vice presidents and deans, to better understand the challenges and opportunities that these institutions face as they navigate through these historically tough economic times. Over the course of the next several blogs, I’ll share some common themes that came up consistently during these enlightening conversations: Read the rest of this entry »
I just returned from the 2010 SCUP North Central Conference held at the University of Cincinnati. I always find it energizing to reacquaint with old friends, make new ones, and truly inspiring to witness the passion in higher education that SCUP members share in common. It was a privilege to present the topic “The Future is Now: Community College Planning for 2020” with Bruce Massis of Columbus State Community College and Jerry Webster of Terra State Community College. Our talk focused on the challenges and opportunities that these colleges face from the impact of the “Great Recession”, the varied needs of an increasingly diverse group of students, effective strategic planning, effective partnerships that benefit both community colleges and surrounding communities, and the positive impact that architecture can have to enhance the experience of learning, social interaction, and student success. Over the next several weeks, I will continue to share more information about the subject
As we continue to struggle through the “great recession” Community Colleges are experiencing a boom in enrollment. Across the nation’s community colleges, enrollment has increased by more than 45 percent over the past decade! Increasing tuition costs at four year colleges, coupled with demands to accommodate a diverse student population at community colleges that includes veterans, adult students who have lost their jobs and are in need of retraining, adult workers in need of continuing education needed to keep their jobs, and incoming high school students looking for affordable educational alternatives. While this enrollment boom may appear to be a tremendous opportunity for community colleges, there are numerous challenges including space needs to accommodate the vast numbers of new students, finding the numbers of qualified faculty to provide high quality instruction, doing more with less state funding to name just a few.
As colleges and universities suffer through slow economy, keeping the best and brightest faculty often comes down to what institution can make the best financial offer. How might innovative and welcoming faculty office space (verses a typical 120 square foot hard wall office) help attract and retain by providing an environment that promotes learning, collegiality and sense of community?
My youngest child, Eric, was born in the last year of the “Millennial” generation (1981-2000). When I recently mentioned to him that I was going to begin writing a blog and was not exactly sure how to get going, my nine year old casually replied “A blog is just a virtual diary Daaad. I blog with my friends about the music I listen to all the time.” It never ceases to amaze that kids just seem to embrace what is new and innovative, whether it’s music or technology. I suppose it’s my fascination in how my own children learn and communicate that plays a large part of my passion for higher education.
As we prepare to plan libraries, science buildings and classrooms, the design process has typically been to quickly develop the “program of requirements” (many times not much more than a list of spaces and sizes) and jump right into design concepts. Designers listen to what the client wants and needs. Many times this comes from the faculty and administration levels, with some or little input from the students. 1-3 years later, when the project is complete, will it meet the needs of the students?
