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The weather is cool and windy in Napa as I write this summary. In the past four months we have had more cool and rainy days than sunny and clear days. I talk to folks and it seems spring was here one morning in early May and exited quickly to make way for summer. These changes in weather patterns wreck havoc on builders, of which we have many, on our campuses as a result of the bond elections in the last three years. The focus for this month’s edition is on the issues created by the construction projects sprouting up on our campuses. These projects create dust, noise, detours, closed areas and new mazes to reach different parts of the campus besides general disruption of daily campus life. These disruptions can last for years as each project supported by a given bond is rolled out. However, these projects can be threatened by the economy with the subsequent impact on budgets that become strained due to inflation and the global demand for steel, cement and equipment, to name a few. While campus planners and decision-makers should address all the specified needs outlined in the scope of the bond election documents, they are forced to choose between quantity or quality, which will require downscaling projects, or moving some projects to a later time, or seeking another bond election.
Challenges for Campus Leaders
These challenges can overwhelm the campus leaders as they aim for facilities, which address student needs in the 21st century. While many new facilities are needed to upgrade campuses, in Planning and Achieving Successful Student Affairs Facilities Projects, editor Jerry Price notes,
“Although balanced budgets and enrollment demands are critical, perhaps the most important role of facilities on campus is to enhance student learning. Few, if any, campus environments are neutral; facilities can enhance student learning by promoting student interaction and engagement, or inhibit learning by isolating students from one another or from faculty and staff. Indeed, facilities can be well constructed but poorly designed from the standpoint of student needs.” (Schuh, J.H., Whitt, E. & Price, J., (2003). Planning and Achieving Successful Student Affairs Facilities Projects: New Directions for Student Services, 101. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.1
The Role of Facilities
The writers in this edition acknowledge the role of facilities to enhance student learning and these challenges. They suggest unique ways as well as good old planning techniques to achieve student friendly and learning enhanced facilities. Based on her experience in constructing a student services “one stop” center, Audrey Yamagata-Noji provides a series of key questions one should ask as you enter into the early stages of the facility planning and construction process. Her insight will help those who are embarking on the building of a student center or are well along in the process. An interesting way to engage students in the construction process is offered by Karen Wiggins-Dowler. In her case, the students are children in the campus Child Care Center and receive insight into the construction process from the men and women performing the various construction tasks. One of our sponsors outlines the role of insurance in the budget management. Sharon Iburg of Keenan and Associates (a sponsor) describes the role of an owner-controlled insurance program for insuring the project and associated construction staff and subcontractors. Joe Bissell provides insight on what happens when construction costs exceed the bond allocations. In all cases, the authors provide relevant information that will assist you in your effort to build the best facilities to serve the students at your campuses as well as plan for ways to stay within budget.
Of General Interest
In our general interest section, Daniel Martinez’s updated research on matriculation examines the persistence rate of first time college students. This is very timely as the system reviews programs and their value to successfully help students achieve their educational goals. In the staff development realm, the iJournal will provide information aimed to expand one’s knowledge base through an upcoming state conference and higher education graduate program. Two such opportunities are the NASPA Western Regional Conference in November of this year and the masters and doctorate offerings at Alliant International University. Our end note will be an article by John Baker and Francisco Arce that follows our winter edition theme of collaboration between student affairs and academic affairs.
I would like to acknowledge the support of our two co-sponsors for this edition, Keenan & Associates and Student Insurance. We reprised the article providing an overview of Student Insurance by Monique Palmieri. I also want to thank Alice and Robert Cura of Titanium7 for their help uploading this edition and the last one.
Our next edition will be coming out in the early Fall and the focus will be Online student and instructional services plus a few general interest articles and staff development opportunities. If you are interested in contributing, please e-mail me at editor@ijournal.us. A solicitation will be sent out during the summer. Of course, we accept writers from all segments of higher education and states. Please pass this edition on to staff, faculty and administrators at your district. You can subscribe to our list serv by going to the menu and click subscribe or my e-mailing editor@ijournal.us.
As the semester winds down and the current crop of graduates move on, we all know that the construction will continue until the final occupancy checklist is signed off. Let us hope they result in the facilities we envisioned in building the future.
Next iJournal edition: Online Services. Spread the word. Fall 06-07.
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