As colleges and universities move into 2016, campus finance leaders may wish for a crystal ball to help with preparations in the coming year. Unfortunately, a crystal ball is not in the budget. Most colleges and universities will continue to face financial hurdles, and although there is much crossover, certain issues will be more or […]
With YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets, virtually nothing escapes the pubic's notice, and judgment. It's one reason higher education is paying much more attention to risk management now than in the past. There are also more risk-generating contingencies, such as mass shootings, and accountability standards, such as for the prevention of sexual […]
Under construction on the site of a circa-1905 gymnasium, the 34,430-square-foot, three-story Convergent Media Center at Capital University in Ohio will create a hub of activity where multiple disciplines—including communications, electronic media, music and art—can intersect. With a price tag of about $16 million, the Collegiate Gothic-style facility should be open for classes in spring 2017. […]
The importance of implementing technologically enhanced learning came to the forefront at Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering in late 2014, and it seemed to be the right time for the college’s first MOOC. Overwhelmed by the prospect of creating the course on his own, Venkat Viswanathan, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, turned to online […]
The University of Michigan’s very decentralized campus means it has multiple IT departments, numerous technologies and plenty of cloud applications. “We basically use everything you can think of when it comes to the cloud,” says Don Welch, chief information security officer. “Colleges here have their own relationships with providers, and their own strategies with information […]
A pair of draft horses often plows the campus farm at Sterling College. Sterling does have tractors—its agriculture students have to learn how to use all varieties of equipment—but the energy-saving horses are just one step in the Vermont school’s extensive and award-winning sustainable dining program. The farm produces about 20 percent of the food […]
R.W. Kern Center at Hampshire College (Mass.) When this two-story, 15,000-square-foot facility opens in 2016, it will become the main point of entry onto campus and the first stop for prospective students. Besides the admissions office, it will house classrooms, meeting spaces, a bookstore and a cafe. Following rigorous sustainability standards set by The International […]
In the midst of shrinking budgets and staff, HR professionals at colleges and universities can take advantage of an often overlooked resource to help accomplish their goals. Consider working with alumni—they typically possess a wealth of campus knowledge and skills. And they’re often eager to assist human resources in many areas, ranging from recruitment to […]
Founded in 1787, the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is one of the nation’s most prestigious public research institutions. Serving an enrollment of 18,427 full-time undergraduates, and 10,339 graduate students, it goes without saying that controlling costs is a top priority. “Our focus on savings is a big reason for our support of E&I’s programs,” said […]
When it became clear that the scientific equipment in hundreds of labs across the University of Pittsburgh campus was not being maintained effectively, professionals in the university procurement department began looking for a new provider to do the job. The university had long relied on a purchasing cooperative to secure favorable contracts with vendors for […]