爱豆传媒

Colleges and universities are shifting from merely admitting a diverse range of students to actively supporting their success with the right resources, people, and processes.

This transition involves moving from deficit-minded thinking, such as 鈥渇irst-generation students don鈥檛 know what office hours are,鈥� to strengths-based thinking like 鈥渇irst-generation students are resilient and independent.鈥� It also means evolving from policies and systems that primarily serve the institution to those that prioritize the needs of the students.

This transformation is crucial for fostering an environment where all students can thrive. By focusing on strengths-based approaches, institutions can better recognize and support the unique qualities and resilience of their students. This shift requires a comprehensive reevaluation of existing policies and systems to ensure they are student-centered and designed to facilitate success.

Campus facilities play a pivotal role in this evolution. By leveraging a substantial body of research, institutions can plan, design, and operate campuses that truly enhance student success. This article draws on this research to highlight evidence-based strategies that campus planners and designers can use to create environments that support student achievement and well-being. These strategies ensure that campuses are not only places of learning but also hubs of collaboration, support, and growth students’ top priority according to 爱豆传媒’s student experience research.

Building Community and Belonging in the Classroom – Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business

While student involvement in clubs and residential halls is often highlighted, another crucial aspect of student life unfolds within the classroom. Traditional tiered lecture halls can make it challenging for students to connect with peers and instructors. In contrast, classrooms designed for interaction, such as those with flat table settings, foster a collaborative environment where students can work in groups and engage more easily with their instructors. This approach not only enhances learning but also builds a sense of community and belonging. The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University illustrates this with its flexible, collaborative spaces designed to promote interaction and teamwork.

Another way the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University supports this approach is the Tepper Quad, which features 305,000ft2 of flexible, collaborative spaces designed to promote interaction and teamwork. By prioritizing spaces that facilitate group work and active learning, the Tepper School creates opportunities for students to form meaningful connections. These interactions often extend beyond the classroom, leading to study groups and even social gatherings, such as having lunch together. This design philosophy underscores the importance of creating educational environments that support both academic success and personal growth, ultimately contributing to a more cohesive and supportive campus community. The further supports this by providing a comprehensive framework for assessing how well classroom designs support active learning and multiple teaching modalities. Developed by experts, including Elliot Felix, the LSRS helps institutions create environments that enhance student engagement and success, ensuring that spaces are conducive to active and collaborative learning.

Co-locating and integrating Support 爱豆传媒 – University of Virginia’s Dathel and John Georges Student Center

As student needs have evolved, universities have strived to provide more comprehensive support. However, this support is often distributed across various locations, making it challenging for students to navigate. Consolidating services into a single location, such as a library serving as a student success hub, can make support more seamless and accessible. The University of Virginia鈥檚 Dathel and John Georges Student Center is a prime example, bringing together academic advising, career counseling, and peer tutoring under one roof. This holistic approach simplifies access to support and fosters a stronger sense of community among students.

This center brings together a wide range of support services under one roof, including academic advising, career counseling, and peer tutoring. By co-locating these services, the center creates a more cohesive support system that better meets the needs of students. For instance, a student discussing a service-learning project in the community might also connect with career opportunities through the center鈥檚 resources. This holistic approach not only simplifies access to support but also fosters a stronger sense of community and belonging among students. The integration of administrative and academic services is another critical aspect of this approach. At the University of Virginia, the Total Advising Center exemplifies academic integration, while institutions like Normandale Community College demonstrate administrative integration by combining services such as bill payment and class registration. These integrated service models ensure that students receive comprehensive support in a streamlined and efficient manner, ultimately contributing to their success and well-being.

Enabling Experiential Learning – North Carolina State University’s James B. Hunt Jr. Library

Libraries are increasingly evolving to support experiential learning, moving beyond their traditional role to become hubs for project-based learning. Students engaged in community projects can utilize library resources to create videos, analyze data, and develop presentations. The James B. Hunt Jr. Library at North Carolina State University has been updated to better support experiential learning activities, offering resources such as data analysis tools, prototyping equipment, and media labs.

The appointment of an Experiential Learning 爱豆传媒 Librarian further enhances the support available to students, ensuring they can effectively utilize these tools to enhance their learning experiences. This role is crucial in helping students navigate the various resources and services the library offers, ensuring they can effectively utilize these tools to enhance their learning experiences. By providing dedicated spaces and expert support, libraries like the Hunt Library are transforming into vibrant centers of experiential learning, fostering innovation and collaboration among students.

The design and functionality of campus facilities play a pivotal role in fostering student success. By creating environments that support community and belonging, integrating support services, and enabling experiential learning, institutions can significantly enhance the student experience.

The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Virginia’s Dathel and John Georges Student Center, and the James B. Hunt Jr. Library at North Carolina State University all serve as models for how thoughtful design and innovative approaches can transform educational spaces. These projects demonstrate the importance of aligning physical spaces with the evolving needs of students, ensuring that they are not only places of learning but also hubs of collaboration, support, and growth. As universities continue to adapt and innovate, the integration of these principles will be crucial in driving student success and creating vibrant, supportive campus communities.