Space is a serious, expensive business on college campuses. Following a decade-long building boom, a crippling recession, a spike in energy prices (with further increases probable), and in some regions fierce competition for a shrinking pool of students, the stakes of managing campus space have never been higher. Students, it is often assumed,…

The author reports on the reigning economic calculus that helps to drive constant expansion and poor utilization of space on many campuses. The author states that colleges could charge for utilities, which might encourage departments to save energy. Most American colleges do not charge for space--in part because doing so would raise the hackles of…

As the economy spirals downward, community colleges face what one president calls "a tsunami of students" that many institutions don't have space to accommodate, especially at peak times and in high-demand programs. Colleges are scrambling to respond--by scheduling courses whenever they have empty classrooms, including early mornings and…

The idea of greater density on college campuses almost always meets with opposition. The Latin word "campus" translates into English as "field," suggesting open green space and unencumbered vistas. The concept of collegiate learning amid nature--rolling lawns, beautiful fall foliage--is ingrained into the American psyche. But a closer look…

While the number of medical-school campuses in Arizona doubled--from two to four--in the last few years, there is no assurance that all of the new doctors they graduate will stick around to practice in the state. Medical schools here and nationwide are struggling to line up enough clinical-training slots so that an influx of new upper-level…

Union College's Victorian-style Nott Memorial has mysterious and intriguing architectural features, a checkered history, and serious problems of neglect and underutilization. The college must resolve its future soon. (MSE)

A competition for design of a master plan to alleviate disorder, clutter, and a lack of landmarks on the University of Miami's campus is described, and a sampling of the competition's winning entries ranging from pragmatic to fantastical are presented. (MSE)

Colleges and universities face an annual challenge to distribute housing to students. Initial student numbers usually exceed housing potential, but no-shows and early departures often even the numbers in the first few weeks of the year. Complicating factors include families' increasing ability to pay for dormitory housing, better campus housing…

The chairman of the National Governors' Association summarizes the group's report entitled "Time for Results: The Governors' 1991 Report on Education" and discusses the governors' role in the current state of public and teacher education, in the movement for change, and in maintaining momentum for continued improvement. (MSE)

Increasingly, colleges and universities are building warehouses for little-used library books, which can be delivered to campus on request. Warehousing saves money and provides better climate control for books. Scholars and students today have access to needed information through electronic databases and online catalogues, often from home, thus…