Not long ago universities, colleges, and schools identified the management of facilities as the Physical Plant Office. Albeit, the services provided by the physical plant office included complex and highly technical functions, they were mainly focused on keeping building systems operating and the campus looking good. As important as these…

At a time when there are enormous economic pressures on campuses to use resources effectively, space being one of these resources, the academic culture of shared governance, with its fragmented roles for decision making, presents additional challenges. These roles are fragmented due to independent faculty and administrative action. They are…

While many issues in higher education are only discussed among members of the education community, the sharp rise in costs is no longer a topic solely for academia. Parents and politicians alike are fuming over the apparently unstoppable climb of the cost of a college education. It seems every day a new magazine article or newspaper story bemoans…

Explores use of space management on college campuses for creating an equitable system of projecting future space needs and allocation. Examines traditional numerical methods of space projections, questions some of the fundamental assumptions about space projections, and presents an alternative approach based on a new, benchmarking methodology.…

Examines traditional numerical methods of future space-needs projections and allocations and presents an approach based on space-per-faculty-member projections. Presents results of a unique national space-benchmarking study covering data on space-per-faculty-member projections in nine Research I universities. (GR)

Examines a workshop that helps college space planners provide a facilities-and-space management planning process as part of the college's effort to modernize its management systems and evaluate its physical resources. Lists tips for successful space management. (GR)

Discusses how classrooms are distributed by size on a campus, how well they are used, and how their use changes with faculty and student needs and desires. Details how to analyze classroom space, use, and utilization, taking into account such factors as scheduling and classroom stations. (EV)

Incorporates data, findings, and conclusions developed by a University of North Carolina study concerning school space planning and utilization standards along with some recent experiences in higher education. Discusses the common aspects of space standards and presents a summary of assignable-square-feet ranges and means for selected Higher…

Discusses the development of the University of Missouri-Columbia's Space Planning and Management office (SPAM) and the computerization of the school's space-planning archives. Discusses SPAM's software selection for standardization as well as its manual development, placing the school's buildings and floor plans on the Web, and its space-modeling…

Presents findings from a space-management survey, their conclusions, and suggestions that small colleges or universities can use to more successfully handle their own space-management issues. Finally comments highlight the importance of having space data to aid in campus space decision making. (GR)

As China undertakes substantial planned educational growth, the challenges of university physical plant administration include adaptation of space utilization analysis and planning techniques, improved economies of scale, increased dependence on community support for housing and other services, increased efficiency in construction, more preventive…

Describes two types of campus space--non-revenue and revenue generating--to illustrate the potential cost savings that can result from good space-management practices. Uses classroom and housing areas as illustrations and explores the managerial implications of realizing cost savings. (GR)

Recipients of Association of Physical Plant Administrators awards for excellence in facilities management in various institutional categories are noted. Specific areas of outstanding achievement include cooperation, energy conservation, attention to detail, use of customer feedback, emergency preparedness, individual employee recognition, utility…

Reports research on trends in computer-aided facilities management using the Internet and geographic information system (GIS) technology for space utilization research. Proposes that facility assessment software holds promise for supporting facility management decision making, and outlines four areas for its use: inventory; evaluation; reporting;…