As a Higher Education and Student Affairs student in a Public and Environmental Affairs course, I constantly challenge myself to make connections between what we discuss in V515 and my other courses. Admittedly, the challenge is not difficult, especially when I have the living laboratory of IU from which to glean information and connections. Sustainability in higher education is increasingly gaining attention with over 50 sustainability officer positions created on campuses from 2000-2008.
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| Source: AASHE, Higher Education Sustainability Officer Position and Salary Survey, January 2008
As such, universities now have another expert in their arsenal to look at the overall impact of decisions and land use planning within the microcosm of college campuses. These institutions are major consumers of natural resources and greatly effect their surrounding environment. Many have integrated the natural environment into their overall master campus plan in an effort to preserve the larger ecosystem they participate in.
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia's Master Land Use Plan takes into strong consideration the natural systems they recognize that their campus is a part of. In the plan they stress the importance of the natural services, such as air and water filtration, that the land provides. Additionally, they discuss the fragmentation and degradation of the land in previous decades due to irresponsible land use. Moving forward, their land use plans include remediating and restoring these degraded natural areas for their inherent positive qualities.
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| University of Virginia topographic map of campus. Source: University of Virginia Grounds Plan
University of Denver
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The University of Denver has long held sustainability in high regard in their general operations. When the institution decided to update their land use plan, they made sure to include a sustainability section. According to the document, there are several standards that the University of Denver holds itself to when considering their land management strategy. This includes efforts such as:
- Consolidation of the University's primary educational facilities on one campus, thereby maximizing the efficient use of its land.
- The reduction of the number of small surface parking lots by consolidating parking to strategically located structured facilities to both increase the amount of green space on campus, and curtail convenience short trip driving within the campus.
- The plan encourages the continued development of the University’s shuttle bus program, it advocates strengthening the pedestrian linkages to the recently completed RTD University ofDenver Light Rail Station, and it highlights the importance of developing the Promenadeconcept so as to provide efficient and attractive bicycle and pedestrian movement across thecampus.
Clearwater Christian College
Some institutions are still trying to find their way in integrating campus expansion and environmental stewardship. Clearwater Christian College recognizes the importance of expanding amenities offered
on their campus as a way to attract and retain students. However, in order to do so in the manner they proposed, the plan is to expand into priceless marshland surround campus, literally draining the land of water and wildlife habitat. Here is a news clip explaining the proposed expansion (sadly, the video is not embeddable):
The way forward for Clearwater Christian College is not clear as they are currently still trying to find an appropriate area to expand their campus without damaging the fragile surrounding wetlands.
These types of dilemmas are ones that are good to have, if anything because they force universities and other large entities to consider land health before constructing or planning. More universities need to be taking this route and hiring experts to plan in more sustainable ways. There are best practices all around our country, universities must take advantage of the wealth of sustainable land use solutions already in place as a benchmark for future planning.
References
http://www.aashe.org/resources/pdf/sustainability_officer_survey_2008.pdf
http://www.wtsp.com/news/science/story.aspx?storyid=139997
http://www.du.edu/architect/documents/Appendix_A.pdf
http://www.virginia.edu/architectoffice/GroundsPlanWebsite/GPNEW/Introduction/GPForeword.html
I wonder how much these sustainablity-focused, denser land use plans are affected by the setting of the higher education institution. UVA I know is located in historic Charlottesville, and I'm not sure they'd have much room to expand even if they wanted/needed to. City zoning practices may also come into play. I'm sure university master planners have more considerations than we can even imagine!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how this would work for universities that don't have many options. The city my undergrad is in, is built around the university. If the university ever expanded, they would have to go in to the green space surrounding it. Fortunately they haven't done so yet, they are mainly remodeling existing buildings to create more classroom and use.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting analysis. I do believe that these universities created dense development based upon location. Purdue, my undergraduate institution, is the epitome of sprawl. There was available open land next to the campus and it was never an issue to build out instead of within. Only since I have been there, has the university started to think of infill and denser development. Part of the sprawl issue, I believe, is a result of a state highway running directly through the center of campus. While I always walked to class at Purdue, crossing the highway multiple times a day never was convenient. Now the university is taking steps to reduce the number of cars on campus and eliminating the majority of the highway through campus. Hopefully this will make campus more walkable, even in the presence of all the sprawl.
ReplyDeleteI would be interested in seeing which Universities actually follow through on sustainability principles and which ones sneak the words and ideas into their master plans. Before transferring to IU in undergrad I attended NKU which boosted that when they expand they would utilize leed buildings and greenspace. As a newer university most of their planning goals seem focused on developing campus-community relationships, but they mention accessibility, supporting the living and working environment and sustainable principles. I don't think that NKU has to do much to start down the right path, but building a campus around the mindset of sprawl isn't the way to go. They do incorporate walkability and open space (in a recreation sense) in to the plan, but the sustainability section only outlines some principles and is a half page.
ReplyDeletehttp://campusplan.nku.edu/content/dam/campusplanning/docs/2009_Master_Plan_Map_3-9-09006.pdf.
Maybe NKU will become more sustainable when it becomes a more residential campus and students can identify with the school. This identification will improve the sense of community and hopefully strengthen the sustainability movement on campus. The evidence in an increase in sustainability positions is an optimistic future for more inclusive master plans that detail exactly how they will achieve their sustainable goals, not boast about a dream.