ERIC Number: ED628112
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Jul-19
Pages: 42
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-0-913359-18-1
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Connections, Space & Place. Thought Leaders Series 2021
APPA: Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers
What is the role of the facilities organization in meeting today's challenges? In part, facilities experts will continue the essential work they have done since the start of the pandemic: They will keep the campus safe and operational. But the facilities organization can do more--more, in fact, than most institutions realize. They can help their college or university foster community by leveraging its sense of place. "Sense of place" is defined by one expert as "the feelings evoked among people as a result of the experiences and memories they associate with a place and the symbolism they attach to that place." Meaningful places can come to represent an entire institution, including its history, its values, and its legacy. A strong sense of place can arise naturally, but it can also be consciously, carefully cultivated. This is possible for any institution, no matter its age or classification. Historic campuses with well-established places and traditions may find this process easier, but even new campuses and recently established institutions can foster a sense of place. Colleges and universities should look for the places where the community naturally gathers--a quad, a fountain, a lounge, a stairway--and take steps to make that place welcoming and accessible. [For the 2020 report, see ED613679.]
Descriptors: Leaders, Educational Facilities, COVID-19, Pandemics, Higher Education, Sense of Community, College Environment, Educational Facilities Improvement, Facilities Management
APPA: Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers. 1643 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2818. Tel: 703-684-1446; Fax: 703-549-2772; Web site: http://www.appa.org
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: APPA: Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A