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Construction planning and control are crucial for project success. The last planner system (LPS) presents a proactive approach to plan and control production, designed to increase reliability and enhance the make-ready process. Several metrics guide the planning process at the macro level (master and phase scheduling) and the micro level (lookahead and weekly work planning). However, LPS still lacks a mathematical model that can systematically and continuously analyze such metrics, especially to forecast project performance. Moreover, there are no studies on the effect of the fluctuations of lookahead-planning LPS metrics on the metrics at the weekly work plan level. This research, therefore, proposed a new mathematical model using singularity functions, which are types of range-based expressions that track the different paths that each task can follow, from lookahead planning to weekly work planning, and evaluate LPS metrics. To assess project performance, the concept of momentum was introduced as the rate of change in metrics from week to week. Momentum was applied to the Tasks Made Ready (TMR) metric to predict the Percent Plan Complete (PPC). Through machine learning models, results show that momentum can predict PPC with over 93% correlation between actual and predicted PPC values. Data from actual construction execution in the United States were used to validate the proposed model. The contribution of this research lies in (1) conceiving a mathematical model method for project control; and (2) introducing the concept of momentum, which takes the rate of change of any metric into account, incorporated into the LPS for more reliable planning. The methodology proposed in this study can help industry better plan its projects and leverage the concept of momentum to better predict PPC, which is essential for every planning and control process in construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last three decades, the University of Texas at El Paso has refined its planning system and integrated metrics within a comprehensive planning framework--to produce dramatic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Since construction is considered a high waste-generating industry, research and business strategies in this field are continuously expending efforts to reduce tangible material wastes and emissions. Yet, these efforts have neglected intangible resource wastes which are equally important and critical such as those produced by improper capacity planning. Capacity planning is a vital process within construction planning that aims at matching capacity (available resources) with demand (forecasted workload) to achieve planning reliability and prevent unnecessary resource waste. However, existing construction studies and practices do not emphasize capacity planning nor do they provide clear measurement frameworks for assessing its impacts on workflow and waste generation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to highlight the importance of capacity planning by developing new metrics that help provide a holistic understanding and visualization of capacity planning performance and provide feedback for future capacity planning adjustments. The developed metrics were then empirically applied on two well managed projects in the United States. The resulting trends reveal a mismatch problem between load and capacity resulting in wasted resources due to poor allocation strategies that negatively impacted project performance. Moreover, the findings emphasize the need for dynamic evaluation and control of capacity planning performance within project teams. This research contributes novel metrics aimed towards comprehending the underlying mechanisms that shape capacity planning and aims at guiding project teams to achieve more sustainable production flows through quantitative evaluations and adjustments. • We present a quantitative method for assessing capacity planning in construction. • We derive seven capacity metrics and measure them on two case study projects. • The metrics complement existing ones for a complete unbiased performance evaluation. • Results show problems with capacity to load matching and wasted resource allocation. • Measuring performance and highlighting issues can guide improvement strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the need for changes to be made to the current scholarship model of universities and colleges in American society. Bureaucratic and hierarchical nature of education institutions which cater to needs of American capitalist society; Historical development of institutions of higher education; Considerations for the reform of higher education expounded by Ernest Boyer in `Scholarship Reconsidered.'

The article presents information on a study related to the growth in the educational structure that created complex educational systems which require effective management in the United States. The authors state that there has been an expansion of education at all levels from pre-kindergarten through post-graduate and continuing education. They explain that this growth in the educational structure has created complex educational systems which need effective management. The article says that the essential results of this study are a simplified simulation model relating to university operational costs and some conclusions and reflections about the nature and behavior of university costs.

Purpose Mega-projects (MP) are important not only to the stakeholders involved in their development and construction, but also to the societies, economies, and environments impacted by them. Given the importance of MP and the prevailing trend toward poor performance, the purpose of this paper is to identify changes in project development and execution to increase the likelihood of success on MP.Design/methodology/approach The researchers performed an extensive literature review in the initial phase. Then, interviews with experienced mega-project professionals were conducted to gather information on factors contributing to success and failure on MP. A detailed survey was then carried out to quantify and assess the frequency and impact levels of these factors. Finally, case studies were performed to analyze the manifestations of these impact factors on MP and identify mitigation strategies.Findings After gathering data from more than 100 projects, the researchers identified and prioritized 34 factors that have high frequency and negative performance impacts on MP, categorizing them into five categories. These factors were then used to create a mega-project preparedness assessment process and a lessons learned repository around these factors, which includes factor descriptions, examples from actual projects, and recommendations. The result is a structured method for enabling comprehensive mega-project risk management and mitigation planning.Originality/value The research has gone beyond any previous generic lessons learned, to enable project teams to make structured assessments of critical mega-project impact factors. Assessing these impact factors will enable more accurate and thorough mitigation planning for them and, thus, improve mega-project performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers steps to help school planners navigate the complexities and avoid the pitfalls that are too often part of the process when planning and finding capital projects. Suggestions include familiarizing and organizing, identifying needs, projects, costs and resources, understanding the community, and developing the project.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the use of integrated campus sustainability plans at US institutions of higher education. The paper also offers a preliminary framework for the evaluation of these plans. Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines 27 campus sustainability plans. It determines the types and characteristics of the institutions that have adopted these plans. It then uses content analysis techniques to determine their typical contents and emphases. Finally, the paper draws on literature pertaining to sustainability plans and plan evaluation to present a preliminary tool for evaluating campus sustainability planning efforts. Findings – Campus sustainability plans in the USA are extremely diverse. Environmental aspects are most prominent in these plans, and social equity aspects are least prominent. Campus operations receive more attention than do academic or administrative aspects. Most campuses have taken an inclusive, campus-wide approach to developing their sustainability plans. The evaluation of these plans should consider both their process and their substance and should account for circumstances unique to higher education. Research limitations/implications – The research is focused on US colleges and universities and may have overlooked some campus sustainability plans that have other titles. Nevertheless, it is a fairly comprehensive analysis of campus sustainability planning efforts to date in the USA. Practical implications – Campus sustainability plans are an important integrative tool. Understanding the details and potential evaluation of these plans can help determine their broader adoption and implementation. Originality/value – As an emerging tool for campus sustainability efforts, sustainability plans allow colleges and universities to examine operational, academic, and administrative functions in an integrated manner. To date, there has been very little scholarly attention to these plans, and no prior attempt to consider how they might be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the history of campus planning in the U.S. Topics discussed include the statement of Persis C. Rickes, president of higher education planning firm Rickes Associates, regarding the accessibility to higher education, impacts of digital technology on higher education, and number of higher education students who enrolled in community colleges in 2014.

The article presents an analysis of the intellectual property issues raised by undergraduate research and student-created business ideas. It discusses the changes in the U.S. intellectual property law that directs the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. It mentions that universities should be careful while creating and implementing policies related to the undergraduate research and development.

The purpose of this article is to share pedagogical materials and activities which can help TESOL practitioners prepare service-learning activities inside and outside the classroom. This study utilizes action research tools to improve academic service-learning in TESOL as a holistic approach to problem solving rather than a single method for collecting and analyzing data. The article describes the experiences of planning, implementing, participating in, and evaluating a successful university intensive English course at a midwestern U.S. university. Qualitative research methods used included document collection and analysis, authentic instructional artifacts, and a survey to exemplify the experiences of students and community partners. Students expressed their preferences for service-learning as both community building and personal growth opportunities with student reflection data. The results of this study suggest that the seven steps for service-learning in the TESOL model may be the starting point for developing additional context-specific service-learning courses in TESOL depending on the nature and location of an English language program. Based on the findings of the present research, the author also argues that this study shows that there are certain identifiable boundaries and combinations of useful steps for an acceptable TESOL service-learning project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the initiatives and the planning processes in higher education in Georgia to increase the number of college graduates. Among the initiatives mentioned include the merger of 33 colleges into 24 in 2011 made by Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), the articulation agreement in 2012 between University System of Georgia (USG) and TCSG which deals with transfer of courses, and the one million dollar grant to Georgia from the Complete College America (CCA).

The article presents a study which evaluates the application of the balanced scorecard (BSC) framework in the nonprofit sector of higher education in the U.S. The implementation of the BSC framework at the College of St. Scholastica is highlighted. The challenges and opportunities in implementing the BSC framework are discussed.

The article discusses the importance of supplementing strategic planning with qualitative client-based research in colleges and universities in the U.S. Two techniques in qualitative research are described which include focus groups and ethnographic research. The application of the techniques at two community colleges in 2006 and 2009 is outlined.

The article focuses on the importance of associating heritage planning of college campuses with campus landscapes. It mentions about the Getty Foundation-funded campus heritage plan at the Kansas University (KU) in Kansas and informs that the historic conservation plan at the KU focused on combining the importance of ecology to historically significant periods.

The article focuses on several campus heritage plans in the U.S. which focuses on historic preservation of the sites. It mentions about the heritage conservation program at the University of Minnesota in Minnesota which focused on the importance of historic roads and the management of sustainable landscapes and discusses the dilemma of historic preservation at the Scripps College in California.

One of the epicenters of the historic preservation movement in the United States, the east side of Providence is also home to Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design. Preservation leaders and institutional leaders-sometimes adversaries, sometimes partners-took a meandering path toward the expansive notion of Historic Providence that we see today. This article will explore the changing notions of cities, preservation, and institutional development on what is aptly called College Hill. It is a story of mutual support, conflicting values, and an extraordinary act of planning: the College Hill Study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on several universities and colleges in the U.S. which have stressed on campus heritage as a major element in their campus planning. Campus heritage protection include the renewal of landmark architecture, and the restoration of outdoor spaces and gardens. Also discussed is cultural heritage protection in several universities including the Duke University in North Carolina, University of Washington in Washington, and the Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.

The article offers information on the Getty Foundation's Campus Heritage Initiative. The Initiative aimed at assisting colleges and universities in the U.S. by offering them grants for the preservation and management of their significant historic sites, buildings and landscapes. It explains the process of the initiative and discusses changes which were implemented in various colleges and universities as part of the initiative.

This article describes an exploratory and descriptive study that examined the parental involvement beliefs, attitudes, and activities of 22 high schoåol counselors who work in high-poverty and high-minority schools. More specifically, this study examined school counselors' beliefs and activities about involving parents in the college admission process. The results indicated that the participants believe that working with parents about college opportunities is a major part of their job. A majority of the participants also reported that they spend "some time" conferencing with parents about college admissions and a majority reported that they "never" organize parent volunteer activities. Implications for school counselor practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper seeks to highlight elements of and assumptions for an inclusive planning process which guided the transformation of an information commons into a learning commons over a six-year period. It aims to present case study within the context of the North American higher education environment, in which this example illustrates the shift from a teaching to a learning orientation. Design/methodology/approach - The report illustrates the efficacy of a highly participatory and inclusive planning process which integrates ideas generated by campus stakeholders and beneficiaries - students, professors, and administrators - to redirect campus library activities from service to learning outcomes. The culminating Science Café example suggests the potential of repurposing space, revitalizing relationships, and re-energizing programming within an academic library. Findings - The case study illustrates the impact of participatory (re)design of library priorities. It demonstrates the new insights produced through expanded campus decision-making processes. Conference paper and journal article references provide detailed descriptions of consultation and research elements of this six-year initiative. Originality/value - The paper provides a campus planning framework for an inclusive learning commons initiative. References to detailed reports in conference presentations, book chapters, and journal papers published in Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America offer transferable guidance for convening campus conversations to repurpose library facilities. This topic is timely, as information and learning commons - originating over 15 years ago in North America - are of growing interest internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We test the hypothesis that universities are more productive when they are both more autonomous and face more competition. Using survey data, we construct indices of university autonomy and competition for both Europe and the United States. We show that there are strong positive correlations between these indices and multiple measures of university output. To obtain causal evidence, we investigate exogenous shocks to US universities’ expenditures over three decades. These shocks arise through the political appointment process, which we use to generate instrumental variables. We find that an exogenous increase in a university’s expenditure generates more output, measured by either patents or publications, if the university is more autonomous and faces more competition. Exploiting variation over time in the ‘stakes’ of competitions for US federal research grants, we also find that universities generate more output for a given expenditure when research competitions are high stakes. We draw lessons, arguing that European universities could benefit from a combination of greater autonomy and greater accountability. Greater accountability might come through increased reliance on competitive grants, enhanced competition for students and faculty (promoted by reforms that increase mobility), and yardstick competitions (which often take the form of assessment exercises). --- Philippe Aghion, Mathias Dewatripont, Caroline Hoxby, Andreu Mas-Colell and André Sapir [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses pandemic planning at U.S. colleges and universities. It considers how the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health have partnered with the American College Health Association to develop pandemic guidelines. It looks at steps taken in light of the H1N1 pandemic.

The article looks at the green practice by the universities and colleges in the U.S. and Canada. It presents several case studies including the sustainable planning at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Clarkson University, Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability at The University of British Columbia, and the New Science Facility at Lehman College. It suggests that higher education must create sustainable learning environments to boost consciousness of students.

The article presents an industry analysis relevant to the U.S. higher education using the five forces model of M. E. Porter. It defines the five forces model of Porter relevant to higher education including the threat of new entrants, intensity of rivalry, threat of substitutes, bargaining power of buyers and the bargaining power of suppliers. It explains why industry analysis makes sense in higher education strategy making.

The article reports how U.S. colleges and universities can help the environment and society. It discusses the importance of campus design and planning in the communities and cities. It notes that higher education has responsibility to model good behavior, to plan with good intention, and to demonstrate ethical action.

Heagolka University, a pseudonymous university in Anywhere, USA, is fraught with diversity-related litigations, lack of applicants from ethnic minority groups, and a mono-cultural curriculum in an overwhelming White majority community. This paper presents some proactive measures Heagolka— and other universities in a similar circumstance—may employ to begin diversifying its campus while uncovering the hidden discrimination that may exist in its hiring practices, curriculum, and policies. The article offers pragmatic recommendations for universities in taking steps to develop strategic planning plans and quality management practices so they may begin demonstrating respect for diversity by admitting more qualifi ed ethnic minorities; attracting and retaining qualifi ed administrators, faculty, and staff; diversifying curriculum; and enhancing their reputation for diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A suite of assessment tools, including measures of student engagement, powers a cycle of activities that create an institutional culture of planning and decision making based on evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mild recession experienced in the early part of this decade forced many US electrical contractors to reduce their profit margins as a way to win jobs and survive economically. However, to make up for lower profit margins, contractors turned to 'better planning' as a method for improving their efficiency and increasing their profitability. In general, contractors believe that better planning contributes to better project performance, but the evidence has been mostly anecdotal. A study was conducted recently that transformed anecdotal evidence about the impact of pre-construction planning on performance into quantitative evidence. The research resulted in the development of a model pre-construction planning process that was based on outstanding projects that were well planned and performed well. The study quantified the relationship between pre-construction planning activities, project characteristics and performance, and a separate validation study found that those projects that performed a comprehensive planning process similar to the model planning process were more likely to achieve their estimated work hours, profit, budget and completion goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the study of strategic planning of interdisciplinary approaches in U.S. university campuses. The study aims to eliminate barriers between academic disciplines, develop flexible and innovative space, and establish the importance of campus leadership. It includes twenty-one universities which include Columbia University, Cornell University, and Harvard University. It outlines a conceptual framework that highlights the significance of interdisciplinary space in promoting an interdisciplinary community.

The article presents the three awards programs that recognize the achievements and excellence of individuals, institutions, and organizations of higher education in the U.S. They are aimed to provide learning opportunities for everyone whose lives and passions involve higher education, despite such recognition. They include the 2007 Founders (Casey) Award for Distinguished Achievement in Higher Education Planning given to Rodney Rose for his 40-year contributions to the literature and planning models, the 2007 Distinguished Service Award given to Calvert W. Audrain for his exceptional contributions to the activities and success of the society, and the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) American Institute of Architects (AIA)/Computer-aided engineering (CAE) awards.

Historically, community colleges have played a role in preparing teachers by strengthening articulation and transfer with university-based teacher colleges, hosting university center programs that provide upper division teacher education courses, and providing alternative teacher certification programming for holders of bachelor's and higher degrees. In the past several years, a growing number of community colleges have expanded their work in teacher education programs by developing and conferring their own baccalaureate degrees. Perhaps because these baccalaureate programs are so new, little has been written from the perspective of the practitioners who have implemented them. Their stories deserve to be told. Drawing on interviews with representatives from 10 community colleges or former community colleges, this article reports the initial findings of an exploratory study of what can be learned from the experiences of community college practitioners who have established bachelor's degree programs in teacher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the African-American students which becomes the top priority in the strategic plans of colleges and universities in the U.S. According to the Census Bureau, the group will comprise 24.4 percent of the country's total population by 2050, and it is critical that school institutions must act to prepare for the recruitment and retain members of the group. Moreover, methods on recruiting such minorities does not allow for personalized and segmented marketing efforts that often prove much more effective because it is counterproductive. Furthermore, the methods of recruitment must consider the role of the family as an important factor

Undergraduate geography field courses are relatively rare at American univers-ities, though they can exemplify well the fundamental tenets of learner-centered education. This article reports on an intensive three-week field analysis course taught at Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff, within the Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation. Co-taught by the authors since 1999, Field Analysis (GGR 480) serves as the department's capstone course in geography, required of all undergraduate majors. Nine years of experiences, lessons learned, teaching and assessment strategies, assigned projects, and course development are described herein. Educators with little field experience are encouraged to develop their own field-based course in geography that applies learner-centered education and assessment techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the fixed-tuition plans that have been adopted by several universities in the U.S. Students would have to pay fixed annual tuition fee during their tenure at the institutions under this plan. Parents and students would be informed beforehand what they would be paying for the entire course of study. The author argues that the fixed-tuition plans adversely affect the students from underrepresented groups. Under the plan, a college or university prepares an estimate of its tuition fee for a fixed time and calculates the average for the period.

The article discusses on the Responsive Systems Group (RSG), a design research collective at the School of Architecture, Art, and Planning in Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The article addresses questions on the collective's interdisciplinary nature and on collective intelligence at a number of scales which includes the groupings, the technologies and methodologies of responsiveness of artificial intelligence, and the nature of RSG work which focuses more on design.

The article presents information on the success of disaster or emergency operations plan in the universities and colleges in the United States. It observes that temporary planning is not enough to tackle such situations. A decisive plan by experienced leaders and an effective implementation with a personal touch would save the situations. Therefore, the college and university trustees have important responsibilities in the disaster management planning. They should give emphasize to financial planning for a successful recovery.

The article presents information on the succession planning for the position of department chair in the universities and colleges in the United States. According to the authors, the background and training of the faculty is not helping for such an important management role of this intentional professional development. Though majority of decisions and educational planning in higher education are taken at the departmental level, academic departments spend little time to select their leaders. The faculties hardly spend time to prepare them for their duties. Most of such selections are taken without any proper planning.

The article discusses the relationship between campuses and surrounding communities in the U.S., Great Britain and other developed capitalist countries, focusing on the city and regional planning issues. It offers a general overview of the institutional priorities of colleges and universities, and the contributions of the planning in the field of scholarship and practice.

The article focuses on the university development partnerships towards greater student and faculty involvement in community-based planning and development efforts in low-income communities in the U.S. It also presents the achievements of several emerging organizations committed to expand and strengthen the campus-based and student-led community service programs in economically distressed communities.

Planners need to understand key policy and operational issues in higher education as well as complexities of the change process itself before considering implementation of the Doctorate in Nursing Practice. This article offers some planning perspectives and practical advice, based on relevant literature and presidential perspectives. While major differences exist across universities and states, there are many common tasks of planning, such as identifying key external and internal policy issues which must be considered. It is also important to develop strong proposals consistent with the organizational mission and "anchoring ideologies," and to identify adequate resources and significant local needs. Of particular importance are overcoming policy concerns that relate to the allocation of limited public funds for doctoral education and ensuring faculty personnel policies support DNP development and preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the importance of partnerships between the people of Chicago, Illinois and DePaul University to the strategic academic and facilities planning of the university. Details of a strategic plan developed by the university focusing on enrollment growth; Facilities developed through the partnership between DePaul and external partners; Factors integrated in a successful strategic planning.

Discuses the strategic planning process used by the University of New Hampshire in changing its financial organization and budget management. Background on the budget problems of the university; Key decisions that influenced the academic planning process of the university; List of principles that can contribute to successful planning by other institutions.

Delves into the issue of establishing new academic programs in the university. Identification of strategic interventions that can be pursued to achieve growth; Discussion of the Program Planning Model developed by the Enrollment Management Team at Tulane University; Application of the model to the university.