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The 2020 Thought Leaders report, "Preparing for the Student of 2024," focuses on students entering higher education in the next decade, being the most diverse incoming class in higher education history--and the vanguard of an increasingly diverse generation. They will have been raised with technology from birth and will consider online interaction as natural as breathing. They will be alert to the importance of mental health and wellness, both in themselves and in their peers. They will have low tolerance for slow administrative processes. They will expect their professors to teach in engaging, interactive ways and make smart use of technology. They will expect a lot of themselves. They will expect a lot of their institutions. They will know what they are paying for their education, and they will demand every penny's worth. Is today's campus ready for these students? The answer: Yes--and no. Higher education is moving in the right direction, but it faces unprecedented demands and challenges. We are only now beginning to understand that the old normal is never coming back. We must find ways to adapt to a new normal and a new set of expectations from our future students. [For the 2019 report, "Innovation in an Age of Disruption," see ED602486.]

The 2019 Thought Leaders report focuses on "Innovation in an Age of Disruption." Participants at the Thought Leaders symposium explored the mechanics of innovation. They drew on the experience of experts in innovation and entrepreneurship and discussed ways to protect experimentation and creativity from institutional forces dedicated to the status quo. They practiced developing innovative strategies for addressing the challenges facing higher education. They learned that creativity must be fostered and encouraged within an institution, by modeling the entrepreneurial mindset to instill a curiosity to innovate. Participants in the Thought Leaders symposium developed the following strategies for thinking outside the box: (1) By cultivating a mindset that is open to change; (2) By looking at organizations with a deliberately different perspective; (3) By taking ownership of work and embracing risk; (3) By hiring for passion as well as hiring for skills; (4) By engaging with others and really listening to what they have to say; (5) By protecting experimentation and permitting failure; and (6) By connecting to the mission of the organization. Participants at the Thought Leaders symposium came away from their time together with a new commitment to the mission of each of their institutions and a renewed sense of passion and ownership. [For the 2018 report, "The Landscape, Framework, and Strategies for Managing & Mitigating Risk," see ED592253.]

The 2018 Thought Leaders report focuses on "The Landscape, Framework, and Strategies for Managing & Mitigating Risk." The report looks at enterprise risk management (ERM) from both a campus-wide perspective as well as how risks affect the facilities organization in its support of the institution. In assessing all types of risks to the institution--strategic, financial, operational, compliance, and reputational--the Thought Leaders symposium participants identified six major risk areas that must be considered for their campuses: (1) Revenue and investments; (2) Brand and reputation; (3) Health and safety; (4) Innovation; (5) Facilities; and (6) Changing political/cultural environment. [For the 2017 report, "Transforming Facilities to Achieve Student Success. APPA Thought Leaders Series 2017," see ED581285.]

The 2017 Thought Leaders report focuses on "Transforming Facilities to Achieve Student Success." The report makes the case that student success starts with retention and graduation, but it can expand to include factors from personal career goals to social responsibility. A key message from the report is that through strategic investment in their facilities, colleges and universities can support student success, position the campus for the future, and serve as good stewards of campus assets. The report also stresses that the process must reflect the mission and vision of the campus, thus making the greatest impact possible on the college or university's goals. A list of selected resources is included.

The 2016 Thought Leaders symposium, supported in part by long-time sponsor Jacobs, focused on "Remaking the Facilities Organization." The report makes the case for a customer-centric higher education facilities organization. Experts provide their insights on how a focus on the customer provides a framework for driving change. The benefits of a customer-centric focus include empowered employees, better alignment between the mission of the facilities organization and the mission of the institution, and improved stewardship of campus systems and resources. The report examines in detail how a customer-centric focus can be applied to the four major responsibilities of educational facilities organizations: 1) general administration and management; 2) operations and maintenance; 3) energy and utilities; and 4) facilities planning, design, and construction. The report defines goals within each of these areas and suggests strategies for facilities leaders to achieve them. A bibliography is included.

The 2015 Thought Leaders symposium focused on the topic of "Facilities & Technology: The Transformation of 'Campus.'" Educational institutions that master new technologies will have an edge in the increasingly competitive higher education landscape. This report discusses the factors related to integrating technology and the campus built environment; using technology to enhance critical campus functions; and integrating facilities management and information technology. New technology will require new skills and new approaches to day-to-day tasks. The result will be a new campus for a new era, which will need to address the following needs: (1) Restructuring the facilities management organization to effectively integrate new technology; (2) Crafting policies that enhance facilities/IT integration; (3) Creating successful facilities/IT integration; (4) Preparing the facilities professional of the future; and (5) Imagining the IT/facilities integration of the future: where we are going. [To view the 2014 report, see ED547779.]