Recent studies have shown that space growth is outpacing enrollment growth in higher education. The goal is to grow enrollment and increase space at about the same rate. However, since 2012, space growth has continued to rise while enrollment growth has remained flat. This blog discusses how to improve strategic planning in managing higher education facilities.
How to Improve Strategic Planning at Higher Education Facilities
Recently, poor planning has led higher education institutions to invest heavily in new construction projects to attract more students; however, the goal of increased enrollment has yet to match the rapid expansion of new building programs. Poor planning at universities results in disillusioned faculty, staff, and students, inadequate use of vital resources, and failed accreditation reviews. This means institutions lose out on both funding and prestige. Here, we discuss best practices for rethinking the strategic planning process and how Solutions for Higher Education improve strategic planning on campus.
Read our guide to financial analysis for facility managers.
Quality strategic planning connects vision, priorities, people, and the physical institution to a flexible evaluation, decision-making, and action system. It shapes and guides the entire higher education organization as it evolves over time and within the context of the wider community.
Include Stakeholders in the Early Stages
Involving stakeholders in planning will help build a broad support network across diverse constituents. In particular, the planning committee benefits from members representing various institutional roles, demographic groups, and campus units. In addition to building buy‐in, a diverse committee helps to anticipate the future cross‐unit coordination necessary to carry out goals and objectives.
Build a Diverse Committee
Create a planning committee that encourages broad participation. The committee should consist of senior administrators, faculty, staff, one or two students, an alumni representative, and a representative of the institution’s foundation. Participating staff and administrators represent academics, student affairs, facilities, operations, enrollment management, information technology, institutional research, alum relations, athletics, and budgeting.
Develop Shorter Planning Cycles
Develop a shorter cycle and revise the five‐year strategic framework to produce a better budget that reflects strategic priorities and outlines implementation steps for the coming year.
These are the top 3 trends impacting education facilities management right now.
Typically, strategic plan cycles range from five to 11 years. However, studies have demonstrated that shorter plan cycles may mitigate the tendency to front‐load or back‐load goals during the planning process. These pitfalls can lead to unrealistic timelines and a loss of momentum.
Align Capital Investments with the Institutional Mission
Increasingly, educational institutions want to align buildings and capital investments with the organization's mission. This requires a focus on outcomes beyond reliability and efficiency. Namely, aligning the budget and capital investments with the strategic plan will make the institution more impactful.
For example, redesigning an institution’s budget request form to include strategic importance can ensure that key initiatives are implemented. The strategic planning process can also support fundraising campaigns by developing a wide-ranging support network, establishing institutional priorities, and setting evidence‐based metrics.
Strategic Planning in Education Facilities
When it comes to strategic planning, the stakes are high, but the rewards are higher. Designing and implementing a solid strategic planning process will provide an institution with a forum for campus-wide conversations about important decisions.
The process should also be organized to include assessment, resource allocation, and accreditation. A strategic plan should be a source of information about progress and achievement with real meaning for those associated with the institution.
How Higher Education Benefits from Software
Intellis's innovative technology and facility management software platforms empower universities and colleges to work smarter and more efficiently. Intellis's platform is an efficient, affordable, and adaptable solution for educational facility executives and business officers. It provides a robust platform for managing campus facilities, enabling institutions to optimize resources and ensure long-term sustainability.
Benefits:
- Improves productivity and mitigates risk in facility condition assessments and capital planning.
- Enables faster and more efficient operations through integrated data management.
- Provides scenario-building capabilities for making astute decisions and optimizing long-term investments.
- Offers customization options to meet unique organizational requirements.
Key Features:
- Modular Design: The Foundation Platform is designed to meet your organization's unique needs. It consists of four fully configurable modules that seamlessly integrate with enterprise software. This flexibility empowers you to choose the modules that best suit your requirements, giving you complete control over your facility management processes.
- Comprehensive Facility Management: The system provides a complete suite of tools for condition assessments, capital planning, and asset lifecycle management. This comprehensive approach offers greater visibility into asset lifecycles and helps maximize resources, providing a secure foundation for developing accurate capital plans.
- Integration Capabilities: Foundation is designed to integrate with various enterprise systems, including CMMS, FM, PM, Space Management, and EAM systems. This integration creates a robust planning solution that helps organizations achieve long-term goals.
- Data Collection and Analysis: The platform is designed for efficiency, enabling seamless data gathering in the office and the field. It incorporates predictive analytics to help facility managers make strategic decisions and mitigate risks, instilling confidence in decision-making.
Intellis Solutions helps facility managers with its comprehensive planning software solution. This unique system bridges the divide between planning and execution, enabling organizations to make informed decisions and optimize long-term investments. Schedule a demo today to learn more!
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This blog provides valuable insights on enhancing strategic planning for educational facilities. Technology should empower your team to improve efficiency and workflow. At Intellis, we look forward to seeing the progress educational institutions make across these areas, and we’re proud to be an ally in helping higher education institutions work smarter to reach new levels of success!
Staying updated on using data and insight tools for facilities is an easy way to cut costs. With the help of enterprise software like FOUNDATION, facility managers can leverage building data and turn it into actionable insights. With robust, data-centric work systems tailored to your needs, you won't have to waste the opportunity to achieve more for your institution.