When it comes to deciding which college to attend, students have a number of options to consider. Academic offerings, location of the school, demographic information, and affordability are all pieces of the puzzle. There are other elements that a school has very little control over, such as the influence of family members or guidance counselors.
When it comes to those aspects a school can control, though, it is important to make as positive an impression as possible. The differences between schools can be razor-thin, and anything that sets a school apart—positive or negative—can be the reason a student makes the choice they do. One such characteristic is the physical attractiveness of a school. Here’s what colleges can do to make sure their facilities are appealing, and how data can help.
Know where you stand
Every school has its individual quirks that appeal to different students in different ways. Some students might already have their minds made up, whether that’s to attend college in a big city or a small town, or if they prefer a college with an enclosed campus or a school that is spread throughout multiple buildings across a city. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but it certainly can’t hurt to be regarded as one of the most beautiful college campuses in America, at least according to Architectural Digest.
Modern facilities are important, but depending on the school, they might not need to be a top priority. Some students might choose a school because of its historic buildings. The challenge in those cases is to keep facilities current without losing any of the charm. This is an important starting point when it comes to data-gathering about facilities: what aspects of campus are non-negotiables when it comes to making changes, and where do improvements need to be made to attract not the students who have their minds made up, but the ones who are on the fence?
Facilities survey results
In a Student Voice survey of 2,000 college students conducted by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse, students specifically mentioned buildings such as the library, gym, dining areas, labs, and dorms when asked for details on what about their college’s facilities attracted them to the institution. Many students also mentioned architecture, outdoor spaces, and recreation centers as most influential.
Some students in the survey expressed disappointment once arriving on campus about the quality of the classrooms in the buildings associated with their major, noting that brochures and tours only highlighted the best quality classrooms and buildings. Some said they wished they had asked more about the range of facilities.
Using data for facilities
It is important for colleges and universities to take these comments into consideration when thinking about their facilities. All aspects of college life contribute towards student happiness and satisfaction, and a subpar facility could be a factor in a student deciding to transfer. Enrollment is a key consideration when it comes to facilities, because improvements and maintenance, while important drivers to helping a school remain financially healthy, also require financial health to obtain.
That’s where data analytics comes into play. The right business intelligence solution can help a college or university combine data from all of the different parts of campus into one report that ensures decision-makers have all of the information they need. That information can include key data points such as:
- How old buildings are
- Space utilization
- Staffing
The data can help as schools develop capital project plans, determining what risks need to be addressed, or which opportunities they need to prioritize.
For many schools, that priority is sustainability, and the data can help zero in on existing energy usage or help inform the decisions that might lie ahead about making buildings more environmentally friendly, or building new, greener facilities. With possible financial incentives available to institutions using renewable energy or increasing energy efficiency, analytics could be an important contributor to a college’s return on investment for certain facilities upgrades.
There are so many aspects for schools to factor in when they look at their campuses. In addition to feedback from students about the buildings and the work towards sustainability, there is also the work being done by peer schools, and using that as a comparative metric. Analytics solutions need to be flexible enough to consider the disparate systems that might be used in different departments of a university setting.
Most importantly, though, institutions need to keep in mind what is best for students. Whether it is the most up-to-date technology in a classroom, or making sure buildings are accessible and inclusive, decisions regarding campus facilities could be what leads to student success, and student success is a big part of what makes schools successful.
- How Gathering Compliance Data Can Help Organizations - October 10, 2024
- Beverage Alcohol Trends Heading into 2025 - October 8, 2024
- Rescheduling Cannabis: Impact on Organizations - October 3, 2024
