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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Announcing the Space Planning and Management Committee


In seeking ways to improve institutional effectiveness, MCC has reviewed the management and allocation of space that are in place at other colleges and universities.  It has become clear that in most of higher ed, institutions have convened and charged a cross-college group that can review and manage this valuable and limited resource.   Recognizing an opportunity to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of MCC’s processes, the College is convening its first Space Planning and Management Committee (SP&MC).

The SP&MC is to be a broad-based constituent group chaired by the Assistant Vice President of Facilities and include the Director for Academic Facilities and Learning Environments as non-voting advisor.  Membership is as follows:

*        Paul Wurster, Assistant VP, Facilities (chair)

*        Paul Emerick, Associate Professor, Biology

*        Ginny Geer-Mentry, Director, MCC Association

*        Terry Keys, Associate VP, Instructional Services

*        Kimberley McKinsey-Mabry, Dean of the School of Business, Hospitality, and Entrepreneurism and the School of Community Engagement and Development

*        Matt O’Connor, Assistant VP, EDIWS

*        Diane Shoger, Executive Director, MCC Foundation

*        Bob Cunningham, Director for Academic Facilities and Learning Environments (advisor)

This committee will be charged with the responsibility and authority for reviewing and acting on all requests related to College space and will work from a set of principles concerning the College’s built environment:

*        Space is a valuable and limited MCC resource.

*        Space should be allocated in a manner that advances MCC’s mission, goals, and strategic priorities.

*        Space can and will be reassigned when necessary to support MCC’s mission, goals, and strategic priorities.

*        Space needs will be evaluated in a manner that includes quantitative, qualitative, and functional considerations.

During the fall semester 2016, the SP&MC will meet to accomplish the following:

*        Develop space management practices to provide a consistent framework to (1) allocate space, (2) plan for future space needs of the organization, and (3) manage College space effectively and efficiently.

*        Develop a process for reallocation of space that engenders trust and transparency.

*        Familiarize itself with State University Construction Fund’s Facility Programming Guidelines and other current best practices in higher education related to the space allocation, sizing, and design; utilization rates; and building/space type efficiencies.

It is anticipated that early next year (2017), the SP&MC will begin receiving, reviewing, and responding to space requests.  As the committee launches this phase of its work, it will share more details in the Tribune.

I thank the SP&MC members for committing their time and talent to this new process.

Anne M. Kress
President's Office
10/13/2016