Sasaki Associates created the interactive My Campus survey to collect information about how Colgate’s facilites and land are used.
It has been more than 20 years since Colgate last undertook a master plan of its built environment and land holdings, and in that time much in the landscape has changed.
Little Hall, Persson, the townhouses, the Ho Science Center, the Trudy Fitness Center, and other facilities have all been added. Colgate has pledged to become carbon neutral by its 2019 bicentennial, and accessibility is required by law. And finding a place to park isn’t always easy.
This fall, after a comprehensive review of firms, Colgate began working with Sasaki Associates of Watertown, Mass., to determine how to best meet the university’s academic mission, future campus needs, and commitment to sustainability. Sasaki has extensive experience working with a diverse array of campuses across the United States, ranging from Bates College to Northwestern University.
Working with Colgate’s master planning committee and key constituents on campus, Sasaki has designed an interactive online survey to be completed by members of the faculty, staff, and student body. The survey, called My Campus, allows participants to record their daily patterns by placing different icons on a graphic representation of campus. In the first three days alone, more than 500 people logged on.
“I think that was the coolest survey I’ve ever filled out. Yes ever,” wrote Samantha Frank ’14, who is working this semester at the National Institutes of Health. “I really enjoyed how hands on it was, and the inclusion of the common travel paths. I think that this survey will seriously tap into future possibilities.”
To supplement what the online survey shows, members of the Sasaki team will hold thee 90-minute forums: on Nov. 15, at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., for staff and faculty respectively; and on Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m. for students.
Members of the faculty, students, and staff can still complete the survey here.