McCullers Group Director of Development Planning Cortland McCullers and University of Dayton Vice President for Facilities Management and Planning Rick Krysiak recently shared their insights on campus master planning at the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio’s (AICUO) annual Collaborative Conference.

Hosted at Otterbein University, the conference brought together college administrators from across the state to learn and collaborate on topics like business and finance, admissions and enrollment, student support, and strategic partnerships.

McCullers and Krysiak’s presentation, “Campus Master Planning in the Land-Rich, Cash-Poor Era,” examined the challenges and value of available or underutilized land and assets, the roles of housing, recreation, entertainment, athletics, and service- and experiential-focused retail, and the opportunities they present to diversify revenue, enhance the student and faculty experience, and support university goals.

“It’s always a pleasure to take part in and present at the Collaborative Conference,” said McCullers. “Getting to partner with Rick and draw from all his experience hopefully made it a worthwhile session for all the university leaders who joined us.”

“It’s a new era when it comes to campus planning,” he added. “Having thoughtful planning and development strategies is imperative to making universities even more attractive and competitive in the years ahead, especially with the demographic and economic realities they’re facing. It’s one of the things we enjoy doing the most.”

AICUO represents the interests of 50 member institutions throughout the state, promoting the benefits and contributions of Ohio independent colleges and universities, working to promote the well-being of Ohio higher education, and strengthening student financial aid programs. Located in every region of the state, Ohio’s independent institutions include research universities, traditional liberal arts colleges, comprehensive universities, single-purpose institutions, and religiously affiliated colleges.