Higher Education

College towns that have been observing public health guidelines and seen relatively few COVID-19 cases are now seeing infections spike as young people return to take classes. The New York Times has been tracking cases in colleges and college towns.

September 14, 2020 - The New York Times

Larger universities, like Boston University, have begun swallowing up smaller schools that offer new students and a goldmine of real estate in dense urban areas.

September 24, 2017 - The Boston Globe

Institutional structure and culture can matter as much as location to the success and survival of urban universities.

July 31, 2014 - Dean Saitta

Despite the improving economy, the outlook for the higher education sector is still poor, especially between the endowment haves and have-nots. Another factor playing a critical role in the success or failure of institutions: their location.

July 29, 2014 - The Chronicle of Higher Education

With nearly $10 billion in construction expected over the next five years (in addition to the $4.2 billion spent over the last five), New York City is in the midst of a higher education building boom being led by investment in science and technology

January 2, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

As college becomes less affordable, alternatives to the traditional four-year model have been making inroads, leading some to question its lasting viability. If universities struggle, it will impact not only campuses, but cities, as well.

August 19, 2013 - Mark Hough

After a decade-long construction arms race at the nation's institutions of higher education, The New York Times looks at what happens when the creditors come calling.

December 15, 2012 - The New York Times

A growing list of cities are banking their economic development on the medical and educational sectors, which have consistently grown over the past few decades. Aaron Renn examines why overreliance on eds and meds is problematic.

September 13, 2012 - New Geography

Washington DC's office of planning will begin restricting Georgetown's enrollment if the university does not manage to provide housing for 100% of its undergraduates by 2016.

October 25, 2011 - The Washington Post

Derek Thompson reports on the twenty strongest metro areas and the major factors behind their success in recovering from the recession. He concludes that the country "did not experience an even, cross-country recession."

September 10, 2010 - The Atlantic

At the beginning of semester students are signing up for classes and planning their degrees. Lately, a question I have been asked quite frequently is which classes will make new planners most employable? Students ask if computer aided design or GIS will be key. However, surveys of planning practitioners show that a far more basic set of skills is important—skills in communication, information analysis and synthesis, political savvy, and basic workplace competencies and attitudes. Below, I highlight three of these studies from across three decades:

August 31, 2008 - Ann Forsyth

This article from Governing looks at the role of higher education and medical facilities in keeping urban areas alive.

May 14, 2008 - Governing

Across the U.S., dozens of colleges and universities are planning or building major campus expansions. However, unlike the 1990s which saw gleaming bioscience research facilities appear on campuses, the new construction is calculated to help attract and retain faculty and students with amenities for living and shopping. Almost without exception, these projects are in a strictly neotraditional design mold.

March 9, 2007 - Robert Goodspeed