The future of the American campus

Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to present a review of the American campus in 2015 as the physical and facilities implications of the digital transformation of higher education begin to appear. Business conditions and technological changes are beginning to require changes in the traditional physical campus.

Design/methodology/approach

The author provides observations and recommendations of a former university architect and campus planner on the physical adaptation of the American campus.

Findings

Predictions of the demise of traditional colleges and universities will prove accurate for some as they shrivel or merge out of existence. The survivors will adapt their business models and modify their physical campuses to better match student and faculty needs.

Originality/value

A physical adaptation of the American campus will result from digital transformation of higher education, as there is less need for synchronous place and time.

Citation

Haggans, M. (2015), "The future of the American campus", On the Horizon, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 25-32. https://doi.org/10.1108/OTH-11-2014-0038