A campus committee initiated by President Susan Herbst last summer to evaluate and recommend ways to improve UConn’s physical campus has issued its report.

The committee chair, Steve Kremer, assistant vice president for student affairs, sent the following message to the University community today, to share the report and describe its findings:

Message to the University Regarding Campus Appearance Committee Report

To the University Community:

Knowing that the appearance of a university campus reflects the quality of its academic programs and the degree of pride the institution takes in itself, in August 2011, President Herbst and Barry Feldman, UConn’s vice president and chief operating officer, formed the Campus Appearance Committee at the University of Connecticut.

Its purpose was to discuss and evaluate UConn’s physical campus, solicit feedback from the university community, and recommend actions the University could take to improve, better utilize, and promote our physical campus.

The committee comprised 21 members of the University community – four students, eight faculty members, and nine staff. Today, the committee is issuing its report.

The report focuses on a few key areas:

• Supporting, through its recommendations, UConn’s “Access Management Plan,” which is intended to reduce vehicular traffic on campus, preserve pedestrian corridors, improve service and delivery, and protect the campus landscape.
• Devising effective communications efforts, working to use our vast landscape as part of the education process, and creating notable destinations on campus.
• Recommending priorities for maintenance actions, including an action list of cost-effective work to enhance the appearance of the campus.

Some of these recommendations can be implemented in the near future, including, for example, removing the temporary red modules now located near the historic center of campus; repairing the stairs behind Garrigus Suites; removing chain-link fencing in certain areas; and addressing dirt areas on Hillside Road between the Jorgensen and Gilbert Road, to name a few.

Others are more long-term, including engaging the town of Mansfield to work together to improve signage along Route 195 to create a more welcoming and effective “front door” to the University; enhancing the Fine Arts Complex; and improving the parking and outdoor seating around the Dairy Bar, among others.

This report, however, is only the beginning of this process. Enhancing the appearance of our campus requires consistent, long-term thinking and commitment. And the best source for ideas on ways we can improve our surroundings and make the most of what we have are the students, faculty, and staff who make up our community. Our work is ongoing, and the UConn community must play a vital role as it continues.

To that end, the final recommendations in the report will result in a permanent working group to continually lead this effort and schedule a recurring dialogue on this issue so that ideas, questions, and concerns can be actively addressed.

Thanks to all who contributed to this effort and we look forward to hearing from you.

Peace,

Steve Kremer
Assistant Vice President
Student Affairs