Voices across UND launch shared vision for campus

Planning session helps lay foundation for next decade of physical campus at UND

February marked a major milestone in the University of North Dakota’s campus planning process, as the campus community came together to help shape the future of UND’s physical campus. The launch of the plan’s Discovery phase generated strong participation and enthusiasm across campus, signaling broad interest in reimagining how UND’s spaces can support our evolving academic, research and community needs for decades to come.

The Discovery phase focused on listening and learning, and included multiple opportunities for engagement, such as campus-wide surveys, an Open Forum, leadership interviews, student tabling, building tours and the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data. Together, these efforts are creating a comprehensive and realistic picture of current conditions and future needs.

“The campus planning process is a critical step in the continued evolution of UND,” said Brandon Wallace, senior financial accountant and president of the Staff Senate.

“This Discovery phase provided staff a meaningful voice in shaping the environment that supports the day-to-day work of the University, ensuring spaces and systems are designed for long-term efficiency, safety and pride in our work. We encourage staff to stay engaged throughout the process, and we truly value their input.”

A key moment in the Discovery process was the Open Forum, which offered an opportunity to learn about the planning process and share early ideas.

“This is a chance for us to come together as a community and really contemplate what we want our campus to be, physically,” President Andrew Armacost said. “I’m grateful for the level of engagement we’re seeing, and I encourage everyone to stay involved throughout the entire process.”

Armacost noted that UND’s previous campus plan laid the foundation for many of the improvements visible today, and that this new plan will build on that success with an even stronger emphasis on inclusive input from all campus constituencies.

“We appreciate this exciting opportunity,” said Adam Matz, associate professor of Criminal Justice and chair of the University Senate. “I hope UND continues to think big and bold and really engages in forward-thinking. They’re doing a strong job of gathering feedback from many different groups, and I hope every voice is heard.”

UND is partnering with Perkins & Will, a global architecture and planning firm, to guide the campus planning process. During the Discovery phase, the firm met with steering and working groups, conducted leadership interviews and building tours, and gathered feedback through surveys and forums.

To date, Discovery phase engagement includes:

• 26 leadership interviews completed
• 2,307 surveys collected from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members
• 250 participants at the Open Forum, including 175 in person and 75 virtually
• 36 campus buildings toured
• 70 participants engaged in Steering Committee and Working Group workshops, representing students, faculty, staff, community members and campus partners

“The success of this plan depends on broad participation,” said Jill Vowels of Perkins & Will. “We’re facilitators of a process that ultimately belongs to UND. Your ideas, priorities and lived experiences are what will shape the outcome.”

Student engagement has been a particularly encouraging part of the kickoff.

“The student voice is essential in shaping UND’s future,” said Jonathan Blankenship, student body president. “We care deeply about leaving this University better than we found it, just as generations of students before us have done.

“Student Government works to represent all UND students and to ‘pass the torch to tomorrow’s leaders.’ We’re committed to carrying that responsibility forward as the campus plan takes shape, ensuring students are heard and meaningfully included in decisions that will impact our University for years to come.”

Campus leadership has also emphasized the importance of including alumni, campus partners and community members whose connections to UND extend beyond the campus borders.

“You will make a difference,” Armacost told attendees at the Open Forum. “Your thoughts will make a difference.”

Mike Mannausau, vice president of development at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, echoed that sentiment. “Anything you’re doing to strengthen UND’s future is meaningful work,” he said. “I’m excited to share ideas with others about where we want to take the campus. This kind of planning is vital to the long-term health of the University.”

Perkins & Will plans to return to campus April 15–17 for the Ideate phase, during which they will share what they’ve heard so far and begin testing emerging ideas with the campus community. This phase will focus on developing a shared vision and planning concepts that address both near-term priorities and long-term growth.

More information about the campus planning process, including opportunities to share ideas or ask questions, is available on UND’s Campus Planning website.  

Editor’s note: Anna Clark, director of communications & planning for UND’s Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, contributed to this article.