2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This research paper is focused on the physical learning environment’s impact on higher education programs. The ability to attract, recruit, and retain students is essential for the success of programs and is highly dependent on student satisfaction. With space being such a huge commodity on most campuses, the push and pull of research and teaching needs may leave a program with few dedicated spaces with most teaching spaces falling under general inventory classrooms serving the greater student population. Limited dedicated program space has led to a rise in flexible modular designs that are necessary to support diverse learning activities and modes of delivery in a single space. It is imperative that programs invest in their spaces where possible to meet the needs of their students ensuring student satisfaction with the program, students’ positive perception of learning, and a sense of belonging to the program.
In an effort to understand the physical learning environment’s impact on an undergraduate construction management program and to provide a positive impact on the program’s future success, a proposal was developed to receive an internal learning environment grant. The proposal included surveying the program’s students, faculty, and constituents; identifying immediate needs that could be addressed and planning for the future. This report will discuss the survey results, additional baseline data collected and the changes implemented upon receiving the grant. Future data collection will be identified for comparison and as a measure of success.
The initial anonymous student survey included 43 questions and was sent to the entire construction management student population. Faculty and constituent surveys consisted of 30 questions. Additional data has been collected using individual course evaluations to target specific courses and learning activities within the given space.