A lack of communication on behalf of the Syracuse University administration has caused the Campus Master Plan to appear as more of an abstract idea than a concrete plan, despite the important role it is intended to play in the future of the university.

The Campus Master Plan Advisory Group consists of students, faculty and staff with the goal of improving the SU campus as a component of Chancellor Kent Syverud’s Fast Forward initiative. The initiative is meant to guide administrative decision making at SU through a set framework and act in conjunction with the Academic Strategic Plan, another Fast Forward initiative that is now in its implementation stage, and with Operational Excellence, the third part of the initiative.

However, the failure to distribute updates about the Campus Master Plan throughout the fall semester has seemingly rendered the initiative inactive to students, contributing to a greater misunderstanding among the SU community about the importance of the plan.

This is due in part to the fact that in its current state, the plan lacks an access point for SU students, faculty and staff to have the initiative fully explained to them. To resolve this lapse, the administration should strive to maintain consistent communication with the university community heading into the spring 2016 semester.

The university administration could achieve this by creating opportunities for accessibility to information about the initiative, its progress and its projected goals. A potential measure could be to hold listening sessions and open forums similar to those held last year.

The sessions would provide a space in which the university could listen to community concerns, explain administrative decisions and communicate necessary updates with attendees. In benefitting the community, the sessions would also allow the administration an opportunity to demonstrate full transparency in explaining how decisions made under the plan will affect SU on a campus-wide scale.

However, it is important to acknowledge that the university must work to move past the discussion stages and follow through with tangible action. While bureaucratic processes are necessary in thoroughly assessing the costs and feasibility of proposed plans, at some point decisions need to be made for sake the of the community and overall best interest of the university.

At the start of the fall semester, the Campus Master Plan was promising. The initiative seemed like a comprehensive step in restructuring the way the university makes decision for the better.

But a lack of consistent communication and visible action on behalf of the administration has led to this point in which the accomplishments, progress and goals of the initiative remain unclear.

Moving forward, the administration should approach the spring 2016 semester as an opportunity to address this lapse and rightfully restore the initiative as one that plays an integral role in future of SU.

Published on December 10, 2015 at 1:24 am

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