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• Create inspiring places, both inside and outside, where students, faculty, and staff can gather to build community on campus;
  
  
• Incorporate additional spaces for collaboration, social gatherings and study.

Throughout the discovery process, a recurrent theme that emerged was the importance of creating spaces which foster community. The university’s mission values of knowledge, fidelity, wisdom and justice guided by the spirit of association underscore the way in which interaction, collaboration and collegiality help to foster student learning and development at Lewis University.

This master plan calls for the creation of spaces that support gathering, interaction and help to bridge the range of users that will draw upon these spaces, including commuter, residential, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and the community.

• All enhancements that arise from this plan should support the success of students.

While it’s important to consider the needs and wants of many stakeholders, students are the main reason for Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s existence. Each decision made should ultimately be in support of and in service to the spiritual, social and academic success of students, and initiatives that will most positively impact students should be prioritized.

• Whenever possible, focus our financial resources to renovate existing facilities;
  
  
• Optimize existing before building new.

Like most institutions, the university operates within limited budgets and resources. Before suggesting a new building project or addition, teams should consider ways in which existing assets or infrastructure could be optimized or repurposed. Activating underutilized spaces or pursuing renovation options could prove to be less expensive, more sustainable and a better use of resources.

• A successful campus community retains students and attracts perspective students. As a result of more students on campus, revenueincreases.

While there are many "nice to have" features that could be added to a campus, teams should consider prioritizing projects that provide the most positive and tangible impact when deciding how to most effectively utilize limited funds.

Students are at the heart of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's purpose. Therefore, efforts that will attract more students, as well as those that will enhance the student experience, should be at the top of the list for consideration. Happy, engaged students are more likely to stay at Lewis, and a robust population creates a more dynamic campus. Together, these drivers create opportunity for continued campus enhancements. Additionally, revenue-generating projects should receive consideration as teams explore implementation and phasing options.

• Concentrate academic and student life facilities within a walkable center of campus;
  
  
• Staff that are not student facing should be relocated from the center of campus to the edges when possible.

One of the main features of the master plan is the focus on the university’s core of campus. By concentrating academics and student life here, the goal is to create a more pedestrian-friendly experience that increases opportunities for chance encounters and interaction with others. The benefits, culture and engagement that results through such interactions should be strongly considered when prioritizing projects.

• The unique LaSallian roots of campus should not be lost as new projects are completed.

The mission Statement of Â鶹ÊÓƵ is guided by its mission values, which are inspired by the Lasallian Core Principles.

MISSION VALUES:

KNOWLEDGE
The result of a lifelong pursuit of learning fostered through creative and critical interaction in a community of learners.

FIDELITY
The spirit which recognizes God as ultimate reality, unifying the diverse forms of knowledge in the pursuit of fullness of truth, while recognizing the diversity of human experience.

WISDOM
The result of the integration of reflection and action developed through higher learning throughout all of life.

JUSTICE
The affirmation of the equal dignity of every person and the promotion of personal and social responsibility.

ASSOCIATION
A commitment to student learning, development, and success accomplished through collaboration, mutual respect, collegiality, and dedicated service in the spirit of our Catholic and Lasallian Mission.

• Enhancements that arise from this plan should help to better connect students and faculty to each other, to nature, and to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's host community;
  
  
• Prioritize pedestrians by moving roads and parking to perimeter spaces.

Currently, Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s campus is comprised of three disparate components dispersed across a widespread area. As a result, students, faculty and staff must rely on vehicles to move about, limiting interactivity and creating the impression of an empty campus. Prioritizing projects that will help to enhance and activate the core of campus, emphasize the arboretum and bring people together will result in a richer and more engaging campus experience. Relocating parking and roads to the perimeter of the campus will further help to prioritize people and strengthen connectivity.