Campus Master Plan: What's next?

Fanshawe College held five World Café sessions from September 23 to 25 to discuss the Master Plan. During that time, staff, faculty and students were able to provide insight to what they’d like to see changed in the college’s physical infrastructure.

The college is working hand-inhand with Educational Consulting Services (ECS) Corporation to update its Master Plan.

Participants were asked five questions:

1. How should Fanshawe College classroom and lab/shop/studio environments change in the future to allow faculty to deliver an exceptional learning experience?

2. How should Fanshawe College provide learner support services and facilities to meet the needs and expectations of students?

3. Where on campus should Student Services be delivered to optimize access and convenience?

4. Which activities/functions on campus should be showcased and celebrated? How?

5. How can the campus be improved to better serve students and staff, engage the surrounding London community, and enhance the College’s stature as a place of civic pride?

Michel de Jocas, partner at ECS, was present during the World Café sessions and said there was a good mix of staff and students.

“I think it was great that [students] could spend so much time thinking about the campus.”

He said it’s important that current students come out to voice their ideas at events like this.

“They’re the most important constituency of the college and the college is really for them,” de Jocas said. “Even though they [may only] stay two years … it’s very important that they feel that the campus served their needs and made them successful in their studies.”

Parank Dave, an international student from India, was glad he attended.

“It gave me an opportunity to talk to the college and talk about my needs,” he said. “I would like to contribute to my college. If the college listens to my [ideas] and if it improves… it would be good for me.”

Dave said he wanted to attend so the college could improve for future students – local and international.

“What problems I find, maybe they [will] have the same concerns,” he said. “They [might be] new to the country so they are hesitant [to speak]. If I speak for them, then it would be good for them. I’d like to be a representative.”

Dave has had a good experience at the college since his arrival just over a month ago.

“I like it very much,” he said. “I’ve never been to a campus like this before. It’s pretty good … The facilities are good. Infrastructure is good. Everything is good for me.”

Dave found the World Café to be helpful.

“I got a chance to speak,” he said. “I had a few [things] in my mind [for] the college, which I suggested.”

“[The college] hears from the students, they implement … and it’s good if someone listens to us.”

The next step for ECS and the college is to approve of a final draft of the Master Plan.

“We’re going to develop three or four different planning options,” said de Jocas. “When we’re exploring options, we’re doing it at a high elvel and then once we zone in … then we do a tighter analysis of what it means and will it fit in terms of space, building and building types.”

The final draft of the Master Plan will be presented in December.