Kicking off NAU’s Sustainable Smart Campus Master Plan process
Dear Lumberjacks,
As I announced in the spring, NAU is embarking on a yearlong Sustainable Smart Campus Master Plan process. This comprehensive effort will set forth the guiding principles for future land use and development of facilities and infrastructure on our campus in the next 10 years. It will be guided by a representative steering committee and our consulting partners from DLR Group, who bring a wealth of experience in master planning to support this universitywide endeavor.
Over the summer, as we have prepared to engage with the depth and breadth of our university community, DLR Group conducted a series of listening sessions with more than a dozen groups from across campus and, in partnership with our ITS team, a Smart Campus Retreat attended by more than 120 leaders from units throughout NAU. Equipped with this data and with the semester in full swing, I’m pleased to share some important information about broader university engagement opportunities on the horizon over the next few weeks.
Importantly, planning and visioning projects such as this—like the Strategic Roadmap process that resulted in our vision set forth in NAU 2025 – Elevating Excellence—are strengthened by the inclusion of participants who have a vested interest in the future success of the university. NAU is committed to providing an open, thoughtful, and inclusive master planning process designed to engage the full spectrum of internal and external communities who contribute to the vibrancy of our university.
Throughout the process, I encourage you to attend planning sessions, visit the master plan website, stay informed about the progress of planning activities, and engage!
During the first week of October, three open houses will be held for students, faculty, staff, and the broader Flagstaff community to share experiences and perceptions of the existing campus and ideas for how to improve the campus environment over the next decade. Mark your calendars for the following dates:
- October 4 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Student Open House in DuBois, Aspen Room
- October 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Faculty & Staff Open House in Prochnow Auditorium
- October 6 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Community Open House in High Country Conference Center
Later in the semester, we will also host two workshops focused on equitable and Indigenous placemaking that center on creating spaces and places that celebrate and honor the diverse individuals and communities NAU serves. Additional information, dates, and times will be posted on the master plan website.
We hope you will join us for these events and engage throughout the process. Your participation will uncover the nuances that make a good planning project a great one, and together, our collective engagement will help shape the physical future of NAU.
Sincerely,
José Luis Cruz Rivera
President