Charge

The role of the SMU Academic Space Committee is to ensure orderly, efficient, effective planning and utilization of academic spaces (classrooms, labs, research spaces, performance spaces, offices, etc.) consistent with SMU’s mission and strategic goals. This role includes oversight, evaluation, and analysis, policy-making, and recommendations to the Provost relative to academic space at SMU in order to ensure that space is used to promote effective teaching and consistent and impactful research, scholarship, and artistic production. To that end, the Committee is charged with:

• Reviewing and making recommendations to the Provost regarding assignment and utilization of all academic space
• Reviewing and making recommendations to the Provost regarding all changes in purpose, scope, or function of academic space
• Overseeing and managing the centralized scheduling of classroom space
• Evaluating the long- and short-term impact of adding or removing classrooms and/or changing the designated use of academic space
• Reviewing major academic space requests, consulting with requestor(s) and making recommendations to the Provost regarding solutions which align with the institution’s strategic needs
• Monitoring research space, classroom, and research activity assessment data and trends to formulate recommendations to meet strategic goals
• Assessing hiring plans, enrollment, and research forecasts to optimize space planning for academic offices and specialized academic support spaces (working with Academic Affairs Leadership, Associate Provost for Faculty Success, and college and school leadership)
• Advising the University Architect on academic space or modification requests which do not correlate with the Master Plan or facility standards on an as-needed basis
• Providing recommendations for classroom maintenance, upgrades, and renovation
• Monitoring and update academic space-related policies and guidelines