Strategic Space Utilization Organizational Design

Current state of space use

Today, too many classes are being held in rooms that do not match their class size or instructional needs. Federated scheduling practices and the University's large instructional footprint have resulted in underutilized space. Based on a standard higher education utilization target of 70%, WMU may have 50% more classroom space than it needs.  This excess capacity reduces campus vibrancy, increases operating costs and stretches investment across too many rooms of uneven quality. The initiative is intended to shift space decisions from fragmented practices within individual units to more coordinated stewardship that supports the student experience, faculty satisfaction and long-term sustainability.

In practical terms, this effort centers first on instructional classrooms while also informing broader decisions about repurposing, modernization and the future use of underperforming buildings and spaces. It will rely on unified scheduling through 25Live, shared utilization standards, clearer policies for classroom assignment and investment, and a stronger focus on concentrating instruction in high-performing core academic buildings.

Benefits

For the University

• Better use of classroom and facility resources by aligning scheduling, investment and renewal decisions to actual utilization and instructional need.
• Lower operating and capital costs over time through consolidation, repurposing and reduced investment in persistently underused space.
• A more vibrant and concentrated campus experience, with instruction scheduled more intentionally in the highest-performing and most modern buildings.

For colleges and departments

• Better access over time to right-sized, higher-quality classrooms that are more aligned with enrollment, pedagogy and actual course demand.
• More transparent information through utilization reporting and dashboards, helping academic leaders make decisions with a clearer picture of how space is being used.
• Clearer expectations for classroom scheduling, assignment and utilization through shared standards, central scheduling and institutional reporting.

For faculty and students

• A stronger teaching and learning environment through improved classroom quality, better room fit and more concentrated use of modern instructional space.
• Greater clarity for faculty, schedulers and support teams about how rooms are assigned, what standards guide investment and how exceptions will be handled.
• Over time, more predictable planning for instructional space as classroom use, renewal and repurposing decisions are guided by visible standards.