The Nomad Campus

A lot of references have been made to this idea of a “nomad campus”. it is a new phrase, a new idea, and one of my favorites. It is the crux of this college’s idea to revolutionize the economy of higher ed, as well as its interaction with community. The strategy is simply this: no buildings

Well, mostly none. The overwhelming majority of the college’s classes will not take place in traditional classroom buildings, but in underutilized spaces around the community the college calls its home. Aside from a handful of classes which might require a more structured indoor laboratory or workshop space (that could not be found in the community), all classes will be held wherever a circle of chairs or an outdoor learning space can be found.

Take for instance, the neighborhood of my example: the 2-mile geographic area stretching from East to West Allegheny, the Mexican War Streets, and Manchester in Pittsburgh, PA. In this small area there are over 40 churches, 5 coffee shops, 15 restaurants (that would be a good fit for a class), 8 museums/venues, 3 hotels, numerous non-profit organizations (including the substantial YMCA, Manchester Craftsman’s Guild, and the Elk’s Lodge), and 4 Large Parks.

Picture having a morning class in the class Monterey Pub, walking down the street to the Buena Vista Coffee Shop for a cup and some study time, then heading down to the YMCA for a workout before your next class at the Mattress Factory Museum. After a leisurely afternoon hanging out in your apartment (near the Mattress Factory) and tending your small garden plot in the community gardens you bicycle over to Episcopal Church and have class in a cozy side room, sunlight setting through the stain glass.

Spaces in each of these places otherwise go un-used, but would be functional and inspiring settings for a small class of 10 (in this school model all classes are small). This nomad campus concept, of course, eliminates the need for the construction, operation, and maintenance of numerous large and expensive academic buildings.  The excessively spacious and grandiose buildings on most campuses are only outdone by the size of their expense. This cost reduction is one of the primary ways The Saxifrage School will be able to offer extraordinary low tuition to its students.

As mentioned previously, the disbursement of students amongst the neighborhood will be good for business (in its for-profit classroom partners) and will offer to pay a rental fee (to its non-profit classroom partners).

Aside from buildings that can offer their space and a few seats, the School will seek out other community partners that have more specific resources they can offer to students. For instance: The Manchester Craftsman’s Guild has horticulture resources, the YMCA has a gym and swimming pool, unoccupied green spaces (for food growing), the screen printing co-op, etc.


Comments

  1. Kimberly Bracken says:

    Having lived in the neighborhood you reference for roughly 5 years now, this model makes a lot of common sense to me. These spaces are indeed underutilized, and the businesses, for- or non- profit, will benefit from the business and rental fee, in addition to the spaces being more beautiful and inspiring than most classrooms I’ve been in.

    One thought that crossed my mind is what happens when a space is accidentally double booked, because this can happen. Then I thought about how even at my current place of employment, where we have fancy computer programs to book the rooms of our massive facility, things get double booked (ie, people just screw up sometimes). I also reminded myself that many of these spaces get used for nothing else. So, for example, it’s more likely that a room at the Mattress Factory might get double booked by accident, whereas the Pub, that is closed during the day, wouldn’t be a problem. I also think this has a lot to do with partnering with organizations that prove to have good, open communication, and the professors of the courses developing relationships with those people and places. That being said, I think there should still be a contract and a formality to the agreement; it’s easier for organizations to push people around their facility that they have an casual agreement with. Friendly but firm seems to be the way to go.