Inside Higher Ed columnist Matt Reed recently highlighted the importance of a physical campus when it comes to fostering community relationships. He describes the popular use of campus spaces for corporate meetings, conferences, and youth summer camps, and points to opportunities associated with bringing alumni and local seniors on campus. Reed notes that institutions with a strong local alumni presence have a “home-field advantage” when it comes to fostering a robust, tight-knit, and supportive alumni network. Meanwhile, seniors present another opportunity: Reed notes that their high voting participation rate can make seniors political allies for institutions and that regular programming for seniors can draw significant crowds to campus. Reed concludes by encouraging readers to not forget the value of a physical campus.
