Thought Leaders Series
Strategic discussions on the ever-changing needs of educational institutions and facilities
APPA developed the Thought Leaders Series to conduct dedicated discussions on the future of education and the impact of that future on educational facilities. The annual Thought Leaders Symposium convenes representatives of educational institutions from across the United States and Canada alongside association leaders, industry consultants, and education experts. Thought Leaders reports are free to APPA members.
Access Thought Leaders Library
The annual Thought Leaders Symposium is currently paused, but is expected to resume in the future. The latest reports are available to APPA Members in the Thought Leaders Library.
2024 Thought Leaders Report: The Campus of 2030: Risks and Opportunities
Education is constantly transforming, but the rate of change accelerated dramatically over the previous decade. APPA’s 2024 Thought Leaders Report, The Campus of 2030: Risks and Opportunities, provides campus facility leaders with insights into what that future campus will look like, who will attend it, and how it will operate. The remaining years of this decade will not be easy for already stressed faculty and staff. Still, marshaling forces and adapting to technology and the new education environment will help them get there.
2023 Thought Leaders Report: Leadership Reimagined: Navigating the Higher Education Workplace
APPA’s 2023 Thought Leaders Report, Leadership Reimagined: Navigating the Higher Education Workplace, gives leaders the information and tools to guide their employees through continuing uncertainty, with a focus on the workforce. Workforce challenges are significant, but an engaged and empowered workforce can solve the problems facing campuses—an opportunity to shape the institution’s future. A central theme of the report is that effective leadership now calls for a genuine shift in mindset.
2022 Thought Leaders Report: From Thin Words to Thick Action: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
APPA’s 2022 Thought Leaders Report, From Thin Words to Thick Action: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, addresses the demand for truly inclusive institutions and the reality that diversity, equity, and inclusion are rooted in education’s deepest-held values: excellence, integrity, respect, responsibility, and community. DEI strengthens the institution by increasing innovation, boosting productivity, and preparing students for a global economy—but above all, APPA values it because it is the right thing to do.
2021 Thought Leaders Report: Connections, Space & Place
APPA’s 2021 Thought Leaders Report, Connections, Space & Place, explores the “sense of place”—the feelings evoked among people through the experiences and memories they associate with a physical environment. It examines the essential role of the facilities organization in keeping campuses safe and operational while doing much more to strengthen the connections that bind a campus community together.