APPA Reimagined: Leading the Way in Educational Facilities

There are 128,961 public and private K-12 schools and nearly 6,000 higher education institutions in the U.S., according to 2019-2020 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Each one boasts a bustling campus with dynamic learning environments, cutting-edge labs and athletic complexes designed to drive student success. The classroom, often referred to as the “third teacher,” is critical and the people who design, build, power and maintain those facilities are as dedicated to improving learning as the faculty and teachers who use those rooms every day.

This spring, APPA, the premier organization for educational facilities professionals, held its annual conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Attendance rose to nearly 500 and the feeling of community, shared learning and collaboration was palpable.

From AI and change management to solving for talent and workforce challenges, facilities teams gathered to shape the future educational facilities, and the Greenough team had a front-row seat to the innovations happening in classrooms across the globe.

Read on for the key takeaways from the event.

Is higher ed in decline or redesign?

Today’s education system is still working off a 500-year-old model. It has been successful, of course, but colleges and universities are collectively experiencing a 15% decline in enrollment. At least 20 colleges closed in 2024 and more are expected to shutter this year. Couple that with an uncertain funding environment and you a have a recipe for frustration and anxiety among the education workforce.  

To arm its membership with the tools to overcome these challenges, the conference kicked off with an inspiring keynote speech from Rex Miller, futurist and award-winning author. The focus of his address - turning frustration into a movement for positive change – perfectly balanced empathy for current conditions with practical strategies for action. Miller detailed his Mindshift Framework and explained how it helped him overcome near-bankruptcy early in his career.

“I wasn’t the smartest person in the room. I just got the right people talking to each other,” he said.  

This message was critical for those in the educational facilities industry and beyond. Anyone who has ever felt stuck in their present situation, and unsure of where to look for answers, left Miller’s keynote feeling renewed and empowered to change.

But will the education industry have the workforce to make the shift?

Educational facilities staff is shrinking. New data from CUPA-HR shows a 9% overall decrease and, of that, there’s a 4% decrease in service maintenance and a nearly 8% decrease in skilled trade staff. So what are facilities professionals to do?

“We as leaders need to change to meet the needs of our team,” said Andy Krouse, PhD, AVP Business Operations & Facilities at UTMBHealth.

This starts with understanding the reasons behind the institution’s staff turnover. Many K-12 schools, community colleges and 4-year universities are competing with private industries like oil and gas and construction for trade, maintenance and technical talent. To bolster staff retention, educational institutions must remove barriers to entry, find people with transferable skills and give them opportunities for career advancement.  

The University of Iowa maintains an 80% retention rate in custodial services because of a return to basics. They created a dedicated training center and standardized tools with the goal of generating opportunities for success. They were intentional about creating a community for their staff through public recognition and a career ladder showed employees what’s next for them, fostering a sense of wellness and support for employees.  

What’s next for educational facilities?

At the end of a packed three days, it was clear that educational facilities professionals continue to evolve and collaborate with each other to drive student success and facilities innovation. APPA’s members have a tremendous respect for their industry’s rich history and they acknowledge the hard work ahead to shape the future of education. It is a pleasure to support this organization through brand identity, increased awareness and education, and the Greenough Team is excited to see how APPA’s members can be a catalyst for change in the years to come.  

There is much more to explore, and more opportunities to learn and connect through APPA. Go to APPA.org for all the details, including information on the conference speakers, presentations and workshops.

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