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Introduction We are nearing completion on the University’s 2017-2036 Campus Plan. Although the Campus Plan allows for a reasonable measure of flexibility, the current document provides a comprehensive framework for growth, construction, and changes to student space over the next twenty years. Unlike past Campus Plans, this plan was developed as part of a close partnership between administrators, students, and neighbors within the Georgetown Community Partnership (GCP). You can read the whole plan online at campusplan.georgetown.edu. As part of the campus planning process, GUSA also worked behind the scenes to negotiate and sign a related Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University in May 2016. You can read the whole memorandum online at bit.ly/campusplanMOU. This report is intended to succinctly explain both documents in a way that is relevant to students. It is divided into sections on academics, athletics and recreation, enrollment, housing and renovations, student life, sustainability, and transportation. The end of this report contains an explanation of the next steps in the campus planning process.
Academics The 2017-2036 Campus Plan allows for the renovation or construction of academic space in four different parts of campus: • The Reiss Science Building could either be renovated or completely replaced with a new mixed-use academic building. • A new academic building could be constructed on the empty space between Regents Hall and Harbin Hall. • A new academic building could be constructed on top of a renovated Harbin Patio. • Lauinger Library could either be renovated or expanded to fill the parking lot behind it. Additional information on academic space can be found in sections 3.2.3 and 3.2.4.4 of the Campus Plan at campusplan.georgetown.edu. Moving forward, GUSA will advocate for the inclusion of student voices in the University’s longerterm academic master planning process, especially as it relates to our downtown campuses.
Athletics and Recreation The 2017-2036 Campus Plan allows for the renovation or total replacement of the Yates Field House and Kehoe Field. The new Yates would likely be situated to the north of its existing site, effectively “flipping” the locations of Yates and Shaw Field in order to maximize field space, build a bigger and better facility, and eliminate the existing “canyon” effect on West Road. The Campus Plan also allows for new hotel space as part of a new Yates facility, linking it to the existing hotel and conference center in the Leavey Center.
Additional information on athletic space can be found in section 3.2.3, section 3.2.4.3, and Exhibit P of the Campus Plan at campusplan.georgetown.edu. Moving forward, GUSA will advocate for the right of club sports athletes to use a nearby and highquality off-campus field until Kehoe Field is eventually replaced.
Enrollment The 2017-2036 Campus Plan includes the continuation of the same student enrollment levels established in the last Campus Plan. The traditional undergraduate program cap is 6,675 students. Additional information on enrollment can be found in section 3.1.1 of the Campus Plan at campusplan.georgetown.edu.
Housing and Renovations The 2017-2036 Campus Plan commits the University to house an additional 244 undergraduate students by 2030. In order to meet this requirement, the University can utilize a combination of three options: • By renovating residence halls like Henle, Village A, and Alumni Square (Village B), we can make existing on-campus housing facilities more attractive and persuade more juniors and seniors to choose to live on campus. • If we increase the number of students that study abroad each year, we can open up even more beds for juniors and seniors who want to live on campus. • If necessary, we can construct additional beds in any of the following places: • Henle and Village A could be modestly expanded. • St. Mary’s Hall could be converted into housing. • Part of a redeveloped Reiss Science Building could be converted into housing. • Housing could be constructed on top of the Leavey Center or existing Leavey hotel space could be utilized for housing. The University’s priority, as articulated in the Campus Plan, is to focus on renovations. If we are only successful at housing a portion of the required 244 students to live on campus through strategic renovations and increased study abroad, however, then the construction of new beds would count towards completing our requirement. The University will need GCP approval in order to change the use of any townhouses from student housing to academic space. It will not need approval to convert them into faculty housing, however, as was attempted for Brown House this spring. GUSA’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University secures a basic right for students to live off-campus for one year. The MOU also commits the University to work towards establishing a long-term renovation timeline for residence halls this winter, and to use the hotel as temporary swing space during renovations rather than constructing new swing space. Additional information on housing and renovations can be found in section 3.2.3, section 3.2.4.2, Exhibit O, and Exhibit FF of the Campus Plan at campusplan.georgetown.edu. The MOU can be found at bit.ly/campusplanMOU.
Moving forward, GUSA will advocate for more extensive renovations across campus, and will oppose any efforts to convert student-occupied townhouses like Brown House into faculty housing.
Student Life The 2017-2036 Campus Plan provides a framework for the development of a “Student Life Corridor” along Tondorf Road, stretching from Leo’s all the way up to Reservoir Road. Vehicles will be restricted from Tondorf Road and the existing facilities office underneath Harbin Patio will be moved elsewhere, making room for pedestrian-friendly, student-centered outdoor and indoor space in the center of campus. Several projects outlined in the Campus Plan will support the creation of a Student Life Corridor: • The total redevelopment of Harbin Patio into a new mixed-use building, including open student space on the bottom floors and academic space on the top floors • The potential for new and renovated student space on the bottom floors of Reiss • The reorganization and renovation of the interior of the Leavey Center, and the potential addition of a proper main entrance on the north side of the building • The demolition of the Kober-Cogan Building, which has sat vacant since 2010 • The creation of a major new green space and underground parking garage to replace the parking lots that currently sit outside Darnall and St. Mary’s Halls The 2017-2036 Campus Plan also requires the continuation of strict off-campus noise policies and enforcement programs, including the Student Neighborhood Assistance Program (SNAP), University-paid Metro Police Department neighborhood patrols, and a comprehensive “good neighbor” orientation for students living off campus. Additional information on student life can be found in section 3.2.4.1, section 3.2.4.5, section 3.2.5.2, section 3.5, Exhibit N, Exhibit Q, and Exhibit FF of the Campus Plan at campusplan.georgetown.edu. Moving forward, GUSA will advocate for more dining options and green space across campus, including along the Student Life Corridor. GUSA will also continue to push for meaningful offcampus conduct reform.
Sustainability The 2017-2036 Campus Plan includes a commitment that all future building projects will include the following elements: • Extensive landscaping that connects indoor and outdoor student spaces • Sustainable and efficient utility infrastructure networks • Stormwater management features like green roofs and pervious surfaces • A minimum of LEED Silver certification The Campus Plan also includes references to the University’s internal Sustainability Plan, which commits to the following goals: • Increase renewable energy usage beyond “carbon neutral,” including by replacing the solar panels on the ICC, procuring off-site renewable energy, and publishing real-time energy data.
• Become self-sustaining in water, including by capturing rainwater for reuse, optimizing use of potable water, and shifting to sustainable drinking water sources. • Use circular economy principles to guide materials use, including by transitioning to multi-use materials, reclaiming material discards, and orienting procurement towards sustainability. • Leverage sustainability features for academics and innovative demonstration projects. Additional information on sustainability can be found in section 3.3.2 and Exhibit AA of the Campus Plan at campusplan.georgetown.edu. Moving forward, GUSA will push for greater institutional support for environmental academics, a reduction in water and energy waste to the point of a neutral environmental impact, and the expansion of green energy and construction practices on campus.
Transportation The 2017-2036 Campus Plan requires the University to reduce vehicle traffic coming to and from campus by a minimum of 8.5% from projected levels by 2030, with an aspirational goal of reducing it by 20% by 2030. The Campus Plan also maintains the current on-campus parking cap of 4,080 parking spaces, and, like the last Campus Plan, prohibits students from parking in the surrounding neighborhoods. Additional information on transportation can be found in sections 3.4.1 and 3.4.2 of the Campus Plan at campusplan.georgetown.edu. Moving forward, GUSA will advocate for weekend GUTS service, an improved SafeRides program, better bike paths, and potentially subsidized student passes for the DC metro and bus system.
Looking Forward
Once the Campus Plan goes into effect, the Georgetown Community Partnership (GCP) will be responsible for approving amendments to the plan and managing any disputes that may arise over the next two decades of implementation.
If the two parties within the GCP (“the University” and “the neighbors”) cannot come to consensus over a proposed change, either party may unilaterally go to the Zoning Commission seeking a Campus Plan amendment. Over the length of the Campus Plan, the University is allowed to seek two unilateral amendments without process objections from the neighbors. There are two vehicles through which students will continue to be directly engaged in the campus planning process. The first vehicle is the GCP itself. The 2017-2036 Campus Plan ensures permanent seats for the GUSA President and one student Advisory Neighborhood Council (ANC) Commissioner on the GCP Steering Committee (student ANC Commissioners are students who are elected to represent Georgetown’s campus on our neighborhood council). The Campus Plan also strongly recommends the addition of a second student ANC Commissioner to the Steering Committee during times in which the GCP is deliberating important issues, and it preserves a strong student role in the lowerlevel working groups of the GCP. The second vehicle is the Student Master Planning Consortium, an internal group of University administrators and student leaders that has a broad mandate to facilitate student engagement in issues related to the University’s master planning process. GUSA’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University guarantees the continuity of the Student Master Planning Consortium over the length of the Campus Plan. Additional information on the Campus Plan amendment process can be found in section 1.3.3.3 of the Campus Plan at campusplan.georgetown.edu. Additional information on student involvement in the GCP can be found in section 2.2 and Exhibit FF of the Campus Plan. The MOU can be found at bit.ly/campusplanMOU. Although the Campus Plan is in its final approval process and GUSA’s MOU with the University has been signed, there is still years of work ahead as the the University continues to engage in an important long-term master planning process. Students should continue to speak up, attend Hoya Roundtables, and make your voices heard. Contact information for GUSA can be found at gustudentassociation.org if you have questions or would like to get involved!
