Researcher ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0231-230X

Graduation Year

2025

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Environmental Analysis

Reader 1

Lance Neckar

Reader 2

Melinda Herrold-Menzies‬

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Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2025 Ella Elizabeth L Francis

Abstract

From the earliest medieval scholarly institutions to today's college campuses, educators have pursued designs to advance human achievement, and the attention to the spatial layout reflects a longstanding belief that physical environments shape behavior. The communal model for learning gave rise to the English collegiate system and went on to greatly influence the origins of American universities and colleges. While a primary goal of higher education is the generation and transmission of knowledge, campuses are also known as places where people feel the most connected or in community. In contrast, as of 2025, Americans report historically low levels of community belonging, and U.S. cities increasingly fail to meet social needs. What about college campuses cultivate community life, and can their design be a model for more human-centered neighborhood city planning? This paper examines how college campuses promote well-being through an exploration of their history and design, urban planning frameworks, and case studies of the five Claremont Colleges. I argue that campus design principles – walkable, green, and socially engaging – could be better incorporated into urban neighborhoods through shared public spaces, mixed-use development, and accessible pedestrian networks. This paper is an initial study, aiming to contribute to conversations about the importance of the built environment to foster belonging, and posits the question of whether community and well-being can be prioritized under a system still shaped by output, exclusivity, and economic growth.

Comments

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN‬ ‭ ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS‬ ‭

May 2025‬ ‭

Pitzer College, Claremont, CA‭

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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