Princeton University 2026 CAMPUS PLAN
Campus Compass Data Summary January, 2016
Introduction INTRODUCTION
Engaging members of the Princeton community is an important component of the 2026 Campus Plan. In April 2015, Urban Strategies launched an interactive online campus mapping tool called “Campus Compass.” This mapping tool allowed users to virtually “travel” around the Princeton campus, describing how they use the campus and how they perceive it, and to share their ideas for improving it. The tool worked by asking participants a series of questions tailored
to their specific population group. The questions were structured to prompt participants to place icons and draw routes on the map that corresponded to different questions. The goal of this exercise was to inform the campus planning team’s analysis by providing insight into where people spend their time, what their main patterns of movement around campus are and how places on campus are experienced and perceived.
The interactive tool was sent to various populations including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the broader community. Over a one-month period, there was a significant response rate from each participant group, with more than 1,900 participants overall. This report summarizes the input received from the Campus Compass tool and provides a basis for further analysis. These preliminary results are intended to be shared back to participants and the University community. The report is organized into three sections. Section 1 highlights the basic response statistics. Section 2 breaks down the responses question-by-question and provides a summary statement that highlights the most frequent submissions from the text comment feature. Lastly, Section 3 summarizes the demographic responses.
The Campus Compass mapping tool asked a variety of questions that participants answered by placing icons on a map of the campus. Each icon allowed the participant to add a comment to provide further detail about each placed icon. Some questions asked participants to draw their most common routes around campus, from place of origin to destination.
The Campus Compass mapping tool asked users to identify the group to which they primarily belong. This selection revealed a set of questions that were tailored to and in some cases unique between the various groups.
Section 1: Basic Statistics INTRODUCTION
Section 1 provides a general summary of overall participation rates. These basic statistics represent the total number of submissions by all population groups that were received through the Campus Compass tool.
Responses received: Undergraduate Graduate Faculty Staff
Alumni
Community members Total number of survey responses
408 159 128
848
318 49
1,910
Icons placed by : Undergraduate Graduate Faculty Staff
Alumni
Community members Total number of icons placed
Text comments provided:
Icons placed by question: Where do you spend time on campus? Where do you spend the most time? Where do you live on campus?
Undergraduate
3,651
400
Faculty
1,327
9,275
Alumni
2,909
18,125 494
Where do you spend time off campus?
1,880
Staff
Places for serendipitous encounters
2,992
Community members
Places needing improvement
4,440
Total number of comments submitted
Total number of icons placed
40,515
Landmarks/centers Places to meet
Routes drawn: 13,908 4,448
2,425
13,650
5,718 366
40,515
Graduate
Undergraduate Graduate Faculty Staff
Total number of routes drawn
1,127 422 333
1,718 3,600
1,735
5,568 1,946
387
14,614
Section 2: Question-by-question statistics QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
Section 2 provides a detailed summary of participant responses based on each question. The results for questions 1-7 and 9-10 present participant inputs based on specific population groups to allow for comparison. The results for questions 8 and 11-14 synthesize the findings of multiple population groups to provide an overall measure of perceptions and ideas for improving the campus. The following is a complete list of the questions asked:
1A Where and how do you spend your time on campus? (undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff) 1B Where and how do you spend your time when visiting campus? (alumni) 1C Where and how do you spend your time when visiting Princeton University’s campus and buildings? (community members)
8A What indoor areas need improvement? (all participant groups) 8B What outdoor areas need improvement? (all participant groups) 9 What are the three most common routes you take to move around campus, on foot or by bike? (undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff)
10 How often do you visit Princeton University’s campus and 2 Where is the one place that you spend the most time on buildings? (alumni and community members) campus? (undergraduates) 11 What mode(s) of transportation do you typically use to get to Princeton University’s campus and buildings? (graduate, faculty, 3 Where do you live on campus? (undergraduates) staff and alumni) 4 Where and how do you spend your time close to campus? 12 What is your overall experience of campus? (undergraduates and graduates) (Is it welcoming? Do you feel safe? Is it easy to navigate? 5 What are the landmark(s) that you most fondly associate with etc.) (community members) the Princeton campus, and the center(s) of campus where 13 Do you have any additional comments or thoughts you would multiple activities and people intersect? (all participant groups) like to share? (Are there specific concerns you have? Ideas you 6 Where do you “run into” friends, colleagues, staff, or faculty would like to share? etc.) (all participant groups) members serendipitously? (undergraduates, graduates, faculty 14 What new and improved spaces could best enhance teaching, and staff) learning, collaboration and research? (undergraduates, graduates 7 Where do you prefer to meet friends, colleagues, staff, or and faculty)/ What new and improved spaces could best support faculty members socially? (undergraduates, graduates, faculty community, belonging and inclusion? (staff and alumni) and staff)
Question 1A: Where and how do you spend your time on campus (undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
15,330 icons placed by undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff (4,074 text comments): • 6,552 icons placed by undergraduates (43%) • 1,976 icons placed by graduates (13%) • 1,064 icons placed by faculty (7%) • 5,738 icons placed by staff (37%)
Top three icons placed, by participant group: Undergraduate
Graduate
Faculty
Staff
Class (1,147)
Eat (378)
Teaching (356)
Work (2,122)
Individual study (985)
Teaching (299)
Eat (339)
Eat (1,694)
Eat (959)
Exercise (226)
Other (222)
Other (575)
Top five icons placed: 1. Eat (3,370) (22%)
4. Relax (1,210) (8%)
2. Work (2,122) (14%)
5. Exercise (1,191) (8%)
3. Class (1,358) (9%)
Summary statement With over 15,000 icons placed and over 4,000 text comments submitted, this question was answered with a significant amount of detail by all participant groups. Icon types by participant group were located based on each participant group’s primary reason for time spent on campus. For example, undergraduates most frequently identified class locations and submitted text comments that detailed where and when these classes occur. Favorite eating locations were commonly referenced by all participant groups, with Frist, Wilson College and Rockefeller/Mathey College being the most popular oncampus locations. Staff commonly indicated off-campus locations along Nassau Street and Witherspoon Street as preferred places to eat and relax. From eating and late meal to study space and relaxation, Frist showed the most diversity in use amongst all participant groups.
5
Question 1B: Where and how do you spend your time when visiting campus (alumni)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
2,429 icons placed by alumni (763 comments): • Arts: 227 (9%) • Athletics: 172 (7%) • Conferences: 255 (10%) • Leisure: 403 (17%) • Reunions: 352 (14%) • Other/unspecified: 1,020 [often includes text comment] (42%)
Summary statement Asked only to alumni, this question provides insight into their primary reasons for visiting campus. “Other/unspecified,” leisure and reunions were the most frequent responses. Leisure activity icons were concentrated at Frist as well as the gardens at Prospect House and the lawns adjacent to Nassau Hall. The eating clubs along Prospect were frequently referenced as preferred places to visit, as was the site for “5th reunions.” Firestone Library, Firestone Plaza and the Chapel were frequently identified as places to visit for writing and research, special exhibits, concerts and church services. Not surprisingly, the Stadium, Jadwin Gym and the surrounding athletics facilities were indicated as places to visit for athletic events, while the Art Museum, Alexander Hall and McCarter Theatre were popular destinations for arts and performance. Many of the “other/unspecified” icons referenced the same aforementioned places and uses.
Question 1C: Where and how do you spend your time when visiting Princeton University’s campus and buildings (community members)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
366 icons placed by community members (266 comments): • Arts: 76 (21%) • Athletics: 20 (5%) • Conferences: 30 (8%) • Leisure: 59 (16%) • Reunions: 3 (1%) • Other/unspecified: 178 [often includes text comment] (49%)
Summary statement Asked only to community members, this question provides insight into the primary reasons for visiting Princeton’s campus. “Other/unspecified,” arts and leisure were the most common responses. With a significant emphasis on arts and culture, the most frequently placed icons were located at the Art Museum, Alexander Hall, the Garden Theatre and McCarter Theatre. The Dinky train station, the Stadium and Frist for the occasional meal were also commonly referenced in the text comments.
Question 2: Where is the one place that you spend the most time on campus (undergraduates)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
494 icons placed by undergraduates
Summary statement While no text comments were collected, icons placed by undergraduate students indicate that their time spent on campus is quite dispersed, from the residential colleges to Frist, Firestone Library, the eating clubs on Prospect Avenue, and their places of study.
Question 2: Where do you live on campus (undergraduates)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
400 icons placed by undergraduates
Summary statement As most undergraduate students live on campus, the icons placed by undergraduates locate their place of residence in either a residential college or upper-class dorm, with a small number located off-campus.
Question 4: Where and how do you spend your time close to campus (undergraduates and graduates)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
1,880 icons placed (854 comments): • 1,183 icons placed by undergraduates (63%) • 697 icons placed by graduates (37%)
Top five icon types for both undergraduates and graduates: 1. Other/unspecified: 744 [often includes text comment] (40%) 2. Eat: 360 (19%) 3. Shop: 209 (11%) 4. Coffee: 164 (9%) 5. Socialize: 163 (9%)
Summary statement Time spent close to campus was clustered along Nassau Street, particularly along Witherspoon Street and Palmer Square. This question was asked only to undergraduate and graduate students, and responses were similarly focused on places to eat, shop, drink coffee and socialize. The text comments indicated Small World and Starbucks as favored places for coffee and for informal meetings. The Public Library was frequently indicated as a popular place to study, while Lake Carnegie and the Canal Tow Path were referenced by many as a preferred place to run, walk and bicycle.
Question 5: What are the landmark(s) that you most fondly associate with the Princeton campus, and the center(s) of campus where multiple activities and people intersect (all participant groups)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
9,275 icons placed (1,451 comments): • • • • •
2,025 icons placed by undergraduates (22%) 715 icons placed by graduates (8%) 616 icons placed by faculty (7%) 3,526 icons placed by staff (38%) 2,393 icons placed by alumni (26%)
Summary statement Across all participant groups, Princeton’s key landmarks and perceived center of campus was most frequently attributed to Frist, Nassau Hall and the area around Firestone Library, McCosh Hall and the Chapel. When compared individually by participant group, subtle differences emerged. For example, alumni indicated Blair Arch as a key landmark, undergraduates identified eating clubs and residential colleges (notably Rockefeller/Mathey and Wilson College) as important landmarks and centers of activity, and staff identified the Art Museum and athletic facilities as important campus centers. The difference between the iconic and functional center of campus was commonly referenced in the text comments. For example, while many consider Nassau Hall and the FitzRandolph Gate to be the iconic center of campus, Firestone Library and Frist are considered to be the more functional or active campus centers.
Question 6: Where do you “run into” friends, colleagues, staff, or faculty members serendipitously (undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
2,992 icons placed (313 comments): • • • •
1,049 icons placed by undergraduates (35%) 396 icons placed by graduates (13%) 223 icons placed by faculty (7%) 1,324 icons placed by staff (44%)
Summary statement Frist, Firestone Library and Dillon Gym were the most frequent places identified for serendipitous encounters across all participant groups. Subtle differences emerged when groups were compared individually. For example, staff and faculty identified the area surrounding Nassau Hall, the FitzRandolph Gate and Witherspoon Street as a common place for serendipity, while undergraduates frequently identified the crosswalk at Prospect Avenue, Wilson College and Rockefeller/Mathey College as places to “run into” friends and colleagues.
Question 7: Where do you prefer to meet friends, colleagues, staff, or faculty members socially (undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
2,909 icons placed (361 comments): • • • •
957 icons placed by undergraduates (33%) 343 icons placed by graduates (12%) 238 icons placed by faculty (8%) 1,371 icons placed by staff (47%)
Summary statement Frist, East Pyne Hall, Chancellor Green and Firestone Library were the most commonly identified places to meet friends, colleagues, staff and faculty socially, across all participant groups. When compared individually, notable differences emerged. For example, faculty frequently identified Chancellor Green and Prospect House as preferred locations to meet, while staff preferences were quite dispersed across campus, with Prospect House, Nassau Green and Icahn commonly identified. Undergraduate students frequently selected Wilson College, Rockefeller/ Mathey College and the eating clubs on Prospect Avenue to meet socially, while graduate students identified Chancellor Green, Campus Club and off campus locations along Nassau and Witherspoon Streets as preferred places to meet.
QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
Question 8A: What indoor areas need improvement (undergraduates, graduates, faculty, staff and alumni)? 2,292 icons placed (781 comments): • • • • •
736 icons placed by undergraduates (32%) 171 icons placed by graduates (7%) 141 icons placed by faculty (6%) 778 icons placed by staff (34%) 466 icons placed by alumni (20%)
Summary statement Indoor areas for improvement were most frequently identified at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), Dillon Gym, Forbes College Addition, McCosh Hall and Wilson College, across all groups. Text comments provided additional information and nuance. Multiple comments referenced the need for renovation or “makeover” of the SEAS and Wilson College buildings, while suggestions for interior updates and improvements to McCosh Hall were frequently submitted. Multiple comments related to Dillon Gym identified the need for the modernization of equipment and general building improvements.
Question 8B: What outdoor areas need improvement (undergraduates, graduates, faculty, staff and alumni)? 2,148 icons placed (976 comments): • • • • •
512 icons placed by undergraduates (24%) 150 icons placed by graduates (7%) 143 icons placed by faculty (7%) 913 icons placed by staff (43%) 430 icons placed by alumni (20%)
Summary statement Outdoor areas for improvement were frequently clustered in proximity to the Arts and Transit neighborhood, currently under construction, between Spelman Hall and New South, as well as the Wilson College and Engineering Quad (EQuad) courtyards, across all participant groups. The text comments provided additional detail, including common reference to the need for more outdoor seating areas around the EQuad and the need for improved lighting and animation in the area south of Spelman Halls.
Question 9: What are the three most common routes you take to move around campus, on foot or by bike (undergraduates)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
3,600 routes drawn (954 comments): • 1,127 routes drawn by undergraduates
Summary statement The submitted text comments provided additional information and nuance for undergraduate student route origins and destinations. References to routes to and from class, library, eating club, lunch, extracurricular, socializing and recreational/athletics locations were commonly provided.
Question 9: What are the three most common routes you take to move around campus, on foot or by bike (graduates)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
3,600 routes drawn (954 comments): • 422 routes drawn by graduates
Summary statement The submitted text comments provided additional information and nuance for graduate student route origins and destinations. References to routes to and from class, library, lab, lunch/shopping and recreational/gym locations were commonly provided. With greater distances being covered, graduate students frequently identified biking or transit as part of their movement patterns on campus.
Question 9: What are the three most common routes you take to move around campus, on foot or by bike (faculty)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
3,600 routes drawn (954 comments): • 333 routes drawn by faculty
Summary statement The submitted text comments provided additional information and nuance for faculty route origins and destinations. References to routes to and from department/office, lectures, meetings, lunch and parking lots were commonly provided.
Question 9: What are the three most common routes you take to move around campus, on foot or by bike (staff)? QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
3,600 routes drawn (954 comments): • 1,718 routes drawn by staff
Summary statement The submitted text comments provided additional information and nuance for staff route origins and destinations. References to routes to/from work and office, lunch, parkings lot and exercise/gym locations were commonly provided. Comments identifying a “scenic route” choice were frequently referenced, with a focus on the paths on the main or historic campus.
QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
Question 10: How often do you visit Princeton University’s campus and buildings (alumni and community members)? 367 responses: • 318 alumni • 49 community members
Alumni
Community members
Daily
6 (2%)
13 (27%)
A few times a week
16 (5%)
19 (39%)
A few times a month
32 (10%)
12 (24%)
A few times a year
172 (54%)
3 (6%)
Annually
63 (20%)
0 (0%)
Other
29 (9%)
2 (4%)
Question 11: What mode(s) of transportation do you typically use to get to Princeton University’s campus and buildings (graduates, faculty, staff and alumni)?
Question 12: What is your overall experience of campus? (Is it welcoming? Do you feel safe? Is it easy to navigate? etc.)
1,447 responses:
Summary statement
• 159 graduate (11%) • 128 faculty (9%) • 841 staff (58%) • 319 alumni (22%)
Responses irrespective of type: • • • • • • • •
Car: 1,045 (72%) Train: 114 (8%) Walk: 95 (7%) Bike: 60 (4%) TigerTransit: 58 (4%) Plane: 21 (1%) Bus: 13 (1%) Other: 41 (3%)
49 text comments from community members
Asked only to community members, the submitted text comments generally implied that the Princeton campus is perceived as safe and welcoming, though sometimes difficult to navigate for visitors. Difficulty in locating and identifying buildings was frequently referenced as a challenge.
QUESTION-BY-QUESTION STATISTICS
Question 13: Do you have any additional comments or thoughts you would like to share? (Are there specific concerns you have? Ideas you would like to share? etc.) (all participant groups)
Question 14: What new and improved spaces could best enhance teaching, learning, collaboration and research (undergraduates, graduates and faculty)?/ What new and improved spaces could best support community, belonging and inclusion (staff and alumni)?
796 text responses:
795 text responses:
• • • • • •
98 undergraduate (12%) 54 graduate (7%) 38 faculty (5%) 448 staff (56%) 133 alumni (17%) 25 community members (3%)
• • • • •
248 undergraduate (31%) 100 graduate (13%) 81 faculty (10%) 365 staff (46%) 1 alumnus/alumna
Summary statement
Summary statement
With over 700 additional comments submitted, a significant amount of detail and suggestions were received. Text comments frequently referenced improvements to the safety of Washington Road and the desire for additional crosswalks, as well as enhancements to a campus bicycle network, improved transit connections to the Princeton Junction, additional outdoor seating areas and places for “spontaneous” interaction.
Multiple text submissions were received from all groups, providing insight on how to improve the campus so as best to support community, belonging and inclusion, as well as teaching, learning, collaboration and research. Text submissions frequently referenced additional cafes, eateries, gardens and spaces for shared or group study as a means to enhance campus community. Evening gathering spaces and mixed events for students and faculty were also frequently identified.
Section 3: Demographic/statistics DEMOGRAPHIC / STATISTICS
Section 3 provides a summary of participants based on submitted demographic information. This data provides a greater understanding of the backgrounds of participants and provides the opportunity for responses to be filtered further and compared based on additional criteria, such as year of study or academic concentration.
Question 15: What is your declared or current intended academic concentration (major)? What is your graduate program? 554 responses: • 395 undergraduates • 158 graduates • 1 alumnus/alumna
Top five responses, irrespective of type: • • • •
Computer Science: 45 Woodrow Wilson School: 37 History: 33 Civil/Environmental Engineering: 29
• Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering: 27
Question 16: For the current academic year, with what other departments do you regularly take courses (e.g., certificates)? For the current academic year, with what other departments do you regularly take courses or collaborate on research, etc.?
Question 17: With what department are you affiliated (staff)?
480 text responses:
Top five text responses:
Question 18: What is your primary department, center, program, institute or interdepartmental committee (faculty)?
1. None
122 text responses
2. Computer Science
Top five text responses:
• 354 undergraduates • 125 graduates • 1 alumnus/alumna
3. Neuroscience 4. Physics 5. Chemistry
799 text responses Top five text responses: 1. Building Services 2. Campus Dining 3. Facilities 4. Art Museum 5. Geosciences
1. History 2. Economics 3. Computer Science 4. Molecular Biology 5. Astrophysical Sciences
DEMOGRAPHIC / STATISTICS
Question 19: For the current academic year, with what other departments or centers do you have teaching (e.g. joint appointments) and research interactions (faculty)? 94 text responses Top four text responses: 1. None 2. Economics 3. Princeton Neuroscience Institute 4. Woodrow Wilson School
Question 20: For the current academic year, how many days per week do you teach on campus (faculty)? 120 text responses Top five text responses: 1. 2 times 2. 3 times 3. 5 times 4. 4 times 5. 3 - 5 times
Question 21: What is your current year of study? 392 undergraduate responses: • • • •
Freshman: 93 Sophomore: 98 Junior: 87 Senior: 114
159 graduate responses: • Year 1–2: 61 • Year 3–4: 58 • Year 5+: 40
Question 22: Are you a Resident College Advisor (RCA)?
Question 24: Are you a varsity athlete? 402 undergraduate responses: • Yes: 55 • No: 344 • No answer: 3
Question 25: What is your meal plan? 398 undergraduate responses: • • • • • •
University meal plan: 185 Eating club member: 145 Shared meal plan: 29 Independent meal plan: 23 Coop meal plan: 13 No answer: 3
• Yes: 20
Question 26: While attending Princeton University were you a…?
• No: 380
317 alumni responses:
400 undergraduate responses:
Question 23: Are you a Resident Graduate Student (RGS)? 158 graduate responses: • Yes: 15 • No: 141 • No answer: 2
• 294 were undergraduates • 18 were graduates • 5 were both
DEMOGRAPHIC / STATISTICS
Question 27: In what year did you receive your first degree from Princeton?
Question 29: Are you a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (hold a permanent visa)?
317 alumni responses
561 responses:
59 class years represented. Top five class years were: • • • •
2013 (31) 2012 (20) 2014 (16) 2011 (14)
• 2008 (13)
Question 28: What is your best estimate of the total annual beforetax income from all sources of the parent, parents, and/or stepparents who helped pay for your undergraduate education? 397 undergraduate responses: • • • • • •
Under $25,000: 23 $25,000 to $75,000: 60 $75,000 to $125,000: 56 $125,000 to $175,000: 62 $175,000 to $250,000 : 46 Over $250,000: 83
• No answer: 67
Yes
No
No answer
Undergraduate
369
31
2
Graduate
114
41
3
0
1
0
Alumni
Question 30: What is your home zipcode?/If you live off campus, what is your home zipcode? 995 responses: • • • •
08540 - Princeton, NJ 08648 - Lawrence Township, NJ 08542 - Central Princeton, NJ 08618 - Northwest Trenton, NJ
• 08610 - Southeast Trenton, NJ
563 responses: • Undergraduate: 403 • Graduate: 159 • Alumni: 1
Responses irrespective of type: • • • • •
White: 354 Asian: 96 No answer: 53 Hispanic or Latino: 35 Black or African American: 20
• American Indian or Alaska Native: 5
Question 32: What is your gender? 563 responses:
Graduate: 78 Faculty: 115 Staff: 755 Community members: 47
• Undergraduate: 403 • Graduate: 159 • Alumni: 1
Top five ZIP codes irrespective of type: • • • •
Question 31: What is your race ethnicity?
(277) (69) (43) (34) (29)
Responses irrespective of type: • • • •
Male: 293 Female: 261 Other: 2 No answer: 7
Next Steps This report provides a summary of participant input received from the Campus Compass tool. The campus planning team will continue to analyze this information and distill the key relationships, patterns of use and ideas for improving the campus.