Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW 1

Literature Review

Architecture at UTEP

Luis Rodriguez

University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1302

Dr. Vierra

July 29, 2018

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Abstract

This literary review studies architecture and the effect it has on student enrollment

at UTEP. Campus architecture is the process of creating architecture in a campus to help aid

education. Through the writings in this document the information will show how the

relationship between UTEP and Bhutan style architecture began, and how UTEP continues

to incorporate Bhutan into their buildings. This literature review includes a survey, which

analyzed the students influences towards enrollment at UTEP. The results indicated that

students were influenced more by UTEPs cost of attendance and location rather than the

campus architecture. However, the study found that architecture did have an influence on

first year and graduate students’ decision on enrollment.

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Literature Review

Architecture at UTEP

UTEP is the only school in the west to adapt Bhutanese style to their architecture,

but many people believe the architectural style is overlooked. Studies show that

architecture is not a major factor in a student’s decision in enrolling in a school, as students

are more affected by cost and location, which is the case for UTEP. Recent studies like these

shed new light on architectures effect on enrollment, which previous had not addressed.

This paper will address what campus architecture is, the relationship to UTEP, and how

UTEP architecture effects students influence in enrollment.

The following research questions will explore this topic:

 What is campus architecture?

 What does the architectural design have in relationship to UTEP?

 Is UTEP getting away from Bhutanese style?

 Does UTEP architecture attract students?

Discussion of Research

What is Campus Architecture?

Campus architecture is the process of creating architecture in a campus to help aid

education. A campus is the area in which academic buildings reside, while architecture is

the process of developing, designing, and constructing structures Edwards (2000). Recent

studies show that campus architecture affects students’ academic performance, Lumpkin

(2016) argued that there is a correlation between student’s achievement and behavior by their

academic environment. He noted that through schools making standardize test and the No Child

Left Behind Act that there is to consider school’s buildings as a variable. Lumpkin found that
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thru measuring students mathematics and English scores of The Florida Comprehensive

Assessment Test or the FCAT, we can find the effect buildings, socioeconomic status, and race

have on students (p. 170-171). Lumpkin’s claim that there is a correlation between student

achievement and behavior and academic environment is valid because there is research that

supports students’ academic performance increase with their environments such as new buildings

(p. 170-171).

When designing architecture there are many elements to take into consideration.

According to Burman and Mumovic (2018) improving energy efficiency in old and new

buildings is necessary. They noted that increasing energy efficiency in schools will greatly

decrease energy consumption. Burman and Mumovic found that by performing

experiments and testing the energy output the effect it has on energy consumption in

schools (p. 1). Burman and Mumovic claim that improving efficiency in old and new

buildings is correct because schools take over 11% of energy consumption and students

are estimated to spend around 30% of their time at schools. Therefore, reducing energy

consumption in schools will greatly reduce energy spent on keeping schools running.

Another element campus architects must consider is the type of learning that is going to

occur in those buildings, because according to Upitis (2004) school architecture is designed

towards core subjects rather than towards subjects like art, dance, or music (p. 19). He noted that

different architectural spaces dictate what is learned and how its learned (p. 22). Through

examining a collection of schools, he found that the architecture influenced the student’s way of

learning (p. 33-34). As Upitis stated there is different planning campus architects take when

designing a facility that is meant for non-core classes such as art or music is different than when

designing one for core classes like math or English.

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UTEP and Architecture

UTEP is the only university in the west to have adapted Bhutanese style of

architecture. According to Hamilton (1988) UTEPs distinctive architecture style has been

incorporated since its earliest days. After UTEPs campus burning down the new campus

was created on the other side of the Franklin Mountains. The new campus adapted the

Bhutanese style of architecture after the dean’s wife showed him an article on the National

Geographic Magazine and stated that the rugged mountain in which the new campus is to

be built on looked like Bhutan (p. 25). UTEPs unique architectural style (figure 1) is

beautiful, but according to Benton and Bennet (2001) the architecture also has an influence

on future students, because students link a colleges architectural style to academic success.

They noted more male students than female students associate greater individual success

regardless of architecture style (p. 159). Through conduction a semantic differential

questionnaire on first year graduates they found that students attributed a superior

education to campuses with modern architecture and they associated private schools with

traditional architecture (p. 172). Utilizing Benton and Bennet’s study, students do consider

the architectural style and perhaps associate UTEP with good academic performance

because of its infused modern architecture with ancient Bhutan.

Architecture and environment affects students’ academic performance. According to

Oluwatayo and Aduwo (2015) student’s perception towards their studying environment effects

their academic performance. Through a questionnaire on 273 students in a school of architecture

in Nigeria they found that the major factor that defined a student’s learning environment was

involvement (p. 139-140). Oluwatayo and Aduwa’s claim that students’ perception towards their

studying environments effect their academic performance connects to Lumpkin’s (2016), who
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showed that there was a correlation between academic performance and academic environment.

UTEPs architecture is designed to helps students studying environments, this is seen by the many

different facilities there are and the distinct layout in each building which helps aid and improve

learning. Academic success isn’t the only thing effected by campus architecture, Barefoot (2004)

argued that the institutions environment has a factor in student retention in the school and that

the universities programs are not being effective. He noted that researchers studied student’s

external environment effects on dropout rate (p. 9). Barefoot observed how universities have

implemented different programs to improve retention rates, but student retention rates remained

static (p. 9-11). As Barefoot stated institutions have a factor in student retention, UTEP is

constantly upgrading and maintaining their facility to help retention rates.

Online courses offer a more student-centered environments and students have greater

academic success. Jamieson (2003) argued that universities are delaying a more student-centered

learning environment. He noted that universities must overcome the separation of common

learning environments such a libraries, laboratories, and informal learning environments.

Although Jamison states universities are delaying a more student-centered learning environment

UTEP is overcoming that by offering online courses. According to Beard and Harper (2002)

online course instruction has changed how students are taught and how they are learning a

positive way. They noted that online courses help students with more opportunities by providing

distance education. Through a study on 42 graduate students that enrolled in a Characteristics of

Severe Disabilities course which involved classroom teaching in the traditional method for the

first half then switching to online for the second half. They found that students still preferred to

take a course thru campus but where not against taking online courses. Beard and Harper claim

that online courses help students in a positive way is connected to Diaz (2002), who showed thru
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his research that online students generally outperform students in traditional classes. Diaz (2002)

stated that online students are mostly students with higher GPAs and are generally older

students. Through his study created on 221 college students on a health education course Diaz

found that students that enrolled in online courses where students with more academic

experience which helped them thru the independence of online courses (p. 1). Although Diaz

claim that online students outperform traditional students, research still shows that students still

prefer taking traditional courses over online courses Beard and Harper (2002). These studies

show how students have greater academic success when enrolling in online courses and how in

the future campus architecture might become obsolete when students enroll in only online

classes.

UTEP Getting Away from Bhutanese Style

Since UTEPs construction of its first building on its new campus in 1917, it has tried

to maintain its core Bhutanese architectural style as well as adapt to modernizing times. As

demonstrated in Figure 1, which shows UTEPs bookstore and parking garage, next to it is a

Bhutan building you can see both styles are the same and how UTEP incorporated the

Bhutan style into their buildings. According to Nova: The University of Texas at El Paso

Magazine (1971), the Potala at Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, is the building that is most

often referred to as the influence of Bhutan architecture. That building was built in the 17th

century by the Fifth Dalai Lama. The buildings that have become a staple of Bhutan

architecture are the dzongs, because every major river valley and region has one. They are

usually set on a site above a stream or valley, usually out of everyone’s way and seemingly

unreachable by anyone. Some distinct features of dzongs where the high dept windows that

where usually shut because window glass in Bhutan until modern times. Because the
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dzongs where originally to be a fortress there was no windows in the lower part to protect

from enemies. However, as times modernized there was slight changes to the architecture

for UTEP buildings as stated by Mr. Doig “one of the most fantastic aspects of the Bhutanese

architecture is the complete absence of bolts, nails, and screws.” Although ancient Bhutan

architecture didn’t use bolts or nails UTEPs buildings do. However, UTEP has tried to

implement as many things to the architecture of its buildings to fit the Bhutan architecture

such as non-windows in lower floors and keeping the unique high windows with the

Bhutanese hanging style roof. UTEPS first building in the new campus was to resemble the

Paro Dzong in the White’s Geographic article. However, the dzongs where painted a dull

gray and UTEPs Main was painted a browner color to resemble the El Paso desert

environment. As UTEP began to expand and modernize the overall Bhutanese style stayed,

but some changes like creating limestone trim around the windows main entrance and

limestone decorations on side of the window. As new buildings where created around the

campus the Bhutanese style stayed but small changes were made, one noticeable change

was that the physical science building has the Bhutanese style hanging roof on its southern

side only and the other two roofs where flat , compared to the other buildings it only has a

fraction of the Bhutanese appearance. One of the buildings which for some people seems

un-Bhutanese is the UTEP library, its design was more modern like and disliked by many

people. According to El Paso architect Stephen W. the library gave a good contemporary

design to Bhutanese architecture. Although the library design was different from

Bhutanese architecture it seems to fit perfectly because of its similar colors, restrained

window openings, and combination of Bhutanese hanging roofs and flat roofs. Because the

library was to be a staple of the university it was okay for it to be different (p. 6-11).
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Although small changes were made to modernize the school, according to Hamilton (1988)

if any of the campus buildings where taken to Bhutan they would be taken for lamaseries,

which are the homes of Buddhist monks. The architectural style of UTEP even caught the

attention of Bhutanese royalty who stated that it was moving that the university has built a

campus inspired by Bhutanese architecture that resembles their Bhutanese dzongs. He also

stated that the university had combined the new modern architectural design with ancient

Bhutanese architecture.

Primary Research:

UTEP architecture and Enrollment Survey

Does UTEP Architecture Attract Students?

This research was designed to reveal the effects UTEP architecture has on student

enrollment. We conducted a survey at UGLC and the Union in the afternoon during summer

term. We conducted a seven-point Likert Scale that consisted of nine questions. The survey

was conducted on randomly selected students (N=30) of various age and gender. There

was an even number of male and female students who answered the survey. The overall

the demographic of the students selected where form every classification ranging from first

year students to graduate. The results showed that students that where more influenced by

the cost of tuition and location. It also showed that first year and graduate students where

influenced by the architecture. The data we collected agrees with Drewes & Michael (2006)

by stating that location and cost of tuition are the major influences students have towards

enrollment. Although these are just limited results because of the summer term, this

research opens the idea of campus architecture being an influence on students’

enrollment(p. 793). As stated by Veloutsou (2004) the top categories high school students
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use to select a college were content for specific courses, universities reputation, and the

departments reputation . He noted that there was a broad selection of things that affected a

student’s choice in selecting an institution (p. 166). Veloutsou claim of the top three things

that influence a student’s decision when selecting a school is flawed. Because of Drewes &

Michael study and the UTEP and Architecture survey both suggest that students are more

influenced by location and tuition cost when enrolling in a school. However as shown in

the UTEP and Architecture study campus architecture does influence some students, and

according to June (2006), academic buildings help colleges attract and keep students. He

noted that buildings really do matter to students when choosing a school and that buildings

related to their majors are extremely important. June concluded that facilities for major

where a big influence and that varsity athletic facilities where not a big influence, thru a

survey conducted on first year students to graduate students. Junes claimed that academic

buildings help colleges attract students is flawed, as there is research that shows that

students value content for specific courses, universities reputation, and the departments

reputation over campus buildings. Veloutsou (2004). UTEP is constantly evolving to create

and improve their academic buildings as seen with the construction of their new

Interdisciplinary research building Villa (2017).

Conclusion

In conclusion campus architecture has an influence on students, by not only helping

them achieve greater academic success, but by influencing them in choosing a school.

UTEPs involvement with architecture dates to the 1917 when the first buildings where

created in the new campus that took a Bhutanese style of architecture. As times change and

schools begin to modernize UTEP is making small changes to their campus architecture,
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but they are trying to keep the core Bhutanese style still. As shows by the UTEP and

Architecture study we found that students where more influenced in the location and

tuition cost of a school than by their architecture. We also found that first year college

students and graduate students were influenced by campus architecture, but not as much

as the location and cost.

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References

Barefoot, B. O. (2004). Higher education's revolving door: Confronting the problem of student

drop out in US colleges and universities. Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance

and e-Learning, 19(1), 9-18. doi:10.1080/0268051042000177818

Beard, L. A., & Harper, C. (2002). Student perceptions of online versus on campus

instruction. Education, (4), 658. doi:10.1080/0268051042000177818

Bennett, M. A., & Benton, S. L. (2001). What are the buildings saying? A study of first-year

undergraduate students' attributions about college campus architecture. NASPA Journal,

38(2), 159-177. doi:10.2202/1949-6605.1140

Burman, E., Kimpian, J., & Mumovic, D. (2018). Building schools for the future: Lessons

learned from performance evaluations of five secondary schools and academies in

England. Frontiers in Built Environment, 4, 1-16. doi:10.3389/fbuil.2018.00022

Diaz, D. P. (2002). Online drop rates revisited. The Technology Source, 3, 35-51.Retrieved from

http://www.technologysource.org/article/online_drop_rates_revisited/?utm_campaign=el

earningindustry.com&utm_source=/5-ways-humanize-the-elearning-

experience&utm_medium=link

Drewes, T., & Michael, C. (2006). How do students choose a university?: An analysis of

applications to universities in Ontario, Canada. Research in Higher Education, 47(7),

781-800.

Jamieson, Peter (2003) Designing more effective on‐campus teaching and learning spaces: a role

for academic developers, International Journal for Academic Development,8:1-2, 119-

133, DOI: 10.1080/1360144042000277991

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June, A. W. (2006). Facilities can play key role in students’ enrollment decisions, study

finds. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 52(40), A27.

https://www.chronicle.com/article/Facilities-Play-a-Key-Role-in/26924

Lumpkin, R. B. (2016). School buildings, socioeconomic status, race, and student achievement.

Journal of Intercultural Disciplines, 15, 170. Retrieved from http://0-

web.a.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=400a9815-

1b94-4681-9e78-9abbefedd2f8%40sessionmgr4010

NOVA: The University of Texas at el Paso Magazine. (1971, The News and Information

Service, University of Texas at El Paso, 6, 1-17. Retrieved from

https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/nova/145/

Oluwatayo, A. A., Aderonmu, P. A., & Aduwo, E. B. (2015). Architecture students' perceptions

of their learning environment and their academic performance. Learning Environments

Research, 18(1), 129-142. doi:10/1007/s10984-015-9172-7.

Upitis, R. (2004). School architecture and complexity. Complicity: An International Journal of

Complexity and Education, 1(1) Retrieved from

https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/complicity/index.php/complicity/article/view/8713/703

3Veloutsou, C., Lewis, J. W., & Paton, R. A. (2004). University selection: Information

requirements and importance. International Journal of Educational Management, 18(3),

160-171.

Villa, P. (2017, ). Construction rolls along on UTEP's new $85M interdisciplinary research

building. El Paso Times Retrieved from:

https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/utep/2017/09/04/construction-rolls-along-uteps-

new-85-m-interdisciplinary-research-building/620966001/
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Veloutsou, C., Lewis, J. W., & Paton, R. A. (2004). University selection: Information

requirements and importance. International Journal of Educational Management, 18(3),

160-171.
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Appendix A: images

Figure 1. UTEP Bhutanese compared to buildings in Bhutan

Source: utep.edu

Figure 2. Architecture Effect on Enrollment

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Appendix B: Survey Questions