2025 Campus Plan Survey

As Loyola University Chicago continues its campus planning efforts, one principle remains constant: meaningful planning begins with listening.

In 2025, Loyola's Community Relations team relaunched its community engagement survey, inviting residents of Rogers Park, Edgewater, and the broader Loyola community to share their priorities, concerns, and aspirations for the future of the neighborhood and university. To ensure broader participation and access, the survey remained open through February 2026 and was offered in English, Spanish, and Arabic. The response was strong, generating more than 500 submissions and providing valuable insight into how community members view Loyola's role as a neighbor, partner, and institutional anchor. 

The results build on the extensive community engagement process conducted in 2024 as part of Loyola's Campus Plan. While many priorities remained consistent, the 2025/2026 survey revealed a growing interest in ongoing dialogue, neighborhood quality of life, and stronger connections between campus and community. 

These priorities remain largely consistent with findings from the 2024 community survey, which similarly identified public safety and security, green space, parks and recreation, housing affordability, and access to arts and cultural amenities as key issues for residents. This continuity suggests that community needs and concerns have remained stable over time, providing confidence that these areas warrant sustained attention and investment.

The survey also highlighted opportunities for growth. Echoing themes identified during the 2024 engagement process, respondents called for greater transparency around campus development, clearer communication about university initiatives, and continued dialogue about housing, property stewardship, and neighborhood change. 

One particularly strong theme was a desire for greater access to campus resources and opportunities. Residents expressed interest in arts and cultural programming, libraries, meeting spaces, recreational facilities, educational opportunities, and community gathering spaces. Others encouraged Loyola to continue supporting neighborhood assets such as community gardens, environmental initiatives, and partnerships that strengthen quality of life for local residents. 

Summur Lawson, Director of Community Relations, developed the survey and analyzed community responses.

“What emerged most clearly from both the 2024 and 2025 engagement efforts is that community members care deeply about the future of these neighborhoods and want to be active partners in shaping it,” Lawson said. “Whether offering praise, raising concerns, or sharing new ideas, respondents demonstrated a genuine commitment to ensuring Rogers Park and Edgewater remain vibrant, welcoming communities for current and future generations.”

Loyola is grateful to everyone who participated in the survey and shared their perspective. Community feedback will continue to inform campus planning and help guide the university's efforts to be a transparent, responsive, and engaged neighbor. As a Jesuit, Catholic institution, Loyola remains committed to building relationships, fostering trust, and creating a future that reflects both university needs and community priorities.