Aerial view of University at Albany Uptown Campus looking south.

MASTERS IN REGIONAL PLANNING PROGRAM

Catherine T. Lawson, Ph.D. University at Albany

PAB Accreditation History

MRP Program established in mid-1980’s to meet need for professional planners in Upstate New York.

Original PAB accreditation in 2000.

Most recent PAB accreditation in 2015. Accredited for seven years.

http://www.albany.edu/gp/

http://www.albany.edu/gp/masters_regional_planning.php

MRP Specializations

Students come to the MRP program with a passion for making a difference; they graduate with the technical skills and training to turn that passion into a life-long career. We offer specialized study in three distinct fields: Environmental and Land-Use Planning Community Planning Transportation Planning

http://www.albany.edu/gp/masters_regional_planning.php

Work in proximity to the policy and decision makers of New York State government and agencies, and take advantage of numerous internship and job opportunities. Live and learn in a dynamic “case study city” where all aspects of regional planning can be observed and experienced.

Access to an invaluable network of graduates and advocates working in the field

http://www.albany.edu/graduate/step-by-step-graduate-application-process.php

The New York State Capital Region exhibits a healthy economy

Regional Statistics City of Albany Population - 98,000 Four County Region Population - 848, 600 Stable Population with Expected Population

Growth of 7% by 2040

http://cdrpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/09012015-Capital-Region-Statistical-Report-Tech-Valley-Trends.pdf

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/NYSCapitolPanorama.jpg

Internship Requirements

Internships are required in order to graduate (3 credits) Many students mature in these positions to a full-time position

100% fulfillment for student internships The Graduate Planning Student Association (GPSA) help pass

opportunities from one cohort to the next

Employer feedback is required in the form of a letter/email Describing what the student did, and how they did it

New York State Employers

Governor Andrew Cuomo with Policy Intern Liz Levesque (MRP 2016)

U.S. Government Employers

Regional Planning Agencies & Non-Profit Organizations

Private Sector Employers

Two new colleges at UAlbany will provide expanded opportunities for MRP students. College of Engineering

and Applied Sciences College of Emergency

Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

Awards link students to the Profession

Paul Marr Award Jamie Konkoski, MRP 2017

AICP Award Zach Powell, MRP 2017

“A successful planner uses process to empower communities. By connecting values and visions with the implementation of civics, programs and projects, we turn plans into realities.” -- Maria Chau, UAlbany MRP graduate and Community Advisory Board member

THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONALS IN ASSESSMENTS AT UALBANY Marcia Kees, University at Albany

The Role of Professionals in Assessments at UAlbany

What we Should Provide Responsibility to our profession Nurture, maybe even mentor,

the next generation of planners Support the Planning Program

at the University and in our communities

Provide input on needs in our field to insure these needs are met

What we Receive in Return Meet promising young professionals Be the first to see the latest pool of

potential interns and new hires Keep up with trends in the field Create mutually beneficial

relationships with faculty and students

Have fun!

MRP Community Advisory Board (CAB)

Advisory Board to MRP Program Meets with Department at least once each semester, and as needed Comprised of 8-10 professional planners representing:

- Private Sector - Government Sector - Non Profit Sector - Federal - State

- Regional - Local (City/Town/Village)

MRP Community Advisory Board (CAB)

Of the eight current CAB members: 6 - Have participated in the annual MRP “Practioner’s Speaker Series” 5 - Alumni of UAlbany 5 - AICP 5 - Current or former APA officers including two APA Chapter Presidents and three Section Directors 3 - Current or former Adjunct Faculty at UAlbany

MRP Community Advisory Board (CAB)

The CAB can provide a continuity and institutional memory that sometimes even exceeds Department faculty.

Aspire for quality not quantity Pursue broad representation from

the professional community Seek out networking capabilities

CAB member Susan Cotner in foreground, with staff members of the Affordable Housing Partnership of the Capital Region.

The Practioner’s Speaker Series brings professionals into the classroom every year.

Sean Maguire

Maria Chau

Rocco Ferraro Kate Maynard

Mark Castiglione Jacklyn Hakes

http://www.albany.edu/gp/pln681.php

Enthusiastic students conducting Studio field work at client’s office at beginning of the semester.

MRP Fall 2015 Studio at offices of Central Avenue Business Improvement District, Albany, NY. Sept. 2015

Relieved students following final Studio presentation to client at end of the semester.

MRP Fall 2015 Studio at annual meeting of Central Avenue BID, Albany, NY. Dec. 2015

Lakes To Locks Passage, Inc. Annual Meeting and workshop with the NYS Canal Corporation

Glens Falls, NY Oct. 2014

Client and community input on Studio activities provides feedback on Studio research and methodology.

UAlbany Students and Lakes to Locks Passage Staff at Annual Meeting, Oct. 2014.

2014 Fall Planning Studio

Recipient of 2015 New York Upstate Chapter APA Student Project Award

Cohoes: A Community for All

December 6, 2016

University at Albany Fall 2016

Graduate Planning Studio

Cohoes Open House/ Stakeholder Input

APA Chapter and Section Roles and Involvement

http://www.nyupstateplanning.org/

The New York Upstate APA Chapter has Five Sections.

The Capital District region is represented by the Capital District Planners Association, which pre-dates the formation of APA.

Opportunities for Professional Experience at Chapter Conferences

MRP Students display their 2016 Studio posters at the New York Upstate Chapter Annual Conference in Buffalo, NY. September 2016.

Opportunities for Feedback at Chapter Conference Poster Sessions

APA Northeast Planning Conference June, 2015

New York Upstate Chapter Conference Sept. 2016

Opportunities for Student and Professional interactions outside the classroom.

Students assist Saratoga Springs, NY Mayor JoAnne Yepsen and others in a workshop to raise awareness of planning streetscapes for those without sight. Workshop led by Claudia Folska, PhD (fourth from the right with a blindfolded Mayor Yepsen).

The pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow is an ongoing and

productive relationship between academia and practitioners.

Thank you!

Images of UAlbany from UAlbany Photo Database unless otherwise noted. http://www.ualbanyphotos.com/

• Eric Damian Kelly, Ph.D., FAICP

• Interim (and retiring) Chair, Department of Urban Planning

Engagement of Professionals and Alums

• Internships, with mutual evaluations

• Conference Participation • Guest lectures • Mentorships • “It’s Just Lunch” • Job shadowing • Juries

Curriculum

• Undergraduate (BUPD) program has five studios in three years

• That does NOT count the two studios in the common first-year program shared with Architecture and Landscape Architecture

• Graduate students have three studios in two years

DEPARTMENT POLICY strongly encourages real-world project with real clients for most studios

Juries

• Often include public officials and interested citizens, as well as professionals

Juries

• Some are informal

Juries

Juries

• Others are more formal

Juries

Jury Feedback

• Often oral comments • Some faculty have juries submit

written evaluation forms

THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONALS IN STUDENT LEARNING ASSESSMENT SESSION FUNCTION CODE 9110203

Presenters:

Hilary Nixon, San Jose State University

Catherine Lawson, University at Albany, SUNY

Marcia Kees, University at Albany, SUNY

Eric Kelly, Ball State University

APA’s 2017 National Planning Conference

WHAT IS STUDENT LEARNING AND OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT?

AND… WHY DO WE CARE?

WHAT IS STUDENT LEARNING & OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT

• Process / techniques / tools to learn whether students are meeting the learning goals and expectations for the course (or program, or internship, etc.)

TYPICAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS

1. Define clear goals for student learning (at the program & course level for PAB) • Graduates of the Program will {action verb} {something}

• …be able to apply participatory approaches to address complex planning problems.

• Students who have completed this course will {action verb} {something}

• …be able to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of non-probability and probability-based sampling techniques

2. Develop effective ways to measure achievement of goals • Direct measures – measure actual learning/achievement, e.g. assignments, exams, capstone

evaluations, internship evaluations, etc.

• Indirect measures – assess opinions/thoughts about student achievement, e.g. student surveys, alumni surveys, etc.

3. Collect information

4. Use collected information to improve student learning

WHY DO WE CARE?

• Provides diagnostic feedback

• Helps to set standards & evaluate progress

• Motivates performance

• Graduate the best possible next generation of planners

SJSU Graduate Planning Students – the next generation of planners

PAB & INVOLVEMENT OF PRACTITIONERS IN STUDENT LEARNING ASSESSMENT

• Survey of 76 PAB-accredited programs (31 responses)

• 84% involve professionals/practitioners in assessment (formally and/or informally) Assessment Tool # of Institutions

Internship evaluation 10

Capstone/project jurors 8

Alumni/employer focus groups 7

Advisory council 6

Employer surveys 6

Client review of capstone projects 3

Information communication 3

Practitioner-in-residence 3