Presenters:

Robert Mitchell, FAICP

Hing Wong, AICP

Lauri Johnson, PH.D.

Reversing the Decline in Planning

School Enrollment

APA’s 2016 National Planning Conference

Phoenix AZ

Session Function Code: W516

Accredited Planning Programs

Objectives for this session

Review & analyze the trends in PAB program enrollments

Examine & understand the reasons behind those trends

Identify emerging issues regarding planning education,

the planning profession and the impacts of enrollment

on those issues

Learn about tools, techniques and strategies used to

raise the profile of the profession

Discuss strategies the four organizations could

implement to address the identified issues

Joint Task Force on Enrollment

Report

Joint Task Force on Enrollment

Where is enrollment declining, increasing, or

remaining stable and why?

What should we do to analyze and respond to the

decline in enrollments in planning education?

Task Force - Overview

• Appointed by the Presidents of APA, AICP, ACSP, PAB

• Representatives on the Task Force from each organization

• Establishment of Task Force based on increasing concern regarding enrollments issues at planning schools/programs

• Examined existing information regarding enrollments for colleges & universities, planning programs, and collegial programs

• Developed a survey

• Looked at the complexity of the issue

• Developed a series of questions to further analyze the situation

Students Enrolled in Master’s

Accredited Programs

Year

No. of

Programs

U.S. Citizens

and Residents

Foreign

Total Students

% change

year to year

2008 67 4485 501 4986

2009 67 4822 477 5299 6.3%

2010 69 4914 518 5432 2.5%

2011 70 4638 556 5194 -4.4%

2012 71 4336 664 5000 -3.7%

2013 71 4094 757 4851 -3.0%

2014 71 3911 853 4764 -1.8%

Data excludes University of Montreal and the University of British Columbia

Students Enrolled in Bachelor’s

Accredited Programs

Year

No. of

Programs

U.S. Citizens

and Residents

Foreign

Total Students

% change

year to year

2008 14 1308 35 1343

2009 14 1305 64 1369 1.9%

2010 14 1282 71 1353 -1.2%

2011 14 1191 86 1277 -5.6%

2012 14 916 84 1000 -21.7%

2013 14 870 87 957 -4.3%

2014 14 822 103 925 -3.3%

Data excludes University of Montreal

Higher Education

Peer Disciplines

; Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and

Administration. 2013-2014 NASPAA Accreditation Data

Report;

Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration

Peer Disciplines

Landscape Architecture

Architecture

Source: National Architectural Accrediting Board. Highlights from the 2014 NAAB

Annual Report; Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board. Annual Report Summary

Joint Task Force Survey

Task Force developed a survey to understand what was

happening at the planning schools

Survey emailed to PAB schools

67% response

38 questions

Wide variety of individual answers

Survey of PAB-accredited Programs

47%

36%

17%

Stable Decreased Increased

Enrollment at Accredited Masters Program

Survey of PAB-accredited Programs

2%

53%

45%

Too high Too low About right

Current Enrollment Levels

Impacts Current

enrollment too low

Enrollment decreasing

Applications are

decreasing

12 Programs

50% reported negative impacts, such as:

- Inability to hire new faculty

- Fewer course offerings; limited number of electives

- Variable student quality

- Concern about declining institutional support

Factors contributing to Decline

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Other

Limited outreach by program

Competition from similar degree programs

Lack of or limited financial aid

Competition from other schools

Lack of student awareness of planning profession

Number of students applying to college

Recruitment Strategies

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Other

Recruit through international contacts

Recruit from other university programs

Social media

Recruit from undergrad programs atregional universities

Specific outreach events

What’s Next?

APA, AICP, ACSP, PAB Review of Report

Phone follow-up with certain programs

Additional questions

Further research

Investigation of trends for “competing” programs

(example: Sustainable Development degrees)

Understanding suggested “best practices” being

implemented at planning schools

Lauri Macmillan Johnson Professor and Director School of Landscape Architecture and Planning The University of Arizona

Academic Year * 2009– 2010 2010– 2011 2011– 2012 2012 – 2013 2013 – 2014 2014 – 2015 2015– 2016

# Applications Reviewed for Admission 27 29 28 32 14 41 32

# Applicants Admitted 21 20 19 18 14 25 14 # New Students Admitted who Enrolled

Fulltime 6 15 17 12 14 26 19 Part-time 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Dual degree 0 2 1 0 0 1 0

# Total Students Enrolled

Fulltime 15 23 31 29 24 40 35 Part-time - - - - - - - Dual degree - 2 3 1 - - -

Student Enrollment Data Student census date: 09/23/15

The Master of Science in Planning program at The University of Arizona provides a diverse and interdisciplinary learning experience in

sustainable urban and regional planning.

Sustainable strategies Environmental and physical planning Geospatial technology Applied planning methods Multi-disciplinary teams Leadership Professional ethics

Understanding who we are

Marketing and Communication: Website, Social Media, Advertising, Brochures, Presentations, Newsletters, Exhibits, Open Houses, Outreach.

Recruitment Strategies Making connections internal and external

• Showcasing Student and Faculty Work • Featured Alumni • Reaching out to Feeder Schools • Presentations to other classes on campus, high schools, colleges • College and Campus Tours • Career Fairs • Targeting underrepresented students • Tracking students who have already expressed an interest • Director and faculty member should call every interested student

College-wide coordinated efforts:

Establishing Enrollment Management Team Setting Goals Identifying Roles Everyone participates

• Faculty • Student Ambassadors • Staff • Director • Alumni • Practitioners

The Graduate Planning Society (GPS) provides MS Planning students with the support and professional tools necessary to develop leadership skills in areas vital to communities by advocating excellence in community planning, promoting education and citizen empowerment, and providing the tools necessary to meet the challenges of growth and change ( http://capla.arizona.edu/students/gov).

What candidates what to known

• The Faculty • Funding – graduate assistantships • Real-world projects • Internships • Dual Degrees • Professional Networking opportunities • Job placement • Current students • Integrated studio • Facilities • Alumni

personal contact

Tuition Waivers or RC Waivers for graduate students are available at the unit level. Waivers may cover any portion of the graduate student’s tuition including program fees. Fellowship Funds distributed by the Graduate College allocates need-based fellowship cash awards to academic units through the respective academic dean's office to recruit and retain top international or domestic graduate students. Program Fee Set Aside Funds are cash based financial aid allocated by colleges. Financial aid is obtained by setting aside 14% of program fee revenue. Graduate Assistantships are offers of employment that provide additional benefits. Students with research or teaching Assistantships must work during the semester and must be in good academic standing and eligible for employment in the US. Graduate Assistants are considered in-state students for tuition purposes. Scholarships are cash based financial aid at the program level from donor-provided funds. Funds typically contain donor restrictions to certain student populations/attributes.

The University of Arizona Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Program provides funds for returning Peace Corps Volunteers who meet eligibility requirements. Fellows receive base tuition and paid internships. Graduate Access Fellowships are awards from the Graduate College that are intended to broaden the access of US students to graduate education and to promote diversity of our graduate student body.

Regional Development Geography Architecture Sustainable Built Environments

Accelerated Masters Programs Students are admitted into the AMP (program) in Planning at the end of their junior year and enroll in graduate level planning courses their senior year. Up to twelve units of graduate credit may apply to both their undergraduate and graduate programs allowing these students to earn both degrees in six years or less.

Qualified Sustainable Built Environments students interested in pursuing a graduate degree have the exciting opportunity to begin one of the college’s graduate programs during the senior year of their undergraduate degree through the Accelerated Master’s Program.

Accelerated Masters Program

• Master of Architecture • Master of Landscape Architecture • Master of Science in Planning • Master of Real Estate Development

Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Built Environments

Sustainable Built Environments is a solutions-based, interdisciplinary undergraduate degree that educates students in the comprehensive understanding of environmental design, planning, and management challenges.

• Sustainable Buildings • Sustainable Communities • Sustainable Landscapes • Heritage Conservation • General Emphasis

Major Emphasis Areas

Dual Degree Programs Master of Business Administration (MBA) and MS Planning for students interested in business and development, finance, sustainable urban and regional planning, land and resource use Others in the works Master of Landscape Architecture Master of Architecture Master of Real Estate Development

Internship opportunities, outreach, partnerships City of Tucson, City of South Tucson, Town of Sahuarita, Town of Marana, Town of Oro Valley, Pima County, Pima Association of Governments, Arizona Game and Fish, Arizona State Department of Transportation, Tohono O'odham Nation, Tucson International Airport, Watershed Management Group, Tucson Electric Power, The Planning Center, Norris Design Studio, Poster Frost Mirto, LVA Urban Design Studio, Sonoran Institute, Habitat for Humanity, Living Streets Alliance, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, The Planning Center, Norris Design, Merjent Environmental Consulting, Downtown Tucson Partnership, Novak Environmental, SWCA).

The Friends of Planning is a private, non-profit organization, formed to help ensure the strength and longevity of the graduate Planning degree program at the University of Arizona and to support Planning student achievement. Members of the group are professional planners in the community. They provide mentorship opportunities to Planning students and they regularly meet with Planning program administration to ensure students are workforce ready. Each month, one member of Friends of Planning group holds “office hours” in the studio to meet with students and to provide career advice and opportunities.

2014 Master of Science in Planning Graduates 100% employed in the field • Planner at City of Tempe, Arizona • Intermediate Designer at Mark Scheurer Architect, Newport Beach, California • Research Epidemiologist at Maricopa County Public Health, Phoenix, Arizona • Assistant Planner at City of Atascadero and Graduate Research Assistant at Arizona Water

Resources Research Center (WRRC), Tucson, Arizona • GIS Analyst at Jacobs Engineering, Phoenix, Arizona • Research Consultant at U of A Water Resources Research Center, Tucson, Arizona • Planner 1 at Boulder County, Colorado • FP&A Analyst support for HR at Intel Corporation, Hillsboro, Oregon • Architectural Intern at Humphreys & Partners Architects, Dallas, Texas • Planner at City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department, Tucson, Arizona • Engineering Technician at City of Phoenix, Arizona • Planner at Core Design, Belleview, Washington • Planning Intern at LMLV Architecture and Planning, Geneva, Switzerland • Teaching Assistant at UC Irvine, California • Planner at Dona Ana County, Las Cruces, New Mexico • Designer at Cuningham Group, Phoenix, Arizona • Transportation Planner at Pima Association of Governments, Tucson, Arizona • Assistant Director at Arizona American Planning Association – Southern Section Board and

Planner at Town of Marana, Arizona

2015 Graduates Master of Science in Planning • Associate Architect at Robert Torson

Architects, Omaha, Nebraska • Designer at Norris Design, Tucson, Arizona • Planner I at Cochise County, Bisbee,

Arizona • Research Coordinator at Water Resources

Research Center at U of A, Tucson, Arizona • Pursuing PhD, Graduate Teaching Assistant

at U of A, Tucson, Arizona • Biologist/Environmental Compliance Lead

at Tierra Right of Way Services, Tucson, Arizona

• Planner I for the Summit Country Community Development Planning Department, Summit County, Colorado

• Land Use Planner at Blue Earth County, Mankato, Minnesota

• Community Development Manager for the Downtown Missoula Partnership, Missoula, Montana

• (2 Unknown)

5,000 Members 10% Students

Accredited Planning Programs

Graduate Programs UC Berkeley

San Jose State University

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo*

UCLA

USC

Cal Poly Pomona*

UC Irvine * Both Graduate and Undergraduate Programs

Commitment to Students

Free Student Day at Chapter Conference Sessions Specifically for Students Poster Sessions

Educational and Social Events Mentorship Board Participation

California Planning Foundation

Scholarship ($50,000 annually) Accredited Programs Non-Accredited Programs

Setting Goals Raising Funds Partnerships

Ambassador Program and Diversity

Education and Awareness Build Awareness of the Profession Foster Volunteerism and Activities Provide Programs for Youths and Adults Promote Value and Role of Planning Advocate for Diversity Raise Awareness with Leaders

How Can APA Help?

Task Force Improve Communication Membership Growth and Retention Strategies Make it easier for students and new planners to

join and stay with APA Inclusive and flexible to capture those with

planning and non-planning backgrounds Path to AICP

Questions for Further Analysis

What impacts, if any, do enrollment trends have on the planning job market? Are there sufficient employment opportunities for graduating planning students? Do employers value planning degrees and/or planning degrees from accredited

planning schools in their hiring? Is it important to get a Master’s degree or will a Bachelor’s degree be sufficient? What are the enrollment trends for non-accredited planning programs? How much are costs rising for a graduate degree in planning? Are entry-level salaries

rising in tandem? How much do financial considerations (cost of degree, student debt, job prospects)

influence enrollment decisions?

Questions to the Audience

What is the job market like in your area? Are graduates and young planners actually finding planning jobs?

For entry-level planners who area recently employed, what are their educational backgrounds (level and type of degree)?

Beyond what you heard in today’s presentations, what other causes might there be for the decline in enrollment and what are potential solutions?

What do you think this all means (or could mean) for planning as a profession? What other questions do you have?