News from Fall 2001

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GIS DAY-2001

Eastern Michigan University will be hosting a GIS Day event on Monday, November 19th, at the Institute for Community and Regional Development (ICARD). ICARD has invited students from George Multi-Age Academy in Ypsilanti to learn about Geography and GIS. Utilizing a National Geographic curriculum, the instructor led workshop will engage students in plotting activities using ArcView version 3.2. Ms. Diana Cregar, ICARD's Certified GIS Specialist, will lead the event instruction and Ms. Jennifer Black, ICARD's GIS intern from the Urban and Regional Planning Program, will assist with the event. The kids are scheduled to arrive at ICARD at 9:15 am and the session will end at 11 am.

ICARD is seeking EMU students with an interest in, or experience with, ArcView 3.2 to volunteer for this event. The volunteer hours are from 8:45 am until 11:15 am. If you are interested in participating, call Jennifer Black at the ICARD office, 734.487.0243, or e-mail at jennifer.black@icard.emich.edu. Keep in mind volunteering for this event is a GREAT way to build your resume and your network affiliations.

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World Town Planning Day
Celebration!
We had a big crowd at a very special event to honor World Town Planning Day, a celebration of urban planning recognized in cities around the world.

The program began by reviewing a big-screen demo of the very popular computer game, SIM CITY, and the tremendous impact it has had in interesting kids in the field of urban planning.

Special guest speaker John Enos, a planner with Carlisle-Wortman Associates, then talked about how professional planners deal with issues of growth found in a "REAL CITY," not the SIM CITY of computers. Other practicing planners also had a chance to introduce themselves to the planning students and potential students in attendance and answer questions about planning as a career.

In a final segment, John described the impact the "Wireless Revolution" is having on planning and what we can expect in the future.

It was a very special evening of socializing and stimulating discussion, with 40 students, alumni and friends in attendance. You can see more photos

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We've moved--again!
The Planning Program has moved some of its key spaces. The drafting studio has moved back to Strong Hall (from Rackham) and is now located in a prominent location in the "glass room" near the building entrance. It is both larger and nicer, and not nearly as hot as the old space.

Similarly, the Planning/Preservation Resource Room has moved out of its many boxes. It is now conveniently situated on shelves and files in Strong Hall. It is next to the glass room, in the space that was formerly the department office (where Shirley sat). It is also used as a faculty lounge, where we can have lunches together and also get together for committee meetings.

Finally, Norm has moved into the office just behind, which had been the department head's office a few years ago. It gives a lot more space for all the materials required for the program and for advising.

Next time you're on campus come in and see our new spaces. If you can't wait, we put up some photos.

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Accreditation site visit
The Urban and Regional Planning Program entertained visitors from the American Planning Association's Program Accreditation Team on October 8-10. Three members of its Site Visit Team reviewed the undergraduate program and will make recommendation to the national Accreditation Board whether it should keep its national accreditation.

The photo includes Peter Schaeffer from West Virginia University, Teree Bergman, former Planning Director for Columbus, Indiana, Dean Contes of EMU's College of Arts and Sciences, and Riad Mahayni of Iowa State University.

During its visit, the team met with students, alumni, employers, members of the Michigan Society of Planning, faculty, university administrators, and even attended a class or two. By the end of their stay, they knew almost as much about the Planning program as anyone on the faculty.

We expect to receive their report shortly, and a final determination and vote will be taken later by the full board.

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EMU goes to the
Michigan Society of Planning
Annual Conference
EMU's Planning Program is proud of its involvement with the MSP Annual Conference, which took place this year during a blustery three days at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

Numerous alumni of the program made presentations. They included:

  • Keith Edwards discussed virtual reality tools used in planning and also the impact of "Mansionization."
  • Mary Campbell spoke on sprawl and land use ordinances.
  • John Enos moderated a session on zoning enforcement.
  • Adjunct instructor Susan Lackey critiqued Smart Growth.
  • Kevin Christiansen moderated a session on affordable housing.
  • Tom Doyle spoke about transportation access management.
  • Dave Schneider and Bob Beaugrand led a session of wireless technology.
  • Dave Nicholson spoke about capital improvement planning.
  • Michelle Aniol moderated a session on regional planning.
In addition, a number of our current students served as volunteers for the conference.
  • Mike Howell had a session on downtown parking.
  • Leslie Kettren did a mobile session at Mackinac on walkability.

    Make sure you look at some of the conference photos.

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    "Links to the Future"
    Golf Outing a Success!

    Grad student Allison Menard was one of the big winners in this year's golf outing. Here she's taking home her winnings, including a new set of clubs and an armload of prizes including a sweater, hat and bag.

    We are especially indebted to the big donors for this year, including Boyne Country Sports, Novi, Snethkamp Chrysler-Jeep, Crescendo Homes, as well as continuing annual support from Atwell-Hicks, Inc. and Biltmore Homes, and also to the many others who generously donated.

    Find out more about it...

    Golf Outing donors;

    Photos of this year's event.

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    Alumni receive AICP!
    Six Planning Program alumni have recently received their professional certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners. This award is earned after a specified number of years of experience by passing a rigorous professional exam. They can now put AICP after their name.

    The six who passed the exam and received this distinction this year are...

    • Kevin Kwiatkowski, AICP (BS 1996, MS 1998)
    • Eric Mondrush, AICP (BS 1995)
    • Cynthia Safronoff, AICP (BS 1996)
    • David Schleg, AICP (MS)
    • Nathan Voght, AICP (BS 1995, MS 1998)
    • Ronald Wuerth, AICP (MS 1994)
    Congratulations. We're proud of you!

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    PLACE Cookie Sale
    Members of PLACE (Planning Awareness Club of Eastern) made a wonderful variety of cookies and then set up their Cookie Shop in Strong Hall. Here it is tended by Jennifer, Genevieve and Joseph.

    When they closed in the afternoon, they had made $134 to add to their coffers to help with club activities this year.

    Way to go!