Urban & Environmental Planning

Daphne Spain — Department Chair

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

Students in the Planning program develop the understanding, sensitivity, and skills necessary to pursue professional careers in a variety of public, private, and nonprofit roles. The Department values environments where countrysides are productive and appropriately protected, where cities have vital centers and efficient means of movement, and where neighborhoods offer opportunities for all to live affordably and safely. The curriculum introduces students to the theories of planning, methods of analysis, effective means of communication, planning processes, and creative strategies for implementation.

One of the distinctive features of the program is a strong concern for community sustainability. While the topic is addressed in specific courses with that title, the concept of sustainability provides an underlying framework throughout the curriculum. Our goals are similar to those of the American Planning Association's Guide to Planning for Sustainability. The title of our department is Urban and Environmental Planning. We believe it is necessary to consider both the urban and environmental aspects of a setting to address its issues, problems, and opportunities. We are as much concerned with the economy and issues of equity as we are with the environment, and find it more useful to emphasize linkages than distinctions. We hope to inspire our students to have the same enthusiasm we feel for addressing the planning needs of sustainable communities.

The Department is built on a distinguished faculty and excellent students. Many of the faculty are engaged in current professional and civic work in addition to pioneering research and publications. A number of part-time faculty who are active full-time professionals also contribute to the course offerings. The Institute for Environmental Negotiation works closely with the Department and frequently involves faculty and students in research projects.

DEGREES

The Department offers two degrees. In addition to a four-year Bachelor’s and a two-year Master’s of Urban and Environmental Planning, the Department offers a Minor for students throughout the University and a certificate in Historic Preservation. There are also a number of dual degree opportunities within the Master’s program.

The Institute for Environmental Negotiation (IEN)

Negotiation, mediation, and other interactive and collaborative problem solving approaches are increasingly important in planning, policy making and in the resolution of development controversies. The Institute for Environmental Negotiation of the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning is a major resource for the acquisition of these conflict resolution skills.

The Institute sponsors visiting mediation practitioners, offers courses in negotiation skills and public involvement, and provides training opportunities through internships. The Mediator, newsletter of the institute, is also available online.

NEWS AND EVENTS

April 22, 2008

UVa Students Conduct Glocal Study -- WVIR-TV

WVIR-TV

[From WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA] UVA Students Conduct "Glocal" Study "Do you ever think about where your food comes from? Some of it's from thousands of miles away. Other items may only be from a few miles down the road. "University of Virginia students have been working to figure out where our area's food system stands. Tuesday, they're revealing their results and want to hear from you. The students have been studying Charlottesville's 'glocal' food system. That's a combination of global and local. Their goal was to assess different situations and find out how we can work to create a better balance between the two areas depending on what people need. "Tim Beatley is a professor of Sustainable Communities at the University of Virginia. His class is studying Charlottesville's food system. Each student is focusing on a different aspect of 'glocal' foods or combining global and local supplies. Families in affordable housing, restaurants, and community services are all topics. Each has its own story...." [for complete article, follow link to WVIR-TV's website]

April 15, 2008

Planning Course Field Trip Examines Conservation Easements

Daily Progress article

[From the Daily Progress, article by Brian McNeill] April 15, 2008 "Rich Collins led a contingent of 20 University of Virginia graduate students down a rocky path into the middle of a bucolic 154-acre field in Albemarle County. 'Ooh! Look!' exclaimed Collins, a UVa professor of urban and environmental planning. 'There’s a pair of nesting geese.' A few moments later, UVa history professor Stephen Levine strolled up, leading his nervous donkey Neftu.'She’s taking her time,' said Levine, the property’s owner. 'This is all new for her.' The grad students are part of Collins’ class on the legal aspects of planning. They spent Monday morning in Levine’s field — located at a convergence of the north and south forks of the Rivanna River — to learn about how conservation easements are protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of rural countryside across Virginia. 'It’s not just rural protection we’re after,' said Collins, an outspoken critic of runaway development. 'We’re after better places to live.'' [for the complete article, follow the link to the Daily Progress]

April 14, 2008

Planning Student Wins Internship with Urban Institute

The Urban Institute Summer Academy

Third-year Urban & Environmental Planning student Donta Harris has been awarded an internship with the extremely selective Washington D.C. Urban Institute Summer Academy for Public Policy Analysis and Research. Harris is one of 10 students selected for the internship from a field of 350 applicants nationwide. Harris will be in residence at the Urban Institute for eight weeks this summer, and according to the program's description, "taking classes, attending policy seminars, and conducting analyses to hone research skills while gaining exposure to a wide range of career opportunities in policy research and analysis."

March 24, 2008

Alumnus, a Former CIA Officer, Returns to UVa

UVa News article

Jim Skove (MP'78), is a retired CIA officer who returned to the University in his 80s to take additional classes in the Citizen Scholar program. Follow the link to UVa News to read the article.

February 14, 2008

Dept. of Urban + Env. Planning to Host Sustainability and Health Symposium 2/21-2/22

UVa News Article

[From UVa News Services]: "The University of Virginia will hold a workshop on Feb. 21 and 22 to explore linkages between sustainability and community health in Charlottesville. The workshop is unique in that it includes multiple schools and disciplines from across University Grounds. According to Nisha Botchwey, an assistant professor of urban and environmental planning, "today’s problems are too complex to be addressed or solved by any one discipline, so we have created a forum that brings together public health, community planning, law, design and environmental science to take a holistic view of the world...." [for complete article, see UVa News]

	Home > Academics > Urban & Environmental Planning Daphne Spain — Department Chair ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT Students in the Planning program develop the understanding, sensitivity, and skills necessary to pursue professional careers in a variety of public, private, and nonprofit roles. The Department values environments where countrysides are productive and appropriately protected, where cities have vital centers and efficient means of movement, and where neighborhoods offer opportunities for all to live affordably and safely. The curriculum introduces students to the theories of planning, methods of analysis, effective means of communication, planning processes, and creative strategies for implementation. One of the distinctive features of the program is a strong concern for community sustainability. While the topic is addressed in specific courses with that title, the concept of sustainability provides an underlying framework throughout the curriculum. Our goals are similar to those of the American Planning Association's Guide to Planning for Sustainability. The title of our department is Urban and Environmental Planning. We believe it is necessary to consider both the urban and environmental aspects of a setting to address its issues, problems, and opportunities. We are as much concerned with the economy and issues of equity as we are with the environment, and find it more useful to emphasize linkages than distinctions. We hope to inspire our students to have the same enthusiasm we feel for addressing the planning needs of sustainable communities. The Department is built on a distinguished faculty and excellent students. Many of the faculty are engaged in current professional and civic work in addition to pioneering research and publications. A number of part-time faculty who are active full-time professionals also contribute to the course offerings. The Institute for Environmental Negotiation works closely with the Department and frequently involves faculty and students in research projects. DEGREES The Department offers two degrees. In addition to a four-year Bachelor’s and a two-year Master’s of Urban and Environmental Planning, the Department offers a Minor for students throughout the University and a certificate in Historic Preservation. There are also a number of dual degree opportunities within the Master’s program. The Institute for Environmental Negotiation (IEN) Negotiation, mediation, and other interactive and collaborative problem solving approaches are increasingly important in planning, policy making and in the resolution of development controversies. The Institute for Environmental Negotiation of the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning is a major resource for the acquisition of these conflict resolution skills. The Institute sponsors visiting mediation practitioners, offers courses in negotiation skills and public involvement, and provides training opportunities through internships. The Mediator, newsletter of the institute, is also available online. NEWS AND EVENTS April 22, 2008 UVa Students Conduct Glocal Study -- WVIR-TV WVIR-TV [From WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA] UVA Students Conduct "Glocal" Study "Do you ever think about where your food comes from? Some of it's from thousands of miles away. Other items may only be from a few miles down the road. "University of Virginia students have been working to figure out where our area's food system stands. Tuesday, they're revealing their results and want to hear from you. The students have been studying Charlottesville's 'glocal' food system. That's a combination of global and local. Their goal was to assess different situations and find out how we can work to create a better balance between the two areas depending on what people need. "Tim Beatley is a professor of Sustainable Communities at the University of Virginia. His class is studying Charlottesville's food system. Each student is focusing on a different aspect of 'glocal' foods or combining global and local supplies. Families in affordable housing, restaurants, and community services are all topics. Each has its own story...." [for complete article, follow link to WVIR-TV's website] April 15, 2008 Planning Course Field Trip Examines Conservation Easements Daily Progress article [From the Daily Progress, article by Brian McNeill] April 15, 2008 "Rich Collins led a contingent of 20 University of Virginia graduate students down a rocky path into the middle of a bucolic 154-acre field in Albemarle County. 'Ooh! Look!' exclaimed Collins, a UVa professor of urban and environmental planning. 'There’s a pair of nesting geese.' A few moments later, UVa history professor Stephen Levine strolled up, leading his nervous donkey Neftu.'She’s taking her time,' said Levine, the property’s owner. 'This is all new for her.' The grad students are part of Collins’ class on the legal aspects of planning. They spent Monday morning in Levine’s field — located at a convergence of the north and south forks of the Rivanna River — to learn about how conservation easements are protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of rural countryside across Virginia. 'It’s not just rural protection we’re after,' said Collins, an outspoken critic of runaway development. 'We’re after better places to live.'' [for the complete article, follow the link to the Daily Progress] April 14, 2008 Planning Student Wins Internship with Urban Institute The Urban Institute Summer Academy Third-year Urban & Environmental Planning student Donta Harris has been awarded an internship with the extremely selective Washington D.C. Urban Institute Summer Academy for Public Policy Analysis and Research. Harris is one of 10 students selected for the internship from a field of 350 applicants nationwide. Harris will be in residence at the Urban Institute for eight weeks this summer, and according to the program's description, "taking classes, attending policy seminars, and conducting analyses to hone research skills while gaining exposure to a wide range of career opportunities in policy research and analysis." March 24, 2008 Alumnus, a Former CIA Officer, Returns to UVa UVa News article Jim Skove (MP'78), is a retired CIA officer who returned to the University in his 80s to take additional classes in the Citizen Scholar program. Follow the link to UVa News to read the article. February 14, 2008 Dept. of Urban + Env. Planning to Host Sustainability and Health Symposium 2/21-2/22 UVa News Article [From UVa News Services]: "The University of Virginia will hold a workshop on Feb. 21 and 22 to explore linkages between sustainability and community health in Charlottesville. The workshop is unique in that it includes multiple schools and disciplines from across University Grounds. According to Nisha Botchwey, an assistant professor of urban and environmental planning, "today’s problems are too complex to be addressed or solved by any one discipline, so we have created a forum that brings together public health, community planning, law, design and environmental science to take a holistic view of the world...." [for complete article, see UVa News]	Architectural History Architecture Landscape Architecture Urban & Environmental Planning Bachelor of Urban & Environmental Planning Master of Urban & Environmental Planning Planning Faculty Courses Student Work Institute for Environmental Negotiation Historic Preservation Certificate Program Admissions Dual Degrees Undergraduate Minors Study Abroad Continuing & Professional Education Infra/Cove/Three layers; William Morrish. View More: This Image · Faculty Portfolio Gallery
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