The Planning Accreditation Board, the body tasked with the accreditation process of planning programs at both the graduate and undergraduate level, will update its standards over the next month.
Cassie Owens report on the diversity implications of new accreditation standards announced by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) in September, beginning a month-long discussion period this week before they are potentially approved. The standards currently up for consideration would update standards last adopted in April 2012.
According to Owens, the new standards would reduce the requirements for diversity in the racial demographics of both the student body and the faculty.
For students: "Present standards mandate that programs have a student body that reflects regional demographics 'in the aggregate,' as well as established recruitment and retention tactics. They also require universities to document their diversity strategies in progress," explains Owens. The new standards "instead ask that schools 'pro-actively seek to expand opportunity for under-represented minorities…'"
Owens adds: "Faculty diversity standards were similarly rehashed. And notably, a guideline advising that faculties boast 'a range of specialized knowledge' and count alumni from a diverse assortment of universities is set to be scrapped."
The article includes reactions from planners, both in the academic and in the advocacy settings—all of which express disappointment in the changes proposed for the accreditation standards. The article also includes a few suggestions for how the diversity requirements could be improved. For the record, no representative from the PAB is quoted to explain the reasoning behind the change—the article's source on that issue is second hand.
FULL STORY: Urban Planning Faces Possible Diversity Setback

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont