Professional Development Institute more successful and popular in 2009

Executive summary
By any measure, PDI experienced tremendous growth in 2009.  Our website became the most visited center website connected to the Bloustein School – and one of the most visited websites in the school.  Our enrollments ballooned nearly 500% -- yes, 500% -- and the number of learners we served grew by nearly 400%.  The number of subscribers to our online newsletters grew more than 30%.  And we have been generating more revenue through contracts, grants and tuition.

All this during the worst economy since the Great Depression.

Growing presence in the planning, development and design fields
By a wide variety of measures, PDI is becoming more well-known in the fields of planning, development and design. Consider:

• PDI is the most visited website among all Bloustein School centers.  PDI’s website was viewed more than 27,000 times in 2009.  The next most visited website was visited 26,100 times.  Not counting the second-most visited website, the PDI website was viewed more than the next four most popular centers combined.
  
  
• The PDI Network grew more than 30%, from 1,336 subscribers to 1,740. The Arts Build Communities initiative, which got underway in early 2009, has 186 subscribers.  All subscribers to the PDI Network and Arts Build Communities mailing list opt into the lists.  About 94% of those who join our mailing lists remain as subscribers.
  
  
• PDI’s advertisements on Planetizen were viewed more than 19,800 times in 2009.

• PDI regularly exceeds education industry standards for readership and readership activity in online newsletters.  The open rate for PDI emails is 23%; the education industry is 19%.  The PDI click rate (that is, the number of people who click on links in emails) is 28%.  The industry standard is 15%.  Since May 2008, PDI’s newsletters and other emails have been opened 19,300 times.  There have been more than 5,300 clicks.
  
  
• We have increased the visibility of Institute with appearances and exhibits at American Planning Association annual conferences, New Jersey State League of Municipalities conference, New Jersey Redevelopment Authority Redevelopment Training Institute and other venues.
  
  
• PDI has attracted substantially more funding through grants and contracts than in years past.  For example, PDI received a $55,000 contract with the City of Linden, NJ, to prepare a city-wide vision plan.  PDI received a second-year grant of $7,000 from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts to continue its work with Arts Build Communities.  This is a relatively large amount given the significant cutbacks in state funding in 2009.

More continuing education, more participants
In 2009, PDI expanded its portfolio of online continuing education by offering more Learning Labs (1 to 1.5 hour webinars) and Smart Conversations (1 hour interviews broadcast over the web.)  PDI handled a record number of enrollments (200) for BOCEP Deep Learning classes in the academic year ending June 30, 2009.

Other highlights of the year:

• PDI handled nearly 1,100 enrollments in BOCEP Deep Learning courses, Learning Labs and Smart Conversations, as well as Leading from the Middle. This represents an increase of 499% over the 2008 total of 183.  (In 2009, PDI began offering Learning Labs and Smart Conversations on a regular basis.)
  
  
• There were a total of 850 learners in 2009 in all PDI and TLI programs, a 388% increase over the 2008 total of 174.
  
  
• PDI created a new Professional Certificate program to help learners demonstrate their competency in various planning and development topics.  The Certificates range from Certificates of Completion, which requires 60 hours of course work, to Expert Practitioner, to requires 180 hours of course work plus the completion of two papers.
  
  
• PDI developed more online studio courses for 2010.  At least four courses offered by the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program in 2010 will give learners the opportunity to get hands-on experience by working with planning clients on real planning issues.

• PDI Director Leonardo Vazquez was an instructor in the Wachovia Housing Scholars program and the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority Training Institute.

Practical research to help leaders
PDI launched the Arts Build Communities initiative to help leaders of communities and cultural organizations make more cost-effective decisions connecting arts to community and economic development.  Arts Build Communities produced a report on creative vitality indexes around the United States and will be producing the New Jersey Creative Vitality Index in early 2010.  The New Jersey CVI will explore changes in the creative economy throughout and within the state.

Sharing knowledge through presentations and panel discussions
PDI continued to share knowledge and insights through presentations at American Planning Association conferences.  The conferences are:

• “Connecting Cultural, Community and Economic Development in New Jersey,” American Planning Association New Jersey chapter annual conference, 2009
• “Navigating Careers in a Down Economy,” American Planning Association New Jersey chapter annual conference, 2009
• “Navigating Careers in a Down Economy,” American Planning Association national annual conference, 2009.
• PDI Director Leonardo Vazquez also guest lectured at community development and urban planning courses at Bloustein and Milano, The New School of Urban Policy and Management.
  

Publications
PDI maintained an active publication schedule.  We created two blogs: PDI Advisor and NJ ArtiFacts.  PDI Advisor provides professional development advice to planners and related professionals.  NJ ArtiFacts offers news, commentary and published research on arts, planning, and community and economic development.

Our list of articles and essays published in 2009 include:                      

• “Cultural Competency: A Critical Skill Set for 21st century Planner,” Planetizen, December 2009
• “Cultural and Creative Vitality Indexes: Analysis and Ideas for New Jersey,” Professional Development Institute: Arts Build Communities, July 2009
• “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing,” Integral, Spring 2009.
• “How Frederick Law Olmsted Got the Central Park Job,” Planetizen, November 2008.  http://www.planetizen.com/node/35877.  Republished in Landscape Architecture, January 2009.

Technical assistance (New and ongoing projects)
The Professional Development Institute is more than a research and continuing education center.  We maintain an active consultancy.  This helps our staff remain up-to-date and connected the most current issues in professional practice.  It also provides opportunities to find and create "teaching moments" through which we can further build the capacity of professionals and leaders.



Are new and ongoing projects include:

·        Linden Strategic Vision Plan, Linden, NJ.  In partnership with The Leading Institute, PDI staff are helping the City of Linden build a strategic vision for the next decade.  Linden, in Union County, is undergoing a significant transition from a mostly blue-collar community to one with a high diversity of occupations, industries and incomes.  Project budget: $55,000

·        Cultural Tourism Master Plan, Trenton, NJ.  In partnership with The Leading Institute, PDI staff are helping New Jersey’s capital city become a stronger destination for arts and cultural activities, and in a way that respects and benefits Trenton’s residents.  Project budget: $15,000

The PDI Team

The work of the Professional Development Institute was made possible by a number of dedicated individuals.

Staff

    * Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP, Director
    * Swena Gulati, Programs Manager
    * Dordaneh Davari, Program Manager
    * Kate Lawrence, Coordinator

Intern

    * Jasmine Smith

 Consultants

    * Juan Ayala
    * Barbara Heisler-Williams
    * Martin Robins
    * Deborah Schultz

 Advisors

    * Michele Delisfort, Principal, The Nishuane Group, PDI Industry Council Chair
    * Anna Aschkenes, Executive Director, Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission
    * Joseph Barris, Supervising Planner, Monmouth County Planning Board
    * William Dressel, Executive Director, New Jersey League of Municipalities
    * Mary Eileen Fouratt, President, Association of County Cultural and Heritage Agencies
    * Norman Glickman, University Professor, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    * Stuart Meck,  Associate Research Professor and Director, Center for Professional Practice, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University
    * Ann Marie Miller, Executive Director, ArtPride New Jersey
    * Isabel Nazario, Associate Vice President for Public Partnerships in the Arts and Humanities,  Rutgers University
    * Karen Pinzolo, Arts Plan NJ Implementation Coordinator
    * Niquole Primiani, Program Officer, New Jersey State Council on the Arts
    * Zunilda Rodriguez, Monmouth County Planning Board
    * Steve Runk, Executive Director, New Jersey State Council on the Arts
    * Lois Saperstein, Executive Director, Center for the Arts, Rutgers University
    * Isha Vyas,  Historic Services Coordinator, Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission

Additional organizational partners

    * American Planning Association New Jersey Chapter
    * American Planning Association New York Metro Chapter
    * Langan Engineering & Environmental Services