Business Development for Planners can help you succeed in a difficult economy

If your business or career is doing far better than you could expect in this difficult economy, congratulations. If not, consider enrolling in Business Development for Planners.

This Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program Deep Learning course, running from November 3 to December 18, is designed to help planning professionals learn better ways to get contracts and clients.  It's not just for private sector professionals. Participants will learn better ways to put together a team, respond to agency requests, write proposals and prepare for contracting interviews. The skills and tools you can learn in the class can also help you build relationships with funders and secure more grants and contracts. Plus, if you want to go into the private sector, you'll be a greater advantage if you can show you know how to generate more revenue.

The course is taught by Linda Amato, an independent consultant who for years was a successful planner in Jones and Stokes, one of the biggest planning firms in the West Coast.  Business Development for Planners is eligible for 20 hours toward a Bloustein Professional Certificate in Leadership and Professional Practice.  It is also eligible for 14 AICP Certification Maintenance credits.

• Learn more about the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program
• Learn more about Bloustein Professional Certificates
• See other upcoming courses from BOCEP and the Professional Development Institute

Or contact Programs Manager Swena Gulati by email or at 732-932-3822, x636

Read more...

BOCEP scholarships: Same amount, but fewer of them

Because of economic pressures, the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program has to cut back on the number of large scholarships available per course.

For all Deep Learning courses beginning in September:

• There will be only three (3) scholarships of $145  (Course fee with this scholarship: $150)
• There will be only three (3) scholarships of $85 (Course fee with this scholarship: $210)
• There will be only four (4) scholarships of $50  (Course fee with this scholarship: $245)

Everyone who subscribes to the PDI Newsletter is eligible for any of these scholarships. Scholarships will be given on a first come, first served basis to the first 10 people who register for a course and request a particular scholarship.  The only exception is a $100 scholarship available to members of the following groups:

*American Planning Association Latinos and Planning division

*American Planning Association Planning and the Black Community division

*American Planning Association Planning and Women division

*The Leading Institute Network

 

There is no limit to the number of scholarships for members of these groups.

To find out if a scholarship for a class is available, please read the PDI Newsletter or contact PDI Program Manager Swena Gulati .  We also provide updates through Twitter and Facebook.  

Learn more about the Professional Development Institute (and learn how to subscribe to the free newsletter)

Learn more about the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program

Read more...

Now available: Professional Certificate in Cultural Planning and Development

If you're a busy person who wants to build your expertise in cultural planning or development, consider taking Deep Learning courses from the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program (BOCEP).

BOCEP is offering at least four courses in arts-based economic and community development between September 2010 and July 2011.  All Deep Learning courses are online and instructor-led:

• Cultural Economic Development Studio, September 15 to October 23, 2010 
• Site Planning Analysis, November 3 to December 18, 2010, 
• Leadership for Cultural Planning, January 5 to February 12, 2011 
• Cultural Heritage Tourism Planning, February 23 to April 2, 2011

At least two more courses are in development for Spring and Summer 2011.

These courses are practical, interactive and convenient.  They are designed to help you choose better strategies for connecting the arts with community and economic development.  The courses are for busy people who don't have the time or resources to commit to many meetings, but want a lot more than they get in conferences or one-day workshops.   There are no required meetings, but you get the time and opportunity to share ideas with professionals and other smart people from around the United States.

In a Deep Learning course, you learn in several ways -- engaging in online discussions with other smart professionals; getting guidance from the instructor, a seasoned professional who also leads the conversations among classmates; taking quizzes to test your learning; or in some classes, working on real projects for real clients.  In previous urban design studio courses, learners have created a form-based code for a commercial corridor in Virginia and a transit-oriented design plan for Perth Amboy, NJ.

Learners who pass at least three courses can earn a Bloustein Professional Certificate of Completion, and earn hours toward a Master Practitioner or Expert Practitioner Professional Certificate.

Every urban design course is also eligible for 14 American Institute of Certified Planners Certification Maintenance credits.

BOCEP is produced by the Professional Development Institute of Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.  Bloustein is one of the top schools and leading centers of planning knowledge in the United States.

For more information on urban design or any other Deep Learning courses, please visit the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program or contact Program Manager Swena Gulati by email or at 732-932-3822, x636.

Read more...

New Jersey Planning Law rescheduled to be more convenient

To make it easier for those taking the New Jersey Professional Planner exam to retain what they learn in New Jersey Planning Law, we are moving the start date of the class.

New Jersey Planning Law will now run from September 29 to November 10.  Learners in this Deep Learning course can now move directly from the class to the test. This should help in their learning retention of the material, and thus help their chances of passing the exam.

New Jersey Planning Law is the only online course for planners that focuses on land use law in New Jersey.  Taught by Brent Barnes, Director of Statewide Planning for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the course covers the key topics covered in the exam: Municipal Land Use Law, Redevelopment Law, and the Council on Affordable Housing.

It's not only test takers who can benefit from the class.  New Jersey Planning Law can help placebuilders who want to work more effectively in the state, as well as planners and lawyers who got their licenses more than five years ago.  A number of land use statutes have changed or been modified since then. (Placebuilders are planners, architects, civil engineers, community and economic development professionals and anyone who works to improve quality of life in communities.)

Learn more about New Jersey Planning Law.

New Jersey Planning Law is one of more than 20 Deep Learning courses offered by the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program. (BOCEP)  The courses cover topics in

• Community and economic development
• Cultural planning and development
• Leadership and professional practice
• Planning law and legal issues
• Urban design and placemaking

BOCEP is produced by the Professional Development Institute of Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Learn more about the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program

Read more...

Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program offers Professional Certificate in Urban Design and Placemaking

If you're a busy person who wants to build your expertise in urban design o placemaking, consider taking Deep Learning courses from the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program (BOCEP).

BOCEP is offering at least four courses in urban design between September 2010 and July 2011.  All Deep Learning courses are online and instructor-led:

*Form Based Codes Studio, September 15 to October 23, 2010
*Site Planning Analysis, November 3 to December 18, 2010,
*Urban Design Analysis, January 5 to February 12, 2011
*Introduction to New Urbanism, February 23 to April 2, 2011



At least two more courses are in development for Spring and Summer 2011.


These courses are practical, interactive and convenient.  They are designed for busy people who don't have the time or resources to commit to many meetings, but want a lot more than they get in conferences or one-day workshops.   There are no required meetings, but you get the time and opportunity to share ideas with professionals and other smart people from around the United States.

In a Deep Learning course, you learn in several ways -- engaging in online discussions with other smart professionals; getting guidance from the instructor, a seasoned professional who also leads the conversations among classmates; taking quizzes to test your learning; or in some classes, working on real projects for real clients.  In previous urban design studio courses, learners have created a form-based code for a commercial corridor in Virginia and a transit-oriented design plan for Perth Amboy, NJ.

Learners who pass at least three courses can earn a Bloustein Professional Certificate of Completion, and earn hours toward a Master Practitioner or Expert Practitioner Professional Certificate.

Every urban design course is also eligible for 14 American Institute of Certified Planners Certification Maintenance credits.

BOCEP is produced by the Professional Development Institute of Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.  Bloustein is one of the top schools and leading centers of planning knowledge in the United States.

For more information on urban design or any other Deep Learning courses, please visit the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program or contact Program Manager Swena Gulati by email or at 732-932-3822, x636.

Read more...

Housing Scholars Program featured in Rutgers Today

New Jersey's Housing and Community Development Scholars program, a community development training program that the Professional Development Institute and The Leading Institute help facilitate, was featured in a recent issue of Rutgers Today.

The program helps 30 to 45 college and graduate school students build their skills and knowledge in community development.  Students -- known as scholars -- spend a week in a bootcamp-style training program developing a revitalization plan for a New Jersey community.  They spend the rest of the summer interning at a nonprofit or governmental community development or social service agencies throughout New Jersey. The program is sponsored by the Wachovia Foundation and the New Jersey State Department of Community Affairs.

This year, the Scholars produced -- in less than a week -- a revitalization plan for the Greater Dublin neighborhood of Perth Amboy. Last year, the Scholars created a plan for North Elizabeth in Elizabeth.

Working with the lead trainers from The Nishuane Group in Montclair, NJ, The Professional Development Institute and The Leading Institute help design and facilitate the weeklong training program. PDI staff also prepare the final plan to deliver to the client.  PDI and TLI have been involved with the program since 2009.

Among the PDI and TLI affiliated professionals who helped design and facilitate the bootcamp were:
*Michele Delisfort, Principal, The Nishuane Group, and Chair, Professional Development Institute Industry Council
*Lee Edgecombe, Principal, The Edgecombe Group (of Hyattsville, MD) and instructor in the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program
*Swena Gulati, PDI Programs Manager
*Leonardo Vazquez, Director, Professional Development Institute and Director, The Leading Institute

Read more...

BOCEP announces 2010-2011 Deep Learning course schedule

From September 2010 to June 2011, the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program will be offering 24 courses and a new professional certificate track in cultural planning and development.

BOCEP Deep Learning combines the convenience of traditional online courses, the real-world concerns of training sessions and the educational quality of graduate school classes.  BOCEP Deep Learning is designed to help the best and brightest professionals in urban planning and public affairs get smarter.

Each course is $295, and is either eligible or will be submitted for 14 AICP Certification Maintenance credits.  This year, BOCEP will pursue continuing education credits from other professional associations, such as the American Society of Landscape Architects. Every Deep Learning course earns 20 hours toward a Bloustein Professional Certificate. Scholarships of up to $145 are available for every course.


In 2010-2011, BOCEP will offer five professional certificate tracks:

• Cultural Community and Economic Development focuses on integrating arts and culture with urban planning. In many of these courses, cultural professionals and public affairs professionals will work together to address real issues facing real communities.  This course track is offered in partnership with the Professional Development Institute's Arts Build Communities initiative.
• Economic and Community Development focuses on improving quality of life and building prosperity in communities.  Courses in this track will help anyone who works at the neighborhood to city scale.
• Leadership and Professional Practice helps learners become more effective at their craft, and build their skills to lead groups, organizations and communities in problem-solving. 
• Courses in Planning Law and Legal Issues explore current topics in land use planning.  In at least one course, learners will learn how to draft ordinances and regulations for their communities.
• Urban Design and Placemaking focuses on physical planning, architecture, and the strategies that turn spaces into thriving places.

Here is the current list of courses being offered in each course track:

• Cultural Community and Economic Development
• Cultural Economic Development Studio I -- Market analysis
• Cultural Economic Development Studio II -- Developing untraditional art spaces
• Leadership for Cultural Planning
• Cultural Heritage Tourism Planning Studio
• Programming Cultural Uses
• Cultural Community Development Studio
• Economic and Community Development
• Housing Market Analysis
• Affordable Housing Strategies
• Economic Development Studio
• Retail Market Analysis
• Economic Development Analysis
• Pro Formas
• Leadership and Professional Practice
• Project Management for Urban Planning
• Introduction to Urban Planning
• Professional's Writing Studio
• Introduction to Environmental Planning
• Long Range Planning
• Business Development
• Planning Law and Legal Issues
• New Jersey Planning Law (offered in both September and February)
• Ethics in Planning and Land Use Regulation
• Current Trends in Land Use Law
• Law and Sustainability Studio
• Environmental Planning Law
• Urban Design and Placemaking
• Form Based Codes Studio
• Site Planning Analysis 
• Urban Design Analysis
• Introduction to New Urbanism
• Urban Design Studio

For more on any of these courses, please visit the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program website

Read more...