Student Planning Association
Introduction
The Student Planning Association (SPA) is an organization of students working toward the Masters of Community Planning (M.C.P.) degree in the Urban Studies and Planning Program at the University of Maryland. Its primary function is to promote student involvement in the continued development of the Planning program and profession, but it also provides a casual atmosphere in which students, faculty, and staff can interact socially as well as intellectually.
The SPA:
- Functions as a liaison between faculty and students, and attends monthly faculty meetings.
- Serves as the "voice" for the URSP student population.
- Plans student social activities and promotes educational activities
and lectures on campus and in the DC Metropolitan Area.
- Works to strengthen the connection between current students and program alumni.
- Selects a student representative to serve on the University's Graduate Student Government.
- Plans the URSP student trip to the American Planning Association's annual conference, held each spring.
- Appoints student representatives to attend APA meetings of the National Capital Chapter, and the Maryland Chapter.
- And much more!
SPA Officers, 2007 Term
| Dean's Advisory Board Representative | Emanuel Briggs |
| Faculty Advisory Board Representative | Brooke Taylor |
| Graduate School Government Representative | Rob Goodspeed |
| National Capital Area Chapter of the APA Representative | Tiffany Williams |
| Maryland Chapter of the APA Representative | Shannon Grevious |
Officers are elected in March each year. If you are thinking about running for office next year, and would like more information about the duties involved, please contact any of the current officers.
2007-2008 Academic Year
For SPA meeting minutes, announcements, and to subscribe to our email list, please visit our Google Group at http://groups.google.com/group/umd-planners.
Student Planning Association Newsletters
2007
January
February
March
April
May
2006
April
May
September
October
November
December
back to topActivities
Members of the SPA decide what types of group activities to hold each semester. For upcoming events, see the URSP Calendar. In the past, the SPA has organized intramural soccer games, visits to planning offices, noon-time lectures at the National Building Museum, happy hours, career workshops with alumni, and more! Recreational information can be found in Area Attractions. The Washington City Paper is a great source for music, movies, arts and events around DC. It's a weekly paper, available on Thursday afternoons in the McKeldin Library entrance, and elsewhere on and off campus.
Washington, DC has many cultural offerings, from concerts and museums to the vitality of such neighborhoods as Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Adams Morgan. And now Metro trains run until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays! Of course, there is also a lot to see and do in Baltimore, Annapolis, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Some nearby planned communities are worth visiting, including Greenbelt, Columbia, and Kentlands in Maryland, and Reston in Virginia.
Be sure to take advantage of student ticket pricing for University sporting events, and fine arts performances. The game center in Stamp Student Union has bowling, billiards, and arcade games. Happy hour specials and entertainment are offered off campus. Favorite restaurant bars in downtown College Park include The Cornerstone, R.J. Bentley's Filling Station, and Santa Fe, all near the corner of Knox Road and Baltimore Avenue. The 94th Aerosquadron (5240 Calvert Rd) at the College Park Airport is also an option, which has a dance floor and DJ. Other dance clubs nearby include Cuzco II (2051 E. University Blvd) that has live Latin bands most weekend nights, and the Millennium (1511 E. University Blvd) that has African and Cuban music.
Other Organizations
Professional Organizations for Planners
American Planning Association (APA) is a non-profit public interest and research organization representing 30,000 practicing planners, officials, and citizens involved with urban and rural planning issues. The organization has 46 regional chapters and 17 divisions of specialized planning interests. The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is APA's professional and educational component, certifying planners who have met specific educational and experiential criteria and passed the certification.
First year students receive a free year of membership to APA. Other full-time students interested in planning are eligible to join APA at a reduced cost. It's the best way to establish a solid professional foundation at the very beginning of your career. The New Planner, an online newsletter written by and for planning students, discusses what your peers are doing around the country. Chapter meetings and other functions foster networking and learning about planning in the real world. When you submit your membership form, remember to also join your local APA chapter, either the National Capital Area Chapter, or the Maryland Chapter.
University of Maryland Organizations
Graduate Student Government (GSG) ensures that University of Maryland graduate concerns and opinions are represented on campus. The goals of GSG are to provide a measure of independent attention to university policies and services that affect graduate students, emphasize and encourage the growth of departmental grad organizations, and encourage a greater sense of community among graduate students. You are invited to social events organized by the GSG; there are several each semester. In the spring, the GSG co-sponsors Graduate Research Interaction Day (GRID). Our current URSP student representative on GSG is Sebastian Oliva. He attends monthly meetings and reports to the SPA. Any graduate student is welcome to attend these meetings. The best way to get involved with GSG is to join one of the committees. Messages about GSG meetings and events are distributed to all URSP students on the e-mail list.
College Park Senate provides an opportunity for faculty, staff, students, and administrators to participate in campus governance. The primary function of the Senate is to advise the President on "any matter or concern, including but not limited to, education matters, budgetary matters, personnel matters, campus-community matters, long range plans, facilities, and faculty, staff and student affairs" (subject to the limitations imposed by laws or mandates from the University of Maryland System Board of Regents or the Chancellor). As of now, URSP is not represented on the College Park Senate, so we welcome interested students to join!