Leadership in the School of Public and International Affairs announced a new name for one of its longest-running programs.

The school recently renamed the Urban Affairs and Planning program to Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning to clearly convey the scope of both research activities and academic programs.

As environmental factors become increasingly relevant to communities of all shapes and sizes, the program teaches students how to navigate complex global challenges.

“The name change was inspired by our desire to better reflect the breadth and depth of our faculty and students, and in particular, the centrality of environmental policy and planning to what many of us do,” said program chair Todd Schenk.

Strong foundations

Undergraduate students can pursue degrees in one of two majors: environmental policy and planning, and smart and sustainable cities.

The program also houses two graduate degrees – a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and the urban and environmental design and planning track of the Planning, Governance, and Globalization Ph.D. program. Both accommodate full and part-time enrollment. 

Beyond these degree programs, Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning offers a variety of graduate-level certificates for those who are looking to advance their career.

Virginia Tech has offered similar programs for years, with courses covering topics such as active transportation, environmental management, land-use planning, and policy implementation.

Adapting for a sustainable future

Community planners solve challenges that require strategic and multi-faceted approaches. Understanding the needs of citizens in housing, transportation, climate resilience, and community equity requires an interconnected approach.

“Building affordable housing without considering the impacts both of and on climate change can lead to developments that are substandard for residents who can be vulnerable to climate risks,” said Schenk. “In contrast, well-designed affordable housing can greatly enhance the quality of life for residents while providing benefits to surrounding communities and the natural environment.”

Students interested in city and regional planning learn about how to address risk issues related to disaster resilience and sustainable development.

Practice makes great planners

Community engagement is at the heart of the program’s mission. Through university partnerships, students work directly with local organizations to solve real problems. 

Graduate students in the program partner with local government officials and leaders on a wide range of projects, from safer sidewalks to sustainable stormwater management.

This spring, graduate capstone student groups in Arlington collaborated with the Arlington Community Foundation, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, and Virginia Tech’s Center for Economic and Community Engagement.

Undergrad students in the program also apply course lessons to real-world experience. Senior Alison Penczak worked with the City of Richmond as a policy and planning intern this past summer.

“Classes like Collaborative Policy and Planning, as well as Transdisciplinary Problem Solving, prepared me with the skills and principles for cross-departmental/agency efforts during my internship this past summer,” she said. 

In the School of Public and International Affairs, students have access to expert faculty and a strong alumni network, opening doors for research funding, internships, and hands-on work in Virginia’s communities – and beyond.  

A reflection of reality

The program title change reflects a broader shift in society as communities address and prepare for environmental challenges. Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning students learn to address these challenges through a holistic, preventive approach.

Schenk said the name highlights the program’s intention to train students in transdisciplinary approaches. The program’s students have long been doing the work of facing climate adaptation head-on, as well as disaster resilience, sustainable development, and community wellbeing.

“As the population of urban areas continues to grow and climate disasters increase in intensity, planning processes must place sustainability at the forefront,” said Penczak.

Innovation and community are cornerstones of the Virginia Tech Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning program. Visit the program’s homepage to learn more.

Written by Paige Clayton, graduate enrollment marketing intern in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.