Course Information
College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs
Great Cities Institute
Planning Commissioner Online
PCO / Non-Credit Course
How Does PCO Work?
The Planning Commissioner Online (PCO) Program, over a 4 week period, consists of four modules:
1. Orientation - is designed to get you familiar with the classroom operation and your fellow students.
2. The Role of the Planning Commissioner - reviews duties of a planning commissioner and how to run an effective meeting
3. Addressing the Public Response - Learn how to evaluate expert testimony and gain incite from public comment
4. Making a Decision Based on the Interests of Your Community - examines development in light of your comprehensive plan
Each of these modules will be presented online under the guidance of a ULI Chicago facilitator and with the use of resource experts drawn from the ULI Chicago membership. After listening online to presentations by faculty from the University and reviewing materials provided online and in a resource CD delivered at course commencement, trainees will participate in online discussions with ULI Chicago members in disciplines they are likely to encounter in their role as commission members. The course is asynchronous and sections can be skipped, revisited, or replayed as participants deem necessary. The variety of learning methods provides an exciting educational environment that incorporates peer and expert discussion in each module.
How will it help the plan commissioner?
The program focuses on primary elements that are essential for quality plan commissioners. After the course, participants will:
* Know the elements of a proposal and their utility for the decision-making process
* Maximize the useful information gained from expert testimony
* Effectively utilize information gained from public comment and questions
* Align the decisions of your commission with the municipality’s comprehensive plan
* Recognize the various public interests in any decision before your planning commission
* Successfully develop a course of action to manage competing or conflicting interests
For additional information about the course, please click here.
Contact Hours: 20
