MSU Extension MSU Extension Citizen Planner Program

The Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Citizen Planner Program offers land use education for locally appointed and elected planning officials, zoning administrators and interested residents throughout Michigan.

Citizen Planner is a time-tested educational program proven to be comprehensive without being overwhelming. The program is delivered locally to provide a convenient way for busy community leaders to obtain the latest technical knowledge and the proficiency they need to perform their duties more effectively and responsibly. 

Why Citizen Planner?

Local officials have a responsibility to help their communities manage the impacts of economic change and be part of the solutions to challenges their communities face. Local communities that proactively plan to succeed in the New Economy can improve their quality of life and overall sustainability. The Citizen Planner Program empowers local officials to shape the future of their communities by providing them with the tools and education they need to lead. 

MSU Extension awards Citizen Planner Classroom Program participants a certificate of completion. 

Citizen Planner Curriculum

Classroom Program

Instructors for the training program include MSU faculty, MSU Extension educators, planners and attorneys. The classroom program consists of six sessions:

• Understanding the Planning and Zoning Context: Learn the legal framework for your role, know the sources and limitations of planning and zoning authority, and explore your understanding of ethical decision-making.
• Planning for the Future of Your Community: Recognize the function and importance of a master plan, know the statutory and general process for developing one, and understand the master plan's relationship to zoning. 
• Implementing the Plan with Zoning: Discover the importance of zoning, learn how zoning is administered and gain confidence in your zoning reviews, including site plans.
• Making Zoning Decisions: Know how to adopt and amend a zoning ordinance, understand the role of the zoning board of appeals and obtain skills in basic property development methods.
• Using Innovative Planning and Zoning: Reflect on the ways your community has changed over time, learn innovative urban and rural planning and zoning techniques, and strategize with placemaking and design-based solutions for local and regional success in the New Economy.
• Successfully Filling Your Role: Strengthen your skills in analyzing how to proceed through an ethical issue, reinforce your ability to apply standards to your decision-making and know when to ask for help.

Also Available: Citizen Planner Online

Citizen Planner Online includes similar content to the classroom program, but it is offered in a flexible, self-paced, online format. Citizen Planner Online is different from other courses--the concepts are conveyed through stories about issues unfolding in the fictitious community called Spartyville. The situations Spartyville planning officials face are similar to those many communities must address. The online series of seasons and episodes follows a creative storyline that all learners will enjoy. All you need is a broadband internet connection and a computer, laptop or tablet. The online version of the program includes access to:

• Resources similar to the classroom program.
• Relevant web resources, decision-making tools and online exercises.

The Master Citizen Planner Credential

Participants who complete the Citizen Planner Program or Citizen Planner Online are eligible to earn the Master Citizen Planner (MCP) credential. In addition to completing the course, the MCP credential requires passing an online exam and capstone presentation, and meeting annual continuing education requirements. 

Master Citizen Planners may receive incentives, such as future course discounts, exclusive training opportunities, and scholarships for annual conferences and regional training offered by partnering organizations. The MCP designation is an achievement recognized as the standard of excellence among planning officials and community leaders in Michigan.

For More Information

To learn more about the Citizen Planner Classroom Program or to register for Citizen Planner Online, contact the Citizen Planner program coordinator at 517-353-6472 or cplanner@msu.edu. Visit citizenplanner.msu.edu.