Planetizen Courses is pleased to announce a new Planning Commissioner Training series, designed to offer immersive but accessible training on the essential skills and concepts for planning commissioners. Planetizen Courses has partnered with instructors from the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension to offer this online video version of MSU’s pioneering Citizen Planners Program, designed to offer training relevant to commissioners in every U.S. jurisdiction.

The Planning Commissioner Training series bridges the gaps between professional planning practice and public understanding. In their oversight and advisory role, planning commissioners serve as one of the key links between planners and the public. A better informed, better-trained population of planning commissioners is essential to a more effective planning and approval process. When citizens and professional planners collaborate effectively, the entire community stands to benefit.

“Citizen planners are essential to planning processes in local governments all over the country,” says Planetizen Editorial Director James Brasuell. “An online training course can help these planning commissioners prepare for the technical and political challenges they will encounter in service to their communities.”  

For a limited time, Planetizen Courses is offering a year-long subscription to the Planning Commissioner Training for $199 before pricing increases to $349. With the Planning Commissioner Training series, citizen planners can learn from any kind of Internet-enabled device on a number of subjects crucial to the effective and efficient practice of planning:

• The ethics and legal framework of planning
• The procedures associated with a planning official’s job
• Every step in the planning and zoning processes
• The tools planners use to make land use decisions
• A “roadmap” of planning processes, from the comprehensive plan to code enforcement

Video previews of the course and a detailed course outline are available at: https://courses.planetizen.com/planning-commissioner-training

Citizen planners and professional planners share a common goal of service and the improvement of their communities. The Planning Commissioner Training from Planetizen Courses and Michigan State University is designed to make those ambitions a reality.

About Planetizen

Planetizen is a fiercely independent platform that creates, curates and amplifies stories and resources to inform planning and people passionate about planning.

About Planetizen Courses

Planetizen Courses offers an independent resource for continued learning in the planning field, with more than 250 online video courses available on computer, phone, or tablet. With an expanding library of courses covering skills and concepts taught by trusted professional planners, Planetizen Courses teaches the fundamentals and the cutting edge of planning. Affordable subscriptions are available at annual or monthly rates.

About MSU Extension

Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives by bringing the vast knowledge resources of MSU directly to individuals, communities, and businesses. 

Press Contact

Lee Flannery, lee@planetizen.com
877-260-7526 x117