Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning

Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning
Name	Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning
Founded	0 1959
Location	United States
Focus	Urban planning education and research
Website	https://www.acsp.org/

Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning is the primary scholarly and educational society for the field of urban planning in North America. Founded in 1959, it serves as an umbrella organization for universities offering planning degrees, fostering the advancement of education, research, theory, and practice. The association connects educators, researchers, students, and practitioners to strengthen the intellectual foundation of the discipline and address critical societal challenges.

History

The organization was established in 1959 by a group of leading planning educators, including Harvey S. Perloff of the University of California, Los Angeles and Frederick J. Adams from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Its formation responded to the post-World War II expansion of planning education and the need for a dedicated forum for academic exchange. Early meetings were often held in conjunction with the American Institute of Planners, a professional practice organization. A significant milestone was the 1973 founding of its flagship journal, the Journal of the American Planning Association, initially published in partnership with the American Planning Association. Over subsequent decades, it has grown to encompass a diverse range of planning specializations, from environmental planning to community development, reflecting the evolution of the field itself.

Organization and governance

The association is governed by an elected Board of directors led by a President and Vice President, who are typically senior faculty from member institutions. Key administrative functions are managed by an Executive Director and a central office. Its structure includes numerous standing committees focused on areas such as awards, diversity, international initiatives, and student affairs. The membership is organized into several Interest Groups, such as those for Planning and the Black Community, Global Planning Educators, and Planning and Women, which provide specialized forums for collaboration. Major decisions are ratified at the annual Business Meeting held during its principal conference.

Activities and programs

Its premier event is the annual ACSP Annual Conference, which attracts hundreds of scholars and students for paper presentations, panel discussions, and workshops. The association administers several prestigious awards, including the Paul Davidoff Award for social advocacy, the Chester Rapkin Award for the best article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research, and the Student Award for the best master's thesis. It actively promotes diversity through programs like the Faculty Development Mentorship Program and the G. Holmes Perkins Award for distinguished leadership. Additional activities include organizing doctoral colloquiums, sponsoring regional workshops, and engaging in policy dialogues with entities like the American Planning Association and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Publications

The association publishes two major peer-reviewed journals: the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER) and Planning Theory & Practice. JPER, established in 1981, is a core outlet for scholarly research on planning pedagogy and methodology. It also produces the ACSP Update newsletter, conference proceedings, and occasional special reports or anthologies. Many influential texts and debates in the field, such as those concerning communicative planning theory and spatial justice, have been disseminated through its publications. The editorial boards of its journals include leading scholars from institutions like Cornell University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of British Columbia.

Member institutions

Membership is institutional, comprising over 100 universities in the United States and Canada that offer planning degrees accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. This includes major research universities such as the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Michigan, Rutgers University, and the University of Toronto, as well as many comprehensive state and private institutions. Member schools offer a wide array of degree programs, from Bachelor of Urban Planning to Doctor of Philosophy in planning. The collective faculty and students from these institutions represent the vast majority of academic planning activity in North America.

Impact and recognition

The association is widely recognized as the definitive voice for planning academia, shaping curricula and research agendas across the continent. Its accreditation guidance through the Planning Accreditation Board ensures educational standards, while its conferences and journals set the intellectual direction for the field. It has played a crucial role in legitimizing planning as a distinct academic discipline, separate from but connected to fields like geography, public policy, and architecture. The work of its members frequently informs planning practice and public policy, influencing debates on issues from climate change adaptation to affordable housing and transportation equity.

Category:Urban planning organizations Category:Educational organizations based in the United States Category:Professional associations based in the United States