School of Urban and Regional Planning

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School of Urban and Regional Planning

Since 1970, our rigorous and well-focused two-year Master of Planning (M.PL.) program allows our students to develop the knowledge and skills they require to become leaders in the planning field and to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving urban environment.

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Community Life »

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

Community Life

The School of Urban and Regional Planning has a strong sense of community and a very congenial atmosphere. Students arrive at the School from destinations across Canada and from around the world. This geographically diverse student body creates a vibrant and engaging intellectual and social environment. A strong bond of friendship develops among SURP students, which lasts well beyond graduation.

A distinguishing feature of the School is the participatory mode of decision-making. Students participate fully in the running of the School, and are formally represented in the academic, budget, speakers, appointment and personnel committees, and the Board. The International Experience Awards program, which provides financial support annually to three students to go on a field trip, is funded by the School but managed entirely by students. Most of the extracurricular academic events and social functions are organized by the students. This participatory culture, together with the long hours that faculty and students spend at the School on group projects and studio assignments, are mainly responsible for the sense of community and esprit de corps that characterize the School.

SURP students are also engaged with local community organizations and projects. SURP students have been involved in planning and organizing greening events in and around campus. Every year, graduate students provide assistance to the "Lunch By George" program, which supplies almost 10,000 meals per year to some of Kingston's most vulnerable citizens. In 2006, SURP students raised over $4000 with their Gingerbread house entry as part of a charitable contest to raise funds for Kingston's Habitat for Humanity.

But it is not all work! SURP students are also engaged in a number of sporting, recreational and social events. Students plan and organize both the mid-year (winter holiday) and end-of-year parties. At these events, spouses and family members of SURP students come together in celebration of the year's achievements. Many SURP students share rental accommodations, with a few of them being the centre of infamous parties such as the SURP Halloween or outdoor BBQs.