Attending the American Planning Association (APA) National Conference 2023

Amount Awarded: $34,305.00 

Academic Year: 2022-2023 

Implementation: April 2023

Full Application: Link

Categories: Built Environment Campus and Community Engagement Student Life 

This grant provided Urban Planning Club members with the opportunity to attend the American Planning Association (APA) National Conference in Philadelphia. Up to 20 Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy (UEPP) students were given the opportunity to talk to professional planners and government officials from across the nation to expand their perspectives and build professional opportunities. Students were given the opportunity to present several posters educating government officials and planning professionals on the importance of a deep analysis of environmental policy, climate change adaptation, and housing needs in their communities. Following the conference, the UEPP students were able to share their experiences with the greater WWU community and bring attention to the Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy department.  

The WWU Urban Planning club (members of which attended the conference) aims to bring awareness to the following goals on a local and national level: 

• Climate change adaptation and resilience 

• Environmental sustainability 

• Housing affordability, accessibility, and diversity 

These goals are best represented in sustainable cities and communities. Western is a small university, and students are only exposed to what our university and this region can expose them to; however, traveling to the national conference expanded their perspectives and gave them opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise had. They were able to bring professional experience back with them to improve the Urban Planning program, as well as their own professional lives.