#BUCPUA Student Orientation provides sense of connection, support system for new students

Anticipation and nervous excitement filled the crowded room at BUCPUA’s Fall 2016 Student Orientation. New students began the evening as strangers but ended as strong acquaintances and friends, all eager to jumpstart their academic programs and ultimately fulfill lofty aspirations in city planning and urban affairs.

Students attentively listen to the Program's academic and professional offerings — Students attentively listen to the Program’s academic and professional offerings

Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Practice, Dr. Dutta-Koehler, welcomes the students

On September 7^th, a record-setting 31 new students were introduced to the Program by Professor Madhu Dutta-Koehler. The orientation kicked off with the unique history of the Master of City Planning and Master of Urban Affairs degree programs. A review of the comprehensive academic and social resources at Boston University was also discussed. For Fall 2016, 67 MCP and MUA students are enrolled. Of these, 29 percent are full time and 71 percent are part time.

The students who attended were from all walks of life – student Elmo Wiratama (MET ’18) is from Indonesia and explained that he came because “this is the best country to learn city planning, and it faces similar problems to Indonesia.” He hopes to learn more about climate change and what planners can do to address its implications. Overall, 20 percent of students are international and 80 percent are from the United States.

The presentation listed degree requirements for a Master of City Planning and a Master of Urban Affairs; students can choose from 80 different elective courses for the Program, including environmental law and policy and urban transportation policy. On top of that, there are many external professional opportunities, including a directed internship program.

Matt Kramer (MET ’19), a 2016 graduate of the University of Rhode Island, was attracted to the large variety of courses offered by the Master of Urban Affairs degree. He said, “I got my acceptance letter and immediately knew this was where I wanted to be.”

Terrarium — Photograph by Henry Heilbroner

At the end, students took home succulents planted in Starbucks cups, a small example of sustainable planning. These living tokens will also serve as reminders of a remarkable evening throughout the students’ time at BU.

– Ines Boussebaa (CAS’16)