here. - Center for Rural Design - University of Minnesota

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTACenter for Rural DesignCollege of DesignCollege of Food, Agricultural andNatural Resource Sciences277 Coffey Hall1420 Eckles AvenueSt. Paul, MN, 55108612-624-9273612-624-1704 (fax)http://ruraldesign.cfans.umn.edu/April 2010 Rural Design Certificate Survey Results1. Are you interested in gaining a professional certificate in rural design or satisfyingcontinuing education requirements?Answer OptionsResponsePercentResponseCountNot interested 21.6% 61Interested 41.7% 118Very interested 21.2% 60Not sure 15.9% 45answered question 283skipped question 32. What professional certificate or license maintenance units are of interest to you?Answer OptionsResponsePercentResponseCountAmerican Institute of Architects Learning Unit 51.7% 138American Society of Landscape Architects ContinuingEducation4.9% 13American Institute of Certified Planners MaintenanceUnit39.7% 106American Society of Civil Engineers ContinuingEducation0.7% 2University of Minnesota Continuing Education Unit 7.1% 19Other. Please specify 9.7% 26answered question 267skipped question 19Number 2. Other. Please specify1 Canadian architect and landscape architecture bodies2 na3 GBCI CE (LEED credentials)4 Green Building Certification Institute (for LEED professionals)5 MN planning association6 n/a since none of these really pertain to my current career7 USGBC - LEED8 LEED9 LEED10 MN Architect Cont Ed, USGBC Cont Ed11 USGBC/LEED; Minnesota AELSLAGID professional development hours12 Council of Educational Facility Planners (CEFPI)13 LEED14 Construction Specifications Institute learning unit

15 Real Estate Continuing Education credit16 green building council17 State of Minnesota Cont. Ed18 Personal interest and professional development19 LEED20 CIP?OPPI Maintenance Units21 Certified Floodplain Manager22 Tennessee Planning Commission requirements could be any of these23 State continuing ed req.: landscape arch; continuing legal requirements24 Virginia Assoc of Certified Zoning Adminastrator (VAZO)25 Building Enclosure Technology and Environment Continuing Education26 Colorado ranch land preservation3. How much are you willing to pay per maintenance unit?Answer OptionsResponsePercentResponseCountLess than $50 67.6% 184$100 - $50 32.7% 89More than $100 3.3% 9answered question 272skipped question 144. How much time are you willing to commit to a class?Answer OptionsResponsePercentResponseCountNot sure 24.5% 671 – 2 hours 33.2% 912 -3 hours 26.3% 72More than 3 hours 18.2% 50answered question 274skipped question 125. How likely would you be to enroll in an online class?Answer OptionsResponsePercentResponseCountVery unlikely 12.9% 36Somewhat unlikely 16.1% 45Somewhat likely 44.4% 124Very likely 25.4% 71Not sure 2.9% 8answered question 279skipped question 7

6. How interested are you in gaining insight into issues challenging rural areas anddeveloping creative solutions?Answer OptionsResponsePercentResponseCountNot interested 9.0% 25Interested 46.4% 129Very interested 39.9% 111Not sure 5.0% 14answered question 278skipped question 87. How likely would you be to enroll in a professionally accredited, online class focusedon issues challenging rural areas and developing creative solutions?Answer OptionsResponsePercentResponseCountVery unlikely 15.4% 43Somewhat unlikely 22.1% 62Somewhat likely 37.5% 105Very likely 21.4% 60Not sure 3.9% 11answered question 280skipped question 68. There are a wide variety of issues challenging rural areas. What field(s) encompassingthe issues challenging rural areas would you like to learn more about in order to developcreative solutions? More than one field may be checked.Answer OptionsResponsePercentResponseCountAgriculture 35.7% 96Food systems 31.2% 84Regional planning approaches 72.9% 196Regional recreation and open space 44.6% 120The built environment and economic development 69.1% 186Housing 42.8% 115Water issues 46.8% 126Biofuels and alternative energy production 28.3% 76Ecosystem health 33.8% 91Environmental Stewardship 46.1% 124Sustainability 60.6% 163Small town historic preservation, adaptive reuse, smallscaleurban planning, economic development, and design 83.3% 224for healthOther. Please Specify 33answered question 269skipped question 17

Number 8. Other. Please Specify1 Architecture of rural areas and farming. architecture identity2 bicycle and pedestrian facilities and aging populations3 Transportation4 Realistic transit options/opportunities in suburban and rural areas.5 Transit & Transportation Planning6 transportationEncouraging rural communities to reduce urban sprawl, carry out compact development, and7 preserve the surrounding farmland.8 Transportation9 Design Standards in small towns10 higher quality commercial development11 Access to services, transportationForestry, Mining, Aquaculture, Tourism, Recreation12 Seems like this list could grow further13 I hope if you develop such a program that Agriculture would be a key component.Human, animal and environmental health; Architecture and landscape connections; Regional14 economics15 Revitalization / Community NetworksBIG interest in biodiversity and food systems / ie, Iowa's and Oregon's national leadingcurricula on biodiversity and sustainability- National Wildlife Refuge work opened the16 horizon as well as Earth Day in 1970.17 None,Transportation- roads/cost/energy used; commuting to urban areas- work, commerce, etc;18 School systems- Maybe this is part of sustainability topic?19 Educational facilitiesEnergy production and its impact on rural land use patterns (wind farms, solar arrays, nuclearenergy production facility location, coal mining and coal power plant impacts. Also I wouldadd transmission lines and delivery systems of energy production and its impact on rural20 lands.21 Long term operation and maintenance - physical and financial implications22 EducationSite specific opportunities. Identification of public / private partnerships, project23 opportunities.Historic preservation (barns, town halls, old schoolhouses), adaptive reuse, and economic24 development as applied to a strictly rural landscape.25 rural colleges and universities26 These are all critical topics that we deal with everyday27 Watershed Management, Alternative Energy, Oil, Gas and Mineral Extraction28 Alternative Energy (Wind, Solar, Geothermal, Cogeneration, etc) Commercial "Farms"Installation of fire sprinklers in new construction in rural areas because most fires result in a29 total loss, which are not positive to the economy or environment.30 Legal related issues and growth management31 Septic/Regional Sewer systems; Rural road design and funding1. Funding opportunities for projects (small town and rural areas tend to need financialassistance for their projects)2. Legal / political assistance - designers should be armed with knowledge of the general legalissues involved.3. "How To" Tools to enable rural areas and small towns. They often handle designthemselves because they don't have the resources to hire others -- guidelines and case studiesare needed for guidance -- or perhaps for education to convince why they should hire a32 designer.Pastural lands and other ranching issues; recreation on public lands; use of water ways (and/or33 other public resources) that pass thru private lands; in deed historic preservation.

9. Your input is very important to the development of the Rural DesignCertificate. Please use the below space to provide comments orsuggestions.ResponseAnswer OptionsCount76answered question 76skipped question 210NumberResponse DateResponseTextNumber 9. Response TextI would like to be kept informed about the possibility of online courses. Please add me to1 your mailing list if you have one. krista.duynisveld@gmail.comI think a clear definition of Rural is in order. As a fringe city, we are planning for newregional growth and on the other hand factions want to preserve ag and open space. How dowe realistically do both. Density increases certainly will help, but is the market willing to gothere? Maybe the new housing market will. Some realistic discussions on this topic would begood. Maybe it will get people thinking how do things differently and for the better as we slog2 our way out of this recession.While I'm interested in the topic, it doesn't really apply to my current employment3 (metropolitan community planning). Thus, not sure I'd pursue further education in this.More work needs to be done to dispel the notion that rural non-farm subdivisions constitute"economic development". More information needs to be provided so we have the tools towork with communities and counties to promote farmland preservation and compact urban4 development rather than sprawling and random rural development.I am very interested in this program. If you would like more feedback or assistance as youdevelop this, please feel free to contact me at 952-955-2681. My name is Crystal Foust and I5 am a planner with the City of Watertown.I worked in a developing community that had the Metropolitan Urban Service Area lineadvancing through. Planning issues included (allowed) density of development, individualonsite sewage treatment systems, feedlots and wellhead protection and aggregate resource6 extraction and protection.The concept of sustainability is becoming increasingly associated with urban development.Rural sustainability, reflecting resource flows and waste sinks, needs to be effectively7 addressed so that "rural green" is legitimately recognized.8 Very interested in this project as a practicing planner in rural MN"Rural" means many things. No municipal utilities. Large properties. Agriculture. Antigovernmentregulation ("no need for planning"). Not necessarily the same issues. You may be9 biting off more than can be chewed.While rural land makes up the bulk of the country it also represents the converse, relative topopulation. I see the primary issues facing rural areas also inform urban/suburban areas:10 development sprawl and inefficient use of unsustainable resources.11 This is a great concept. I am looking forward to seeing what develops with this program12 Interesting idea, difficult to conceptualize.Look very hard at policies for real rural areas with significant agricultural resources andhousing density at less than one dwelling unit per 40-acres versus so called rural areas justoutside the urban service area of a MSMA where the primary crop is 2.5-acre housingdevelopments. These are two very different scenarios yet both fall under the same rural13 scenario title.I am wondering why this is being developed at this time? Don't current registrations cover14 this?15 Make it fit a professional's schedule - nights, online.16 This sounds interesting. Hope it comes to fruition.I've been working in rural areas throughout my career and have experience in many of theseareas -- "professionalizing" this focus area seems somewhat questionable given the amount of17 expertise that already exists among the disciplines

I strongly suggest that you coordinate development of this program not only withplanning/landscape architecture organizations but also with rural policy groups like theNebraska-based Center for Rural Affairs and a Mankato MN based rural policy organization.We could use a lot more cross breeding of LA ideas with Minnesota rural policy ideasespecially related to funding over the next 25 years from the Outdoor Heritage and Clean18 Water Legacy amendment.19 Less mandated certificate requirementsAn online program for the Rural Design Certificate would make it available worldwide and I20 encourage you to do so.One key to the field's growth is having clients who have these priorities as goals - ultimately itwill be real-world applications (and payable work) that will make this a viable field. I agree21 that it is needed and am interested in the possibilities, but clients are needed.Sounds like another waste of time and money in an otherwise tight economy. I think thearchitectural profession has far bigger problems, issues and concerns at the time. Do we really22 need something like this?23 Very relevant topic. Excited to see it being addressed.You might take a look at the Community and Regional Planning program at the University ofNebraska. They have been focusing on Rural Development, Water & Natural Resourses,Land Use Planning and Community Economic Development as well as traditional Urban24 Planning for over 30 years.25 Interesting...26 No comments27 Transportation and storage issues as related to goodsI'm not convinced that having this certificate would benefit me in any way or would impress28 prospective employers.29 NONETopic: broaching the gap between trained professionals and local and regional leaders. How tobest communicate good, sound design ideas effectively yet respectively in the current mix of30 the rural environment.I would be interested in seminar-type classes related to this field, but am too late I’m my31 career and have too little time to commit to significant class time.I think this could be a very important and effective program. Particularly because such a largepercentage of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Planners live and primarily work in the32 Twin Cities metro area.These are good issues that a lot of people don't think about, mostly because they are not33 exposed to them, or because they are too busy getting registered and maintaining their careers.34 BSDitto above. Cradle to grave curricula of public schools and public info would support ruraldevelopment. It enlists sports enthusiasts, hunters, fishing folks, etc, and contains thedamages-- highways into the wilderness areas, 4 wheelers in wildlife areas, etc. Save the35 Earth more easily and widely supported if they see it in terms of their own lives.The needs of rural areas are being met already. There are architects available all around thiscountry that are close to the rural areas. This just seems like another way to justify our36 importance.I am looking forward to seeing how this develops. The rural environment has been neglected37 by design professionals for far too long.38 How will or how should advancing technology affect life in rural areas?This could be a "next phase of my career" opportunity if/when I move away from a major39 metro area.Architecture is architecture, whether rural or urban. Please don't waste the profession's time40 in yet another certification.I probably don't know enough about this issue set to know what I should learn. It may takeeffort to describe the importance of rural design to the stakeholders before demand for41 training is established.Questions 3 & 4 are somewhat confusing. If this is a meaningful Certificate, should it beachievable in anything less than 10 - 20 hour program. Or, does it need to be 50 hours?42 Should a test be required or is just class hours sufficient?43 I think this is a very important new curriculum if it is developed and offered.44 I would highly support such a curriculum for students at the school of architecture!

45 Please note, while the subject is of interest, I’m 63 and nearing retirement.46 Certainly an interesting topic but I don't feel an additional certificate is needed.I see great potential in cultivating a cooperative effort associated with rural design. However,we must find ways to increase the awareness of what creativity and big picture planning canbring to the rural communities. Now more than ever they need a great deal of help to plan for47 the future.48 Neat idea!Development issues for small towns and rural areas are difficult to work through due tolimited available funding. Issues take a great deal of work to understand then developsolutions using available resources. Working in rural conditions requires very creativesolutions. Issues may be similar to those in densely populated areas but they are not the same.49 The tool box is the same but the tools must be used differently.I would hope that many of these classes would have instructors who have direct experiencewith rural clientele so that the instructional content does not get too academic. I am looking50 forward to learning more about this certificate and how the program develops.I feel that a historic preservation component is extremely important for a Rural DesignCertificate, otherwise we risk developing well planned suburbs instead of individual51 communities.52 Classes integrated into working projects with CRD.There is significant expertise available to the University from the members of the Small Townand Rural Areas Division of APA. As a Division Officer, I know that STaR is committed toassisting you, in any way we can, to develop a meaningful program. We have already created53 an education committee assignment for the purpose of coordination.54 This is a great idea!Will be difficult to provide meaningful certificate given the variety of broad-based issues(listed above). One cannot be an expert in all areas, therefore focusing/customizing certificateto key business segments/disciplines may be appropriate, i.e. reg. planning and design, bldg.55 design, site planning and design, economic dev'mt., social issues, historic pres., etc.MN has three distinct biomes - and they are changing. How wide of a field is in56 consideration?This is really a critical need to help small towns cope with the many challenges by providing57 resources and technical assistance.This is not a good way to get rural planners/designers involved. They barely have time to dowhat they do. You might get a few at Conference workshops, but the one offered at APA58 National this year was cancelled for lack of interest.59 Very good idea!60 very interested--hope to hear moreOne topic that is not on there gets at how to involve the public in rural areas - spread fartherapart and many with bad internet connections. Also, a real problem is large landowners vssmall landowners (who have the most clout) AND property rights advocates who oftenprevent good planning from taking place. Fiscal impacts of various solutions needs to be61 done so that we have hard facts to rely on.The course / certificate needs to be packed with practical knowledge and skills thatpractitioners can implement within their own communities. Thanks for doing this. I would be62 very interested in learning more / helping. All the best.Regarding questions 3,4 & 5, it would depend on how relevant the prospective course is likelyto be in my job. Cost is always an issue either as a reimbursable or out of pocket. The timecommitment for course during the work day could be problematic if not tied directly to work63 related activities.This is a great direction. I work as a county planner and we have worked quite a bit withurban design issues. These solutions don't work in our older, unincorporated small rural64 villages and hamlets. I would really support this kind of training.Provide a course targeted to rural municipal plan commissioners and design review committee65 members on basic planning and economic development principals.66 I have absolutely NO time to pursue something of this nature.Fire Protection needs to be addressed as a major part of rural life. People living in rural areasare twice as likely to die in a fire (U.S. Fire Administration) and with 21% of the populationwe need to protect them. The best way to do this is with automatic fire sprinklers because the67 tax base doesn't support a full-time fire department and because we can't control the

notification of the fire department when the fire starts. This is a major problem in our countrythat isn't receiving adequate attention.I do not have certification (workplace does not require or support it) so I am more likely toparticipate if the course is inexpensive and not very time consuming. I do have family in68 Minnesota so a conference or seminar would be a good option for me as well.I'm a landscape arch, planner and land use attorney. I firmly believe is very important, for69 implementation sake, to address related legal issues involved in conservation techniques.My "area of interest" has to do mostly with small towns in New Jersey which are adjacent tothe suburban corridor - which encompasses so much of our state. Would the program youenvision be relevant to our situation? Certainly we could use strategies for securing and70 sustaining the character of our small towns which are still rural.Rural issues have interested me for many years. Yet I feel that there has been very littledirected towards rural issues, that the interest is usually towards small towns - revitalization,economic development, place making, etc. With the current political climate emphasizingprivate property rights, it seems that the rural areas represent the core to these beliefs. Myinterests would center around the idea that some regulation is needed, common sense needs to71 be defined, and neighbor disputes have a resolution process.I am part of a group developing the US League of Small Town Mayors -- Design is a big part72 of our mission. We should collaborate.Suggest working with existing programs (AICP, AIA) and potentially creating an "add on"certificate or individual separate certificate for this specific area of emphasis. For example,73 and AICP planner could be AICP+RD (AICP with a Rural Design certificate).As cities get larger their capacity reaches near breaking points. It may very well be that thefuture rests on rural America revitalizing as a side effect of our cities growing to levels that74 are no longer obtainable.75 Perhaps as starter, offer a non-credit class thru the community college systems.I am starting the MArch program at the U this year and would love to see this happen! I'm76 very interested in pursuing a path along these lines...