The academic programs within the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, including BAUSP, MUP and MSSUM, have been recently classified as an approved field of study within the U.S. government's official STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields list. UIUC urban planning students on F1 visa who finish the program may participate in 12 months of OPT, and may apply for an additional 24 month extension to their OPT period. More information about the STEM OPT extension can be found through the Office of International Student & Scholar Services.

We have many exciting activities taking place in DURP this semester. Make sure you don't miss out on any of them by checking our departmental calendar.

Jesse Thomas, a second year MUP student, has been awarded the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship. The program awards fellowships to students pursuing degrees in transportation-related disciplines. It advances the transportation workforce by helping to attract the nation's brightest minds to the field of transportation, encouraging future transportation professionals to seek advnaced degrees, and helping to retain top talent in the U.S. transportation industry. Read more about Fellowship.

Graham Garfield is a transit professional, with background in planning, operations, design and history. He is the General Manager of Customer Information for the Chicago Transit Authority, overseeing the agency's bus and rail signage, bradning, publications and graphics, and digital and social media. He will be speaking on Monday, April 22 at noon in room 223 Temple Buell Hall. Read more.

Prof. Jesus Barajas will offer UP 494-JB, Transportation Planning Workshop this fall. In this course, students will participate in research for Pace Transit, the transit operator for suburban Chicago. Students will work in communities to document challenges and recommend solutions of implementing pedestrian infrastructure in Pace's service area. Read more.