PROGRAMS
American Citizen Planner
Optional short introduction goes here.
ABOUT THE COURSE
American Citizen Planner – Indiana provides training to Indiana citizen planners who currently serve or plan to serve on area or advisory plan commissions. The program features 29 topics detailing core planning theories, practices, and processes. A comprehensive assessment and two to three virtual training events reinforce the content learned in the units. The program is hosted by a Purdue Extension regional educator.
You’ll understand the roles and responsibilities of public officials, community residents, and developers in the planning process, as well as tools and processes planners use to implement comprehensive plans. The course also includes live workshops totaling 2-3 hours of instruction. In-person or virtual workshops are delivered by Purdue Extension Regional Educators.
Modules are designed to take about 30-45 minutes to complete and cover a broad range of topics, including:
- Ethics
- Legal foundations
- Comprehensive planning
- Development plan review
- Working with the Public
Target Audience:
- Current or future members of area/advisory plan commissions or boards of zoning appeals
- Interested residents
- Elected officials
- Municipal, county or applicable nonprofit staff
Participants who complete the course modules, successfully complete the course’s comprehensive exam, and attend all workshops will earn the Master Citizen Planner Certificate.
Course fee is $200, which includes ACP-IN 101, ACP-IN 201 course access, all webinars, and the final exam.
Registration is online through extension.org.
Daniel Walker, AICP
Community Development Specialist
Purdue Extension Community Development, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
This program has been a big benefit to our boards, and has made for a better board member in our community. We now require new members to attend.
Plan Commission Director
Noble County
The information I learned for this class was far more valuable than the money I paid for it, and the confidence I feel with the knowledge I gained is invaluable.
Plan Commissioner
Porter County
Program Impact
Local land use decisions made by plan commissions, boards of zoning appeals, and elected officials shape community growth, environmental outcomes, and quality of life. While Indiana law grants local governments broad authority over land use and comprehensive planning, effective implementation depends on decision-makers’ understanding of planning processes, legal frameworks, ethics, and community engagement practices. Many local officials and engaged residents serve in these roles without formal training, creating a need for accessible, applied education that strengthens decision-making capacity and public trust in the planning process.
Purdue Extension adapted the American Citizen Planner curriculum for Indiana, combining self-paced online coursework with live webinars on key planning topics. In 2025, the program expanded through shorter cohort sessions, new renewable energy content, and in-person training, including sessions that reached 37 additional local officials and residents in Northwest Indiana. Participants who successfully complete the program earn the Master Citizen Planner certificate.
Evaluation results show strong gains in participants’ knowledge of planning roles, comprehensive planning, legal authority, and ethics. Follow-up results indicate these benefits continue over time, with participants reporting improved understanding of land use regulation, plan commission operations, communication, and community engagement. In 2025, approximately 60% of participants earned the Master Citizen Planner certificate, and the program generated more than $11,000 to support continued planning education statewide.
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