New Urbanism accreditation gains steam
The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) accreditation program is gathering momentum. The professional program, announced by CNU in June and managed in partnership with the University of Miami, was established “to recognize the talent within the new urbanist movement for creating walkable, sustainable places,” CNU says. The organization hopes that by having professionals take a course and a test, the principles and practices of New Urbanism will be elevated. CNU aims to make the program “a premier standard of professional excellence in the design of the built environment.”
The program involves an online course through the University of Miami School of Architecture that prepares students for an exam. Accreditation is through CNU. When an individual passes the exam, he or she is designated as CNU-A, or CNU accredited. CNU’s webpage, www.cnu.org/accreditation, lists the names of eight people who have passed the exam so far. Many more are expected to be accredited soon.
Enrollment in the online course, The Principles and Practices of New Urbanism, has been doubling each time it is offered, says Charles Bohl, associate professor with the University of Miami School of Architecture. The course has been offered four times, the last time starting in August. Other faculty contributors are Joanna Lombard and Jaime Correa.
About half of the students are professional planners and architects, including many prominent new urbanists. Other students include public sector employees, a variety of real estate professionals, engineers, and academics, says Natalie Bixby, of the University of Miami.
Although 90 percent of students are from the US, international enrollees have hailed from Columbia, Panama, Spain, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Canada. The next course begins January 19 (registration opens December 1). The course is $300. See nuonline.arc.miami.edu. The next CNU exam opportunity — exams cost $225 — starts March 22.
Course materials include New Urbanism: Best Practices Guide, Fourth Edition; published by New Urban News Publications; Suburban Nation; and the Charter of the New Urbanism.
