Urban & Regional Planning To Move Colleges, Unifying SPDC under CANR
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EmailThe School of Planning, Design and Construction will move entirely to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources as the Urban & Regional Planning program moves from the College of Social Science to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
As of Tuesday, July 1, 2025, The School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC) at Michigan State University will transition to operate entirely under the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR). Previously, SPDC was jointly administered by CANR and the College of Social Science (CSS). This dual-college model was largely due to the Urban & Regional Planning (URP) program’s long history within CSS. “Although there were good reasons for this structure [in the past], it also placed considerable administrative burdens on SPDC’s faculty and staff,” explained CANR Dean Matt Daum, Ph.D. “We believe this new structure will lead to streamlined work processes throughout the school.”
This decision was not made lightly and involved nearly two years of planning, discussion, and preparation. SPDC Director Jun-Hyun Kim, Ph.D., wants to specifically thank the faculty and staff members of the SPDC (Re)Structure Review Committee: Sinem Mollaoglu (chair), Mary Beth Graebert, Eunsil Lee, Victoria Morckel, Marie Ruemenapp, Wonmin Sohn, and Zenia Kotval. These seven individuals took on the additional work of navigating the administrative and academic processes necessary to make this change on top of their regular duties.
CSS Dean Brent Donnellan, Ph.D., has shared a positive vision of this transition, saying, “I know that we will continue to collaborate with SPDC and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources moving forward. This administrative change will serve to simplify day-to-day functioning for SPDC but not change the spirit of teamwork and shared mission that characterizes how all units at MSU work together.”
As SPDC enters this new chapter under CANR, the UPR program is uniquely positioned to contribute to and benefit from this transition. As one of the few units within CANR focused on urban environments, URP brings essential perspectives on land use, infrastructure, and community development that complement CANR’s broader mission. This alignment will provide exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration linking urban planning with agriculture, sustainability, natural resource management, and climate adaptation.
Dr. Kim echoed Dean Donnellan’s sentiments and expressed excitement for the future. “I firmly believe that our collaborations with CSS will continue. We also look forward to new opportunities with CANR as we work more closely with them. Thank you again for your patience, dedication, and teamwork throughout this process. I’m excited for what we will accomplish together in this new era for SPDC.”
