Student Paper Competition

Deadline: February 16, 2007

The Technology Division is looking for outstanding student papers on information technology in planning. Our purpose is to recognize and reward work completed for courses in accredited graduate and undergraduate planning programs. 

An award of $500 will be presented for the best student paper received in each of two categories. Additionally, if the winner is not a member of the Technology Division will receive a one-year membership to the APA Technology Division.  A summary of the winning papers will be published in the Technology Division quarterly newsletter. 

Students may enter a paper in one of the following areas: (1) Information Technology in Disaster Mitigation and Recovery; and (2) Information Technology, Planning, and Economic Development.

Eligibility

1. Papers must have been originally written by a single author for a class in a planning program in a U.S. college or university during the calendar years 2005 and 2006.  Master's theses, terminal professional reports, and student group projects are not eligible.
2. A paper may be submitted only once.
3. Papers may be no more than 20 pages long, including references. Tables, maps, and other diagrams may supplement the 20 pages of text, but not exceed five pages. Papers must be typed and double-spaced with margins of at least 1 inch and 12 point font. 
4. The title page should include the student name, address, degree program, date when the paper was originally submitted, and phone number; no name, program or other form of identification should be included on the pages with the text of the paper. 
5. Only electronic copies of papers will be accepted. The paper should be saved in a Microsoft Word format.
6. The deadline for receipt of the papers is Friday, February 16, 2007. No late papers will be accepted. Submissions should be submitted electronically to amiy.varma@ndsu.edu with Tech Division Paper Competition in the subject line.

Selection Criteria
A subcommittee of planning practitioners and planning faculty will read all papers using blind review. Papers will be judged on: (1) Relevance to a major current issue in information technology and planning; (2) Insight and significance of discussion; and (3) Quality of the writing, documentation, and research. The winners will be presented with their scholarships at  the National American Planning Association Conference in Philadelphia.

Funding and logistical support for this scholarship paper competition is provided by ESRI and the Tech Division of APA.

Questions regarding this competition should be directed to: Amiy Varma, AICP Education Chair of the Tech Division, 701-231-7041 or amiy.varma@ndsu.edu

Click here to see past winners of the Student Paper Competition.