For only $180, get a full year of unrestricted access to APA's extensive learning library. Kickstart your journey by subscribing to Passport, then take the next step by enrolling in the courses that pique your interest.

Sign in for Options



Certification Maintenance

CM | 1
E | 1

Course Details

This course will focus on how the daily management of people, projects, and processes can create conflicts with aspirational principles and the ethics code. The presenters, who have worked in various planning capacities across the country, will focus on real-life situations.

These include: what if you are not in alignment with elected officials or your boss, managing difficult employees, handling out-of-scope work, losing control of a public meeting, underperforming sub-consultants, accepting pro bono work when you are busy, changing a planning/zoning decision based on elected officials comments, getting a plan/ordinance across the finish line, etc.

The presenters will offer very plausible solutions to each of these scenarios, some of which may be grey areas in the code of ethics. After attendees have voted on which solution they think is the most ethical and practical, the presenters will discuss the situation, the nuances of it, how it was handled, and why and how it aligns with the code of ethics or the principles we aspire to. The panel will discuss the other solutions with attendees and discuss why they may or may not have worked and whether they align with the code of ethics and principles.

Learning Outcomes

  • Attendees will gain a more in-depth understanding of the principles to which we aspire and the conduct that is expected of every planner.
  • Attendees will understand the nuances a practitioner faces each day and how to determine if it conflicts with the aspirational principles or an ethical situation.
  • Attendees will learn potential options for dealing with a situation if presented with an aspirational or ethical conflict.