1 PSCI/BUS 468 00A: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Syllabus Spring 2018 Instructor: Dr. Sara B. Crook Office: Jindra Fine Arts #206 Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 12:30-2:00; Thursdays 9:30-11:00 AM; Tuesday & Friday by appointment Office Telephone: None Cell Phone: 402-253-6284 (Do not leave message send an e-mail or text) Email Address: scrook@peru.edu Twitter list: https://twitter.com/doctor_crook/lists/american-national-govt Course Meets: Monday & Wednesday at 2-3:15 PM in Jindra Fine Arts #202 Web Page: http://www.peru/schoolartsand sciences/history/crook Required Textbook: Politics of the Administrative Process by Donald F. Assigned readings posted on Blackboard Prerequisite: Psci 201 American National Government Required Software: Microsoft Office Word 1997-2003 and access to Blackboard Description & Objectives: Students will study a range of topics involved in the administration of public agencies. Topics will include the history of America s public service, the development of intergovernmental relations, bureaucracies, public personnel, budgeting, decision making, evaluation procedures, and regulatory administration. This class will encourage students to investigate the role of public administration in the past and today, as well as to conjecture the possibilities for the future. Upon completion of this course you should be able to: A. To familiarize students with the information necessary to function in a bureaucratic society. B. To develop an understanding of the numerous aspects involved in the administration of public agencies; intergovernmental relations, public personnel, budgeting, evaluation, regulation, etc. C. To develop students' capacity to think in terms of political concepts, to recognize values, to exercise critical judgment, and to make political decisions. At the beginning of the course, we will discuss how these objectives fit into the College s and School s mission and goals. Effective communication skills Weekly Writing Assignments, Research Project and class discussions Computer and information literacy Research Project and Blackboard
2 Independent critical thought and intellectual capacity for change Weekly Writing Assignments, Research Project and class discussions Preparation to assume social and civic leadership roles class discussions The ability to pursue intellectually, ethically, aesthetically, and physically rewarding lives class discussions Instruction Method/Mode of Delivery: This class will be conducted in a seminar style of debate and discussion, with group work and limited lecture. Always bring your text book to class for reference and group work. Student Requirements: Assessment and Grading Criteria: Class Attendance and Participation: Attendance and participation are vital to the learning experience. Consequently, I expect you to be at each class having read the material and ready to participate in the day's discussions/. Please be in class on time and plan to stay in the classroom for the entire class time unless previously arranged with the instructor. In order to foster a climate conducive to learning, please treat your classmates with respect. Much of the information on your quizzes & exams will be discussed in class. Since the course will be seminary style with students leading the case studies discussions, class absences will result in loss of points. Therefore attendance is the best study habit. Case Studies: Each chapter contains 4 case studies. Each student will work with 1-2 classmate(s) to lead the discussion on one of the case studies for each chapter. Research Project and Power Point Presentation: Details TBD Exams: There will be two exams in class. Each exam will have a variety of question formats, including essay questions. Exams must be taken at the scheduled time unless prior arrangement is made with the instructor via e-mail. For emergency conflicts please send an e-mail prior to class time. The Final Exam is a comprehensive exam covering the entire semester s materials. Weekly Writing Assignments: Each week students will be assigned a writing assignment based on the week s reading, generally due on Monday of each week except where noted (Weeks 1 & 12). There are 14 such assignments. Late assignments will receive an automatic 1 point deduction, and no assignment will be accepted after Wednesday s class time. However, the grading policy only requires 12 such assignments with the remaining two available for extra points. No extra credit is available beyond the 2 extra weekly writing assignments. The format for the Weekly Writing Assignments (WWA) is found on the last page of the syllabus.
3 Grading Policy: Research Project Weekly Writing Assignments (12 X 10 points) (14 chapters = 20 extra points possible) Classroom Participation (Each absence = -1 point) First Exam Final Comprehensive Exam 100 points 120 points 30 points 100 points 150 points 500 points Grades will be posted on Blackboard; Any late assignments allowed will automatically be dropped one-half letter grade per calendar day (Example = A becomes B+; B+ becomes B; etc.). Grading Scale: 500-475 = A+ 399-375 = C+ Below 300 = F 474-450 = A 374-350 = C 449-425 = B+ 349-325 = D+ 424-400 = B 324-300 = D College s Incomplete Coursework Policy To designate a student s work in a course as incomplete at the end of a term, the instructor records the incomplete grade (I). Students may receive this grade only when serious illness, hardship, death in the immediate family, or military service during the semester in which they are registered prevents them from completing course requirements. In addition, to receive an incomplete, a student must have completed substantially all of the course s major requirements. Unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise, students must initiate requests for an incomplete by filling out an Incomplete Grade Completion Contract, which requires the signature of the student, instructor, and Dean. The Incomplete Grade Completion contract cites the reason(s) for the incomplete and details the specific obligations the student must meet to change the incomplete to a letter grade. The date by which the student agrees to complete required work must appear in the contract. The Dean, the instructor, and the student receive signed copies of the Incomplete Grade Completion Contract. Even if the student does not attend Peru State College, all incomplete course work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester. Unless the appropriate Dean approves an extension and if the student does not fulfill contract obligations in the allotted time, the incomplete grade automatically becomes an F. College s Academic Integrity Policy The College expects all students to conduct themselves in a manner that supports an honest assessment of student learning outcomes and the assignment of grades that appropriately reflect student performance. It is
4 ultimately the student s responsibility to understand and comply with instructions regarding the completion of assignments, exams, and other academic activities. At a minimum, students should assume that at each assessment opportunity they are expected to do their own original academic work and/or clearly acknowledge in an appropriate fashion the intellectual work of others, when such contributions are allowed. Students helping others to circumvent honest assessments of learning outcomes, or who fail to report instances of academic dishonesty, are also subject to the sanctions defined in this policy. Instances of academic dishonesty may be discovered in a variety of ways. Faculty members who assign written work ordinarily check citations for accuracy, run data base and online checks, and/or may simply recognize familiar passages that are not cited. They may observe students in the act of cheating or may become aware of instances of cheating from the statements of others. All persons who observe or otherwise know about instances of cheating are expected to report such instances to the proper instructor or Dean. In order to promote academic integrity, the College subscribes to an electronic service to review papers for the appropriate citations and originality. Key elements of submitted papers are stored electronically in a limited access database and thus become a permanent part of the material to which future submissions are compared. Submission of an application and continued enrollment signifies your permission for this use of your written work. Should an occurrence of academic misconduct occur, the faculty member may assign a failing grade for the assignment or a failing grade for the course. Each incident of academic misconduct should be reported to the Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The VPAA may suspend for two semesters students found to be responsible for multiple instances of academic dishonesty. The reason for the suspension will be noted on the student s transcript. A faculty member need present only basic evidence of academic dishonesty. There is no requirement for proof of intent. Students are responsible for understanding these tenets of academic honesty and integrity. Students may appeal penalties for academic dishonesty using the process established for grades appeals. Title IX Compliance Notice Peru State College is an equal opportunity institution. PSC does not discriminate against any student, employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, or age in employment and education opportunities, including but not limited to admission
5 decisions. The College has designated an individual to coordinate the College s nondiscrimination efforts to comply with regulations implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies and practices may be directed to Eulanda Cade, Director of Human Resources, Title VI, VII, IX Compliance Coordinator, Peru State College, PO Box 10, Peru, NE 68421-0010, (402) 872-2230. Students requesting reasonable accommodation and tutoring services should contact the Center for Achievement and Transition Services (CATS). Tentative Course Schedule: Please check the announcement section of Blackboard for this class for any updates or changes to the syllabus. The instructor reserves the right to modify any aspect of the course syllabus or content. Date Assignment Activity Week One Chapter #1 Accountability Case 1.1 1.4 January 8 & 10 Due: WWA on Wednesday Week Two Chapter #2 What Government Does- Case 2.1 2.4 January 15 & 17 And How it Does It Week Three Chapter #3 What is Public Administration Case 3.1 3.4 January 22 & 24 Week Four Chapter #4 Organizational Theory Case 4.1 4.4 January 29 & 31 Week Five Chapter #5 The Executive Branch Case 5.1 5.4 February 5 & 7 Week Six Chapter #6 Organizational Problems Case 6.1 6.4 February 12 & 14 Week Seven Chapter #7 Administrative Reform Case 7.1-7.4 February 19 & 21 Week Eight Guest Speaker Midterm Exam February 26 & 28 Wednesday, Feb. 28
6 Midterm Break March 5-9 Week Nine Part III: Chapter #8 The Civil Service Case 8.1-8.4 March 12 & 14 Week Ten Chapter #9 Human Capital Case 9.1 9.4 March 19 & 21 Week Eleven Part IV: Chapter #10 Decision Making: Case 10.1 10.4 March 26 & 28 Rationality and Risk Week Twelve Chapter #11 Budgeting Case 11.1-11.4 April 4 Due: WWA on Wednesday Week Thirteen Chapter #12 Implementation and Case 12.1-12.4 April 9 & 11 Performance Week Fourteen Part V: Chapter #13 Regulation and the Case 13.1-13.4 April 16 & 18 Courts Week Fifteen Chapter #14 Accountability and Politics Case 14.1-14.4 April 23 & 25 Finals Week Final Comprehensive Exam Wednesday, May 2, 2018 @ 3:30 PM
7 Weekly Writing Assignment PSCI/ BUS 468: Public Administration Name: Chapter # Grade: /10 points 1.What one item in the chapter reading did you find the most interesting? In 3-4 sentences explain your reasoning for the selection. 2. What one item in the chapter reading did you question or at least had had reservations concerning its accuracy or source? Explain your answer in 3-4 sentences. 3. What question(s) do you still have regarding the chapter s topic?