PUAD 3003: Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations COURSE SYLLABUS Instructor: Dr. Pamela Medina Term: Fall 2016 Office: Lawrence Street Center Suite 500MM Class Meeting: Online Phone: 303-315-0030 Class Location: E-Mail: Pamela.MedinaGutierrez@ucdenver. edu Office Hours: Monday 1:00 4:00 PM & by appointment I. University Course Catalog Description Explores the historical background, development, role, auspices, organization, and purposes of nonprofit agencies. Expands awareness of the scope and breadth of the nonprofit sector in the United States, and examines the inner workings of nonprofit organizations as the foundation for further study. II. Course Overview This course is an introduction to nonprofit organizations, including their history, scope, evolution, and governance. The course will provide foundational knowledge of the significance of the nonprofit sector, and the differences between nonprofit and private organizations. The course will also provide a primer to understanding nonprofit management and decision making in the nonprofit sector. At the end of the course, students should understand the role and purpose of the nonprofit sector in American society. On-line course structure: The course is split into 16 modules, which will open every Monday 9:00am and close every Sunday at 11:59pm. At the beginning of each week, students should open the corresponding module which will contain instructions and an overview of the learning objectives for the week, either a recorded lecture (slides or a video) or lecture notes, and a listing of required readings and assignments due for the week. It is recommended that students complete all readings and lectures by Wednesday of each week in order to have sufficient time to complete the required assessment pertaining to that module. III. Course Competencies a. Foundations and management of the nonprofit sector: highlights the history, contributions, and unique characteristics of the nonprofit sector and its management b. Governance, leadership, and advocacy: highlights the stewardship and advocacy roles, responsibilities, and leadership of the board of directors, staff and volunteers, in the development of policies, procedures, and processes by which nonprofits operate and are held accountable
c. Future of the nonprofit sector: highlights the dynamic nature of the nonprofit sector, the importance of continuous improvement, emerging trends and innovations, and the critical role research plays in shaping best practices d. Legal and ethical decision-making: highlights basic laws, regulations and professional standards that govern nonprofit sector operations, including a basic knowledge of risk and crisis management, ethics, and decision-making e. Cultural competency and diversity: highlights the development of cultural competency preparation for professional practice in culturally diverse settings IV. Course Goals and Learning Objectives Foundations and management of the nonprofit sector Governance, leadership, and advocacy Competency Objective Activity Understands the historical development, role, and significance of philanthropy, nonprofits, and civil society Legal and ethical decisionmaking Cultural competency and diversity Future of the nonprofit sector Understands the size, impact, types, and organizational design structure of nonprofit organizations from an American and international perspective Understands the mission orientation of nonprofit organizations Understands the unique characteristics and management complexity associated with the nonprofit sector Understands the roles and responsibilities of a nonprofit board and its committees Understands board design, performance, and ongoing board development Understands the critical function of nonprofit organizations in advocacy and the public policy process Understands the basic laws and regulations under which nonprofits incorporate and operate Understands and is able to apply standards and codes of conduct that are appropriate to nonprofit sector professionals, volunteers, and other stakeholders Understands the role of culture, alternative views, and difference when advancing mission and engaging in nonprofit management practice Understands the global nature of the nonprofit sector and structure of international Non-Governmental Organizations Case Study #2 Nonprofit Profile Case Study #1 Case Study #2 Case Study #1
V. Required Texts and Materials The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector, 3 rd Edition. By Steven Ott and Lisa Dicke. (2016). ISBN: 978-0-813-4933-0 Other assigned reading will be linked in the Canvas course. VI. Assessment The final grade will be based on completion of the following assignments. With the exception of participation, ALL assignments are to be submitted both through Canvas, as well as in hard copy. Title Due Date Points s 9/04; 10/02; 11/06; 11/20 4 @ 5 points each Case Studies 10/09; 12/04 2 @ 15 points each Nonprofit Profile 9/18 20 points Midterm Exam 10/23 15 points Final Exam 12/14 15 points VII. Assessment Descriptions s: There are four assigned reading reflections which will be posted in the Discussions section of the online course. Each reading reflection will require two components (1) a response to a prompt reflecting on the readings assigned within the last few weeks, of approximately two paragraphs in length, and (2) a peer-response to one of your classmates. Each reflection is worth 5 points- 3 points for your response, and 2 points for your peer feedback. Case Studies: There are two assigned case studies for the course. Both case studies will require students to read and analyze a scenario pertaining to a nonprofit organization. Students will prepare a 5 page, double-spaced response to the case, based on an assigned list of questions. Nonprofit Profile: Students will contact a nonprofit organization of their choice and interview the nonprofit leadership to understand their mission and governance. Midterm Exam: The Midterm Exam will cover all content up to October 23 rd and will contain both multiple choice and essay format questions. Final Exam: The Final Exam will cover all content from October 23 rd through December 11 th and will contain both multiple choice and essay format questions. VIII. Grade Breakdown Percent Grade Percent Grade 100-95 A 76-74 C 94-90 A- 73-71 C- 89-87 B+ 69-67 D+ 86-84 B 66-64 D 83-80 B- 63-63 D- 79-77 C+ 59 and below F
IX. Grade Dissemination All assignments will be submitted and graded through the Canvas system. Every effort will be made to return grades within a week long timeframe. If grades will be disseminated at a later date, students will be notified. X. Course Policies a. Attendance As an online course, students are expected to regularly log onto the Canvas site and review course updates and announcements. b. Late Work Assignments turned in after the due date will incur a loss of 5% deduction for each day they are turned in late. Assignments will not be accepted if they are more than 3 days late. c. Grades of Incomplete Incomplete grades are given only in situations where unexpected emergencies prevent a student from completing the course and in which the remaining work can be completed the next semester. Your instructor is the final authority on whether you qualify for an incomplete. Incomplete work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester or the I will automatically be recorded as an F on your transcript. d. E-Mail E-mail can be sent to the instructor through the Canvas system or to pamela.medinagutierrez@ucdenver.edu. All correspondence should be made from a university e-mail address. e. Canvas If you experience difficulties with Canvas, the on-line course platform, first contact the CU Online Helpdesk at 303-315-3700 or 1-877-823-3644 (toll free), or e-mail them at cuonlinehelp@ucdenver.edu. If your problem interferes with submitting assignments, e- mail me. I may not respond until later, but an e-mail documenting your difficulties as well as the attempt to resolve them through the helpdesk should be sent immediately. f. Laptop/Mobile Device Use: All cellular phones and mobile devices must be turned off or kept on silent during the course. The use of laptops is permitted for taking notes, but students are still expected to remain engaged in class discussion. g. Civility: During class time we will engage in wide-ranging discussions that may generate some debate. While you are encouraged to be critical of opposing viewpoints, students must be respectful of the opinions of others at all times. The instructor reserves the right to deduct points from class participation or remove disrespectful students from the classroom. h. Campus Assessment, Response & Evaluation (CARE)
i. Writing Standards: Student papers and examinations should evidence familiarity and critical appreciation of both required readings, lectures, workshops, case studies, and class discussion. Written work must reflect independent thought and be well-written and logically persuasive, in addition to being well-informed. All papers must meet academic and professional standards for form and substance. Additionally, students must make sure to proof read all written submissions, and are expected to adhere to appropriate rules for grammar and spelling. Students who do not meet writing expectations will be referred to the University Writing Center for assistance. All assignments are to be written in APA style. XI. University Policies Disability Access The University of Colorado Denver is committed to providing reasonable accommodation and access to programs and services to persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who want academic accommodations must register with Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Norht Classroom 2514, Phone 303-566-3450, TTY: 303-566-4766, Fax: 303-556-4771. I will be happy to provide approved accommodations, once you provide me with a copy of DRS s letter. Academic Honesty Student Code of Conduct: Students are expected to know, understand, and comply with the ethical standards of the university, including rules against plagiarism, cheating, fabrication and falsification, multiple submissions, misuse of academic materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty. For suggestions on ways to avoid academic dishonesty, please see the Academic Honesty Handbook at http://www.ucdenver.edu/faculty_staff/faculty/center-for-facultydevelopment/documents/academic_honest.pdf Plagiarism is the use of another person s ideas or words without acknowledgement. The incorporation of another person s work into yours requires appropriate identification and acknowledgement. Examples of plagiarism when the source is not noted include: word-for-word copying of another person s ideas or words; the mosaic (interspersing your own words here and there while, in essence, copying another s work); the paraphrase (the re-writing of another s work, while still using their basic ideas or theories); fabrication (inventing or counterfeiting sources); submission of another s work as your own; and neglecting quotation marks when including direct quotes, even on material that is otherwise acknowledged. Cheating involves the possession, communication, or use of information, materials, notes, study aids, or other devices and rubrics not specifically authorized by the course instructor in any academic exercise, or unauthorized communication with any other person during an academic exercise. Examples of cheating include: copying from another s work or receiving unauthorized assistance from another; using a calculator, computer, or the internet when its use has been precluded; collaborating with another
or others without the consent of the instructor; submitting another s work as one s own. Fabrication involves inventing or counterfeiting information- creating results not properly obtained through study or laboratory experiment. Falsification involves deliberate alteration or changing of results to suit one s needs in an experiment or academic exercise. Multiple submissions involves submitting academic work in a current course when academic credit for the work was previously earned in another course, when such submission is made without the current course instructor s authorization. Misuse of academic materials includes: theft/destruction of library or reference materials or computer programs; theft/destruction of another student s notes or materials; unauthorized possession of another student s notes or materials theft/destruction of examinations, papers, or assignments; unauthorized assistance in locating/using sources of information when forbidden or not authorized by the instructor; unauthorized possession, disposition, or use of examinations or answer keys; unauthorized alteration, forgery, fabrication, or falsification of academic records; unauthorized sale or purchase of examinations, papers, or assignments. Complicity in academic dishonestly involves knowingly contributing to or cooperating with another s act(s) of academic dishonesty.