GSPA

Course Description: The course provides an introduction to the fundamental value questions which underlie the practice of public and nonprofit personnel administration. It is organized around the chapter topics in the text, combined with student presentations of cutting-edge research drawn from scholarly sources. The course is designed to prepare class members to manage employees and to work in or interact with personnel offices.

Class sessions include instructor and student presentations, whole-class discussions, and small-group exercises. Class members should be prepared to be called upon to lead group discussions and discussions of assigned readings or other topics.

Short Papers: Class members will prepare two papers on weekly topic areas; each paper will focus on a specific issue within the topic area. For example, for the weekly topic "pay and benefits," students may prepare papers on issues such as point-factor pay systems, job evaluation, new ideas in provision of health care insurance, etc. Students may be assigned to work on their papers in groups. Students will make short presentations of papers, with one-page handouts for class members. Presentations will summarize findings and importance for practitioners.

The content of each paper will be drawn from four scholarly articles (some may be chapters in books), at least one of which appears in a journal related to public rather than private personnel practice. Papers will be doubled spaced and will not exceed eight pages in length. The class member's name, the discussion topic, and the date the paper is due will be at the top of the first page of each paper; just below this will be reference list citation for the articles. Format for the citations will be that given in the parenthetical reference list citation format described in Turabian's A Manual for Writers. The body of the paper will be divided into three sections with headings and contents as given below:

1. The Important Concepts. A brief discussion of the primary ideas in each article.

2. Linkage To Weekly Readings. Primary ideas from articles are compared to the assigned readings for the week.

3. Analysis. Primary ideas in the articles are assessed in relation to everyday practice and the student's supported opinion regarding the importance and usefulness of the ideas for public and nonprofit administration.

Performance Appraisal Analysis: Class members will describe and analyze a sample appraisal system using concepts from the coursework. Students will present their systems to the class in a presentation using overhead projection.

Reading Summaries: At the beginning of each class session for which there are assigned readings, students will submit summaries of the readings that discuss the meaning and importance of key ideas. Readings summaries will be graded 0 if inadequate or not turned in, 2 points if adequate. They will not exceed two double-spaced pages in length. Adequate summaries will demonstrate knowledge of the readings and their meaning and importance and will be written clearly and without errors in language or writing. Reading summaries are not required on days that students submit short papers, so there are seven opportunities to submit reading summaries.

Take-Home Final Paper: Class members will write a final paper, addressing two broad questions drawn from coursework. The questions will be designed to give students an opportunity to integrate course materials and demonstrate understanding of key concepts from the semester. Papers will not exceed eight double-spaced pages in length.

Threshold Writing Requirement: The ability to communicate accurately and effectively in writing is an essential part of academic and professional work. Since this is a university-level course and a course within a professional degree program, there is a required threshold level of competence in writing which preempts grading on other aspects of student performance. This means that to pass the course, class members must in all written work use appropriate language, structure, and citation style.

Grading: There will be 49 points possible in the course, as follows: Short papers, 20 points; reading summaries, 14 points; appraisal presentation, 5 points; take-home final paper, 10 points. Late work will be accepted with a penalty.

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