P ADM 505 Human Resources in the Public and Nonprofit Sectiors (3 credits). Concepts and approaches contributing to effective use of human resources in public and non-profit organizations; legal issues and requirements.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Technical Requirements | Evaluation | Grading | Schedule | Academic Integrity | Policies
Course Overview
This course is designed as an introduction to human resource management in public and nonprofit organizations. It will provide a comprehensive overview of public personnel administration including the development of modern personnel systems in the public sector and contemporary trends and practice in the federal, state, and local governments. Topics in this course highlight critical human resource issues such as recruitment, selection, appraisal, compensation, training, promotions, downsizing, and unionization and collective bargaining.
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Learning Objectives
This course is designed to increase the ability of students to:
- Explain the development of Human Resource Management (HRM) in the public and non-profit sectors, focusing on the role of merit-based systems and values
- Become familiar with HRM processes and practices and the work of HRM units in organizations
- Develop skills in managing the human resources of large public and non-profit organizations
- Appreciate the connection between HRM, the law, ethics, and public values
-
Identify issues and drivers of change that impact HRM, demographic trends including the increased diversity of the workforce, demands for security, and changing societal values regarding public service employment
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Course Materials:
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
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Technical Requirements
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
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Organization
There are 12 lessons in this course. You will participate in discussion forums within the entire class and within your own group. You will be randomly assigned to one of the 4 groups of about 4-5 members and will be working with your colleagues in this group in Lesson 7 and Lesson 8. You will find that you have quite specific tasks to undertake within your group. Research shows that your active involvement with the people in your group will make a positive contribution to your own learning. Your serious contribution to the interests of the group, then, will be well rewarded with your own enhanced level of interest and achievement (not to overlook a rewarding grade for participation!).
Teaching and Learning Style
A Master level course requires an active learning approach. Successful active learning requires you to prepare carefully for class every time. Go the Lessons tab on the left menu and go over the assignments for the week. In most instances there will be a Power Point presentation by the instructor to help you analyze the written assignment. You should read the assigned chapter in the text and cases (twice is better than once), think about the issues, and be prepared to contribute to discussions. Your participation is essential to the success of this class. Full participation consists of demonstrating that you are prepared for class (i.e., that you have read the assigned readings and thought about the issues raised), asking thoughtful questions, engaging productively in all class exercises and interact well with your group mates.
Course Requirements
Performance in PADM 505 will be evaluated in three types of assignments: (1) individual discussion postings; (2) individual briefing papers; and (3) participation in one group report. The assignments are designed to enhance real-world skills in written and oral communications. They also distribute the evaluated work throughout the semester, avoiding the “end of semester anxiety” so common to courses that load most evaluated work into the last month or so of a semester. Your responsibility, then, is to read the assignments carefully, post your work on time, and stay prepared throughout the semester. Most of the evaluation will be based on using what information you gather from the Power Point lectures and assigned reading to analyze case material presented at the conclusion of each lesson.
Requirement 1: Individual Discussion Postings (20%)
For Lessons 1, 2, 4, 10, and 11 prepare a 2 page (single-spaced) comment on the readings and case example to share with the class. Post your comments in the appropriate discussion forum and comment on at least two (2) other postings. For each lesson in which you do this you will receive four (4) points. Note: You should take more responsibilities in providing thoughtful comments and constructive feedback. The instructor will not evaluate or provide comments on each individual posting; the instructor, however, will comment on the overall discussion in each forum.
Note: In order to provide enough time to create a fluid conversation, please submit your initial posting no later than Thursdays 11:59p.m., Eastern Time. Also, post your comments on the others' postings by the end of the week.
Requirement 2: Individual Briefing Reports (60%)
Prepare three (3) briefing papers from among these lessons: Lessons 3, 5, 6, 9, and 12. Lesson 12 is required and will be the de facto final examination for the course. Follow the instructions carefully for each assignment at the end of the case or learning exercise for the lesson, including the exact number of pages required.
The assignments will direct you to approach the briefing paper in a particular manner (e. g., assume the role of a decision-maker, or an analyst briefing a superior). Each report will be posted to the appropriate drop box and evaluated by the instructor. You will receive a grade plus comments on the paper. You must do the paper in the week of the discussion to avoid confusion; thus, if you choose to skip lesson 3, you cannot come back later to comment on that particular assignment. Each briefing paper is worth a maximum of 20 points.
Requirement 3: Group Reports and Discussion (20%)
In Lessons 7 and 8 we turn from individual postings to group presentations. In each week groups will post the results of group discussions on the case assigned. Groups will be developed using Angel’s random group assignments. Each group report will be posted to both a drop box for instructor evaluation and a discussion forum to share with the others in the class. The report will be delivered in a presentation format:
- A 6-9 slide Power Point presentation summarizing the major issues in the case and its relevance to HRM and PA. This is not simply a PPT adaptation of the report, but a means of using the case as a learning tool and not just a simulation of a real-world situation or exercise. All the group members need to be involved in the narration.
The evaluation of the group report will count for 20% of the final grade, broken down this way:
- Fifteen (15) % will be the grade for the narrated presentation.
- Five (5) % will be based on the evaluation of group members of the contribution of each of the other members of the group.
Peer evaluation is important as it gives the instructor insight into how well group members interact with their peers. In the week of Lesson 10, you will have access to a peer evaluation form to be used for this purpose. The form will be available via the Activities link on the left menu. The average of the total points assigned to you by you and your group peers will be added to the overall possible points for the course.
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All facets of student's performance are taken into account for grading purposes. The graded activities and the percentage of your course grade associated with the activities are as follows.
|
Graded Activities
|
Points
|
|
| Individual Discussion Postings (5@4) |
20
|
|
| Individual Briefing Reports (3@20) |
60
|
|
| Group Reports and Discussions | Group Narrated Presentation) |
15
|
| Peer Evaluation |
5
|
|
| Total |
100
|
|
The grade given is based on the evaluation criteria established for each category of the graded activities described above and the scholarly performance and attainment of the student. Based on the points earned on each of the graded activities, your course grade will be determined by the scales presented in the table below:
| GRADING SCALE | |||
| Percentages | Grade | Points | Grade |
| 94.00 and Above | A | 77.00-79.99 | C+ |
| 90.00-93.99 | A- | 70.00-76.99 | C |
| 87.00-89.99 | B+ | 60.00-69.99 | D |
| 83.00-86.99 | B | Below 60 | F |
| 80.00-82.99 | B- | ||
Performance is evaluated on the basis of your course work on the assignments listed in the syllabus. Your course grade depends on the points accumulated during the semester. Use the table above to keep a record of your progress.
Note: Your grade on assignments will be reduced by 5% for each day of tardiness in receipt of work by the Instructor. Submit your work on time as scheduled.
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
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Course Schedule
To help keep you on track, you should print the schedule and check off activities listed as you complete them. Follow this schedule closely, regardless of the pace of class discussions. It is important to watch for bold-faced due dates.
- The topics and learning activities scheduled for each of the 12 lessons in the course are listed in the Course Schedule. Each lesson covers one week. As you study each week's lesson, please focus on the specific list of learning activities for that lesson.
The schedule below outlines all activities and topics we will cover in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments. Note that assignments are due based on the Eastern Time Zone (ET). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines, regardless of where they live.
- Course length: 16 weeks
Note: The due dates for the assignments are noted in the Course Schedule section of this syllabus, below. Deadlines will be defined as 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the last day of the lesson timeframe, unless noted different
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Academic Integrity
Academic integrity — scholarship free of fraud and deception — is an important educational objective of Penn State. Academic dishonesty can lead to a failing grade or referral to the Office of Student Conduct.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
- cheating
- plagiarism
- fabrication of information or citations
- facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others
- unauthorized prior possession of examinations
- submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor and securing written approval
- tampering with the academic work of other students
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedure requires an instructor to notify a student of suspected dishonesty before filing a charge and recommended sanction with the college. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If a disciplinary sanction also is recommended, the case will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us.
Additionally, World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and others, and a civil community.
For More Information on Academic Integrity at Penn State
Please see the Academic Integrity Chart for specific college contact information or visit one of the following URLs:
- Penn State Senate Policy on Academic Integrity
- iStudy for Success! — learn about plagiarism, copyright, and academic integrity through an educational module
- Turnitin a web-based plagiarism detection and prevention system
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Policies
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Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.