MPA eQuad
As an active MPA student you have access to the MPA eQuad located on your TROY Online Canvas Dashboard. The MPA eQuad is your immediate access point to information and links for suggested course sequencing, course concentrations, registration, MPA and TROY Online forms, major program requirements, professional opportunities, MPA program orientation, faculty advising, "live" chat access and much more. Visit the MPA eQuad 24/7 for the latest program happenings and to review the available resources. Please take approximately 4 minutes to view this video link http://www.screencast.com/t/M1lEiJpBlf to find out what the MPA eQuad can do for you.

Required Textbooks & Supplementary Materials

Llorens, Jared J.; Klingner, Donald E.; Nalbaldian, John (2018). Public Personnel Management, Contexts and Strategies, 7th ed. NY:Routledge-Taylor Francis Group. ISBN: 9781138281202.

The official bookstore for Troy University is Barnes and Noble (B&N). Students can now order textbooks within Canvas, Trojan Web Express or on the B&N website at http://shoptroytrojans.com/. For further instructions on how to order your course materials go to “How to Order Textbooks”. Students should have their textbook by the first week of class. Not having your textbook is not an acceptable excuse for late work.

Attendance Policy

In addition to interaction via Canvas and email contact, you are required to contact the instructor via email by the first day of the term for an initial briefing. Although physical class meetings are not part of this course, participation in all interactive, learning activities is required.

Make-Up Work Policy

Missing any part of this schedule may prevent completion of the course. If you foresee difficulty of any type (e.g., an illness, employment change, etc.) which may prevent completion of this course, notify the instructor as soon as possible. Failure to do so will result in failure for an assignment and/or failure of the course. If I have not heard from you by the deadline dates for assignments, exams, or forums, no make-up work will be allowed (unless extraordinary circumstances exist, such as hospitalization). Requests for extensions must be made in advance and accompanied by appropriate written documentation. “Computer problems” is not an acceptable excuse.

Method of Evaluation

Assignments

1. Class Preparation and Participation: Students are expected to read all assigned material and to participate in class discussion. Active participation will enhance understanding of the course material. Weekly Participation by responding to assigned discussion questions is required with postings due by 8:00 PM each Sunday evening. These weekly assignments will constitute the participation grade to be assigned after the last discussion has been graded. Failure to submit weekly discussions on time will result in a 10 point per day grade reduction, with a zero grade assigned after the third day.
2. Human Resources Case Study/Analysis Paper: Students must prepare and discuss in class, a case study/analysis paper on a topic approved by the instructor. A topic must be submitted by week three of the course for instructor approval, and case analysis papers should be prepared in accordance with the TROY Case Analysis Worksheet (as modified in class) available at the following the link (Case Analysis Worksheet ) unless an alternative format is approved. Papers should represent the student's best effort in academic writing, using traditional academic style according to the APA style guide. The analysis paper will be used to judge student achievement of student learning outcomes identified above.
3. Examinations: An examination, designed to measure students' understanding of and ability to integrate course material will be administered during week eight of the term.

Examination Schedule and Instructions: A three to four hour closed book final examination will be administered during Week 8 of the course and will consist of complex essay questions and/or cases requiring students to explain and apply course concepts and case analysis methodology. The course final examination will not require a proctor, but it will be an online examination to be completed in Canvas with security arrangements to be detailed during the course.

The course grade is a compilation of scores achieved on the three course elements noted under the grading scale below. All work is graded on a 100 point scale. Those scores are then multiplied by the percentage weight noted below. Weekly homework is valued at a maximum of 100 points per week, with the participation grade being an average of the scores for the seven weeks of weekly discussion requirement. Late work is assessed a penalty of at least 10 points for the first day, 20 points for the second day, 30 points for the third day. A zero value will be awarded for assignments later than day 3. Weekly homework scores are not computed into the course grade book total weighted score until after all weekly work due dates have passed. Students can view their progress in the Canvas grade book at any time. The final course weighted score will tell students what their course grade will be in accordance with the grading standard below.

a. Grading Standard:               b. Weighted Percentages:

90-100 = A                                  Class Participation 30%

80-89 = B                                    Course Examination 30%

70-79 = C                                    Term Project 40%

60-69 = D                                      

Disability Services provides assistance and accommodations to students with documented disabilities that may impede their academic progress. Services include notifying instructors about the specific accommodations to which the student is entitled. Disability Services will not alter the academic requirements of individual courses. Each student must provide recent documentation of his or her disability in order to participate.

For more information about Disability Services in Troy University (e.g. how to apply, Troy University policies, documentation guidelines and contact information), click on this Disability Services link.

Additional Course Information

Submitting Assignments
Weekly assignments must be posted to the discussion board by the submission deadline, if pasted from an offline document, a copy of the Word document should be included as an attachment so I can verify formatting in case of issues in the Discussion Board. The weekly assignments will be the primary interaction mechanism for the course. Instructor comments and discussion of student submissions will be provided each week. These assignments will assist the student in preparing for the examination, all portions of which will have been discussed in this manner.

Submit papers in Standard English using a 12-point format, 1-inch margins, and double spacing in MS-Word format. The American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines are the standards for writing and referencing papers in the MPA program.

Technology requirements: See TROY Online Policies and Procedures, but keep in mind technology problems are not an acceptable excuse for late work.

COURSE SCHEDULE/CALENDAR OF WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT:

(Any required weekly work is due by 8:00 PM, Sunday of the week in question unless otherwise posted, as necessary, due dates are further explained in the discussion board area of the course): MATERIAL SUBMITTED AFTER THE DUE DATE WILL RECEIVE A GRADE PENALTY AS NOTED ABOVE. Weekly assignments will be posted in the Weekly Learning Module in Canvas at the appropriate time, and will consist of weekly discussion questions for student submission in the corresponding Weekly Discussion Board for my review and response.

Week One: Introduction; Read Llorens Ch. 1-2; Personnel Management, and Public HR in the US, and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 1 Learning Module.

Week Two: Read Llorens Ch. 3-4; Thinking Strategically and The HR Role in Policy, Budgeting, Performance Management and Program Evaluation, and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 2 Learning Module.

Week Three: Read Llorens Ch. 5-6 Defining and Rewarding Work and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 3 Learning Module.

Week Four: Read Llorens Ch. 7-8 Social Equity and Diversity and Recruiting and Selection, and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 4 Learning Module.

Week Five: Read Llorens Ch. 9-11 Leadership, Staff Development and Performance Management, and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 5 Learning Module.

Week Six: Read Llorens Ch. 12-13 Safety and Health and Organizational Justice, and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 6 Learning Module.

Week Seven: Read Llorens Ch. 14 Collective Bargaining, and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 7 Learning Module.

NOTE: The final exam will be available after the seventh week for completion during week eight.

Week Eight: There will be no weekly postings required to allow students to complete the final exam planned for the eighth week of the course.

Week Nine: Course project and final exam discussions

(Projects are due by 8:00 PM, Wednesday evening of week nine to allow for discussion)