Course Requirements and Assignments



PAD 5360 Urban AdministrationFALL 2021 (October 18 – December 3)Master of Public AdministrationUniversity of Texas at El PasoCourse Schedule: UTEP Blackboard Instructor: Dr. Ljubinka Andonoska Office: Benedict Hall, 310 Contact email: landonoska@utep.edu Phone: 915-747-7132 Office hours: Thursdays 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and by appointmentDisclaimer: This syllabus is tentative and any changes will be announced in class for which students are responsible. Course DescriptionThis graduate course examines local governmental structure in which public administrators work and some of its major management challenges and functions. The unique nature and demands of administration at the local level will be examined. Among these characteristics are the close relationships between administrators and elected officials and between officials and citizens, the concern for effective and responsive service delivery by government and external providers, the interactions with other levels of government, and for governments in urban regions the need for intergovernmental coordination. These characteristics produce distinctive challenges for administrators at the local level. Major themes are the ways that managers integrate their leadership and management strategies and how they promote innovation in their organizations. Learning Objectives and PA CompetenciesBy the end of this semesters students will:Learn about multiple administrative and political leadership approaches of cities in the United States of America.Examine and compare urban policymaking and policy implementation. Students will examine the extent to which local governments can and do or cannot and do not deliver a variety of public goods and services to their citizens.Understand decision – making processes in various areas of urban management, including human resources, budgeting, and development planning. Better understand the connection between administration and politics in the U.S. urban setting. Develop critical thinking about urban administration issues and resolutions. Required TextbooksRobert E. England, John P. Pelissero, and David R. Morgan, Managing Urban America, Seventh Edition (Washington: CQ Press, 2017). Older editions are just fine.Additional readings will be available in Blackboard documents. Course Requirements and Assignments Students are required to read ALL assigned readings for each week, before the 1st day of the week (which is Tuesday for this semester). Except for weeks 1, 4, and 7, each week you will participate in “Weekly Group Discussions” (details below). The class will be separated into randomly selected groups. Groups will not change over the semester. Each of you will use Group Blog to post your weakly discussion. The rule for this exercise is that you cannot use topics for writing a critical review that have already been posted by other students in your group. If this occurs, the post that comes later will not receive a grade. Note that, while your discussions will be separated in groups, I will grade your individual input ONLY. The separation in groups makes it easier for you to pick topics that are not already taken from other students. Weekly Group Discussions (4 total): Four weeks in this semester you will be assigned group work. Each student will choose one topic from the readings and will write a critical review between 300 and 500 words. If the topic of your interest is already “taken” by another student in your group, you will choose another topic. Along with the critical review, the student will also ask 2 questions for discussion related to this topic. In addition, each student in the group will answer 2 questions asked by 2 different students on 2 different topics (Remember that using academic language is not only expected but required). You can, however, answer questions that have been answered by other students. The critical review with the 2 questions are due by Friday of that week and the answers are due by Monday of the week (see course structure). You can choose how to approach the critical review. Some approaches are the following (you can choose one of the approaches and every week could be a different approach): If there is one particular reading or theme with which you strenuously disagree or agree, you may build your review around it entirely. For example, during our week of Forms of City Government, you can take one particular point and say what you agree or disagree with and provide arguments about the reasons why. You may choose to analyze the overall theme of the week, critiquing the readings as providing clarity, evidence for, or lack of evidence for the role of (ex. During the week of urban planning, you may write about all readings, but only if another students in your group has not done that already.) You may respond to multiple weekly themes or arguments laid out in the readings, explaining how they weave together or contradict one another. If a student would not be able to participate in the group work for the week, he/she will be able to make up these points by submitting substitute assignment. The substitute assignment is a last resort, i.e. only if the student is not able to participate in the group assignment. The substitute assignment will be summary of all assigned materials for the week (about two pages critical summary of the main points in all assigned readings for the class). The substitute assignment is due by email, Sunday before midnight (ex. for week 2, it would be Sunday, September 6-the same time when group answer is due).Term ProjectThis project will examine innovation in local government. It may be based on any of the following: (a) examination of how a department in a local government in the El Paso area is innovative. (b) identification of innovative approaches to a local government problem in governments in the U.S. and abroad based on review of various data sources.(c) constructive responses to the local government fiscal crisis.(d) analysis of budget changes and consequences in a local government.(e) noteworthy examples of citizen engagement efforts by local governments. Each student will report of their project by preparing a short class presentation of findings and recommendations. Students should not conduct the project in the department in which they work. The paper should be between 5 and 10 pages, double-spaced, font 12 Times New Roman, 1-inch margin. The term paper should include (order may differ): 1) description of the problem; 2) connection of this problem to a larger context using literature (at least 5 scholarly articles beyond those assigned in class); 3) analysis of how the problem was/is handled by the local government; 4) who is most affected by the problem; 5) is there any citizen engagement; 6) who is the driver of the change (somebody inside the city, city department, or outside party); and 7) propose solutions or if the city has already solved the problem, assess their solution and provide your opinion on it. Assignments submission: Assignments are due on BB Safe Assign on their due dates as specified in this syllabus on pp. 8-9. Late assignments will not be accepted unless your provide an excusable reason. After you receive my permission, you will be able to submit after the deadline. Please note that legitimate/excusable reasons will apply to all students, and these include: sickness, excessive anxiety, professional/home work obligations beyond your normal duties (for example if you are working in a hospital or a caregiver at home), family emergency, and others. Academic Writing: Students are required to write all class assignments using academic (not conversational) language, to express their thoughts clearly, and to provide content based on their knowledge gained from class, assigned readings, and any additional sources as needed. Academic writing also assumes using grammar correctly. If you need help, please refer to UTEP’s Tutoring and Learning Center, following this link: . GRADE COMPOSITIONFinal grades for the class will be based on the following elements:- Active Class Participation and Group BB Discussion: (20%)- Examinations: Midterm exam (25%), due on blackboard safe assignFinal exam (25%), due on blackboard safe assign - Term paper: 30%Below is the scale which will be used to assign grades: “A” = 90-100%; “B” = 80-89% “C” = 70-79% Technology requirements for the classCourse content is delivered via the Internet through the Blackboard learning management system. Ensure your UTEP e-mail account is working and that you have access to the Web and a stable web browser. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are the best browsers for Blackboard; other browsers may cause complications. When having technical difficulties, update your browser, clear your cache, or try switching to another browser. You will need to have access to a computer/laptop (potentially printer and scanner, please let me know if you would have problem to access to printer/scanner). You will need to download or update the following software: Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Windows Media Player, QuickTime, and Java. Check that your computer hardware and software are up-to-date and able to access all parts of the course. If you do not have a word-processing software, you can download Word and other Microsoft Office programs (including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and more) for free via UTEP’s Microsoft Office Portal. Click the following link for more information about Microsoft Office 365 and follow the instructions.IMPORTANT: If you encounter technical difficulties beyond your scope of troubleshooting, please contact the UTEP Help Desk as they are trained specifically in assisting with technological needs of students. Please do not contact me for this type of assistance. The Help Desk is much better equipped than I am to assist you!Course Communication: How we will stay in contact with each otherBecause this is an online class, we won’t see each other in the ways you may be accustomed to: during class time, small group meetings, and office hours. However, there are a number of ways we can keep the communication channels open:Office Hours: We will not be able to meet on campus, but I will still have office hours for your questions and comments about the course. My office hours will be held every Thursdays from 1 pm to 4 pm and by appointment. If you are unable to attend in person, we can schedule on Blackboard Collaborate using this link: [BB Collaborate Ultra] or via zoom.Email: UTEP e-mail is the best way to contact me. I will make every attempt to respond to your e-mail within 1 to 2 work days (weekends excluded). When e-mailing me, be sure to email from your UTEP student account and please put the course number in the subject line. In the body of your e-mail, clearly state your question. At the end of your e-mail, be sure to put your first and last name.Discussion Board: If you have a question that you believe other students may also have, please post it in the Help Board of the discussion boards inside of Blackboard. Please respond to other students’ questions if you have a helpful response.Announcements: Check the Blackboard announcements frequently for any updates, deadlines, or other important iquetteAs we know, sometimes communication online can be challenging. It is possible to miscommunicate what we mean or to misunderstand what our classmates mean given the lack of body language and immediate feedback. Therefore, please keep these netiquette (network etiquette) guidelines in mind. Failure to observe them may result in disciplinary action. Always consider audience. This is a graduate-level course; therefore, all communication should reflect polite consideration of other’s ideas. Respect and courtesy must be provided to classmates and to the instructor at all times. No harassment or inappropriate postings will be tolerated. When reacting to someone else’s message, address the ideas, not the person. Post only what anyone would comfortably state in a face-to-face situation. Blackboard is not a public internet venue; all postings to it should be considered private and confidential. Whatever is posted on in these online spaces is intended for classmates and professor only. Please do not copy documents and paste them to a publicly accessible website, blog, or other space. COVID-19 PRECAUTIONSPlease stay home if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. If you are feeling unwell, please let me know as soon as possible, so that we can work on appropriate accommodations. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you are encouraged to report your results to covidaction@utep.edu, so that the Dean of Students Office can provide you with support and help with communication with your professors. The Student Health Center is equipped to provide COVID 19 testing. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people in areas of substantial or high COVID-19 transmission wear face masks when indoors in groups of people. The best way that Miners can take care of Miners is to get the vaccine. If you still need the vaccine, it is widely available in the El Paso area, and will be available at no charge on campus during the first week of classes. For more information about the current rates, testing, and vaccinations, please visit UTEP’s Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC)Students are encouraged to visit the Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC), located on the third floor of the library (). Please note that during this period the best way to ‘visit’ is online or by phone. The TLC offers free peer tutoring, especially in math and writing. These tutoring services are very helpful both for students returning to school after a long delay and for students with limited backgrounds in statistics or written English composition. Because it is essential for graduate students to effectively communicate their ideas in writing, I make referrals when needed. If I refer you to the TLC using the Center’s referral form, you must obtain assistance from a TLC tutor. Then, when resubmitting your revised assignment, you must provide me with the original referral form completed by your TLC tutor. I will consider your assignment incomplete without the completed referral form. Accommodation PolicyThe?University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and auxiliary services to students, staff, faculty, job applicants, applicants for admissions, and other beneficiaries of University programs, services and activities with documented disabilities in order to provide them with equal opportunities to participate in programs, services, and activities in compliance with sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008. Reasonable accommodations will be made unless it is determined that doing so would cause undue hardship on the University.? Students requesting an accommodation based on a disability must register with the?UTEP Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS).??Contact the Center for Accommodations and Support Services at 915-747-5148, or?email them at?cass@utep.edu, or apply for accommodations online via?the CASS portal. Statement of Equal OpportunityThe learning environment is based upon open communication, mutual respect, and nondiscrimination. It follows commonly practiced guidelines of nondiscrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religious belief (or lack thereof), sexual orientation, or veteran status. Please also refer to the UTEP’s Handbook of Operating Procedures, Section VI ().Academic IntegrityIt is assumed graduate students know how to avoid committing plagiarism. In this course, it is considered a violation of academic integrity to use within any out-of-class, for-credit assignment the exact words, phrases, or a similar writing structure (where you use the sentence structure and/or paragraph structure, but change a few words or phrases) of a source or sources, even if you cite the source(s). In order to maintain program standards, cases of [suspicion] plagiarism, are treated according to UTEP’s Handbook of Operating Procedures (). Ignorance is not an excuse. I thoroughly encourage verbal discussion among students in your studying of the course material. However, unless I give you written consent, all assignments that you submit for credit must be your own original work. In this course, this means that you may not provide assistance to or seek assistance from another individual during an in-class examination or take home exams. Also, you may not possess materials that are not allowed during an in-class exam. Finally, while you may verbally discuss your problem sets and research projects, you may not provide direct assistance to or seek direct assistance from any other individual. Direct assistance includes, but is not limited to, downloading data, analyzing data, presenting data and/or findings, or writing any portion of the research report. Any violation of this policy constitutes academic dishonesty. For more information, please refer to the section on Academic Integrity in the University of Texas at El Paso Graduate Catalog 2018-2019 (). This document contains a detailed definition of academic dishonesty, along with the University procedure for handling cases of alleged academic dishonesty. A more detailed guide to academic integrity is available in the Student Conduct and Discipline Section of the Handbook of Operating Procedures. Course Structure (next page)Course StructureMODULEOBJECTIVESREADINGSASSIGNMENTS& DEADLINESWeek 1October 18-24Overview of the course The Context of Urban Gov. Admin.The SyllabusEngland, Pelissero, and Morgan, Ch. 1(on BB) Elizabeth Kellar, “5 Mega Issues Drive Local Changes: Managers Tackle Future Challenges with Resolve,” PM, January, 2011Read assigned readings (Tuesday)Ask questions about the class and the syllabus (Use the forum on BB Discussion)Week 2October 25-October 31Urban Governance: Institutions, Forms, and ActorsEngland, Pelissero, and Morgan, Chs. 3 & 4(on BB) Allan Ehrenhalt*, “The Mayor-Manager Conundrum,” Governing, October, 2004.Read assigned readings (Tuesday)Group BB Discussion(Friday, October 22 individual,Sunday, October 24 group)Week 3November 1-7Planning, Development, and Decision MakingEngland, Pelissero, and Morgan, Chs. 5 & 6Read assigned readings (Tuesday)Group BB Discussion(Friday, Nov.5 individualSunday, Nov.7 group)Week 4November 8-14 New Approaches to Service DeliveryMeasuring performance, benchmarking, and best practicesEngland, Pelissero, and Morgan, Ch. 7 (on BB)Drew&Dollery (2015). How High Should They Jump? An Empirical Method for Setting Municipal Financial Ratio Performance Benchmarks. Read assigned readings (Tuesday)No Group workMIDTERM (Friday, Nov.12)Week 5November 15-21Management SystemsEngland, Pelissero, and Morgan, Chs. 7, 8 & 9Read assigned readings (Tuesday)Group BB Discussion(Friday, Nov. 19 individual,Sunday, Nov. 21 group)Week 6November 22- November 28Financial Aspects and A Glance Into the FutureEngland, Pelissero, and Morgan, Chs. 10 & 11Read assigned readings (Tuesday)Group BB Discussion(Friday, Nov. 26 individual,Sunday, Nov. 28 group)Week 7November 29-December 3NO READINGSFINAL PAPER(December 3)FINAL EXAM(December 5)*Allan Ehrenhalt, “The Mayor-Manager Conundrum,” Governing, October, 2004. Retrieved from: ................
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