THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE
|
PSPA
302 Section: 01 Administration of Municipal Government in the United States |
Spring
2003
3 Hours Credit
William Albrecht, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science
& Public Administration
The
instructor pledges to teach this course under the university guidelines for
the academic honor code. UNCP has a commitment to maintaining an atmosphere
of intellectual integrity and academic honesty. Students of the university
pledge to knowingly neither give nor receive any inappropriate assistance
in academic work, thus affirming a personal commitment to honor and integrity.
You are requested to read UNCP’s Honor Code as found in the 2002-2003 Student
Catalog. Included in that publication are rules and regulations governing
student rights and responsibilities, the university judicial system, disciplinary
sanctions, penalties, violations, and types of offenses.
As
defined in the 2002-2003 Student Catalogue, this course is “a study of American
municipal government in is setting and development, power and politics, management
process, administration of services, social and economic problems, planning,
fiscal problems and practices, intergovernmental relations, and emerging trends”
(p. 175).
Students
are expected to be active participants in class by being prepared to discuss
current topics pertaining to the administration of municipal government in
the United States . Therefore, members should review any websites, newspapers,
magazines, journals, etc., that will facilitate this process.
1.
To gain a contextual
understanding of major concepts and issues surrounding the
administration of municipal government in the United
States.
2. To encourage critical thinking about implications
on an individual and community level.
3.
To develop an appreciation
for, and an understanding of, basic analytical techniques used for
local government
decision making.
4. To develop effective group, written, and oral
communications skills.
Textbook (Required)
International
City/County Management Association.1994. Managing Small Cities and Counties:
A Practical Guide.
In addition students
will need to have access to a computer with relevant software. Additional
reading assignments will be placed on reserve at the library
TEACHING METHODS
Teaching methods
involve class lectures, discussions, guest speakers, observations of town
council meetings, and collaborations on oral and written work. Small groups
will be formed in order to allow course participants to gain experience with
“collective work” and to practice combining a variety of perspectives and
skills in confronting issues, events, and personalities seen in the administration
of municipal government.
Final grades will
be based on three exams, three presentations, and two written assignments.
| Evaluation
Method* |
Proportion of Final Grade |
|
|
Examinations |
Exam
1 |
10% |
|
|
Exam
2 |
15% |
|
|
Exam
3 |
20% |
|
Group
Project |
Chapter
Summary (A Collective Grade) |
10% |
|
|
Chapter
Presentation (A Collective Grade) |
10% |
|
Individual
Project |
Project
Plan Presentation |
05% |
|
|
Project
Presentation |
10% |
|
|
Project
Paper |
20% |
*Midterm grades will be determined
by student performance on Exam 1.
NOTE:
The teaching methods for this course emphasize group discussions and participation.
Consequently, attendance is mandatory, and unexcused absences are likely to
lower the final grade. No late work will be accepted under any conditions.
Exceptions for examinations are noted below.
Grading Scale
94
-100= A
90
- 93 = A-
87
- 89 = B+
84
- 86 = B
80
- 83 = B-
77
- 79 = C+
74
- 76 = C
70
- 73 = C-
60
- 69 = D
< 60 = F
Examinations
There
will be three examinations in this course. The first exam will be approximately
one hour and fifteen minutes in length of time and consist entirely of multiple
choice questions. The second exam will also be approximately one hour and
fifteen minutes in length of time and consist of multiple choice questions
(50%) and short answer questions (50%). The final exam will be comprehensive,
two hours in length of time, and consist of multiple choice and fill in the
blank type of questions (50%) and short answer/essay questions (50%). Makeup
exams will not be given except for the most serious of emergencies. If a makeup
exam is given under such circumstances, the exam will be 100% essay style
questions.
Students
will be assigned to small groups. All groups will develop a detailed summary
type paper of an assigned chapter from the text. Each group will then present
their paper to the class as a 30 minute lecture using some type of visual
aid. PowerPoint is preferred but overheads, handouts, or use of the chalkboard
is also acceptable. Groups should submit their papers and presentations to
the instructor at least one class period prior the scheduled presentation
date. When all presentations are completed (currently scheduled for week 14)
the instructor will compile the chapter summaries into a single MS Word document
for distribution to all class participants as a final exam study guide.
Individual Projects
Students will work on individual projects using analytical
tools for local government decision making. There will be three “formal” steps
involved in completing individual projects including a short presentation
of the project plan to the class (5-6 minutes), a written paper (10-15 pages),
and a presentation of the final paper to the class (10-12 minutes). Further
details in relation to individual projects will be announced in class.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Dr.
William Albrecht
244
Alfred L. Dial Humanities Building
Office Hours
Mon
10:00 – 11:00
Tue 11:00 – 12:00
Wed
10:00 – 11:00
And
by Appointment
Voice
521-6822
Fax
521-6446
Email
william.albrecht@uncp.edu
NOTE:
Any student requiring special assistance should notify the instructor at the
beginning of the semester.
The course schedule
lists the lecture and discussion topics and reading assignments for each week.
Due dates for individual project papers, exams, and presentation dates
are also listed. The instructor reserves the right to alter the course schedule
if necessary.
Week |
Dates |
Readings |
Lectures/Class Discussions/Due
Dates |
|
1 |
Jan
09 |
None |
Pre-Test |
| 2 |
Jan 14 Jan 16 |
ICMA:
Chapter 01
ICMA: Chapter 02 |
Course
Introduction The
Role of Analysis in Local Government |
|
No Class |
Jan 20 |
|
Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day |
|
3 |
Jan 21Jan 23 |
ICMA: Chapter 03 ICMA: Chapter 04 |
PERT/CPM Descriptive
Statistics: A Few Basics Part 1 |
|
4 |
Jan 28 Jan 30 |
ICMA:
Chapter 05 |
Descriptive
Statistics: A Few Basics Part 2 Excel
Lab |
|
Outside |
Feb 03 |
|
Town
Meeting a |
|
5 |
Feb 04 Feb 06 |
ICMA: Chapter 06 King (1996) |
Word/PowerPoint
Lab Demand
Analysis |
|
6 |
Feb 11 Feb 13 |
ICMA: Chapter 07 |
Exam 1 Town
Meeting Substitution (Feb 3) a |
| 7 |
Feb 18 Feb 20 |
ICMA: Chapter 08 |
Guest
Speaker (1) “TBA” |
| 8 |
Feb 25 Feb 27 |
ICMA:
Chapter 09 Schneider (2002) |
Individual Project
Plan Presentations Individual Project Plan Presentations |
| No Class |
Mar 04-Mar 06 |
|
Spring
Break |
|
9 |
Mar 11 Mar 13 |
ICMA:
Chapter 10
ICMA:
Chapter 11 |
Groups 1 & 2 Present: Chapters 1 & 2
Groups 3 & 4 Present: Chapters 3 & 4 |
|
10 |
Mar 18 Mar 20 |
ICMA:
Chapter 12 |
Exam 2 Groups 5 & 6 Present: Chapters 5 & 6 |
|
11 |
Mar 25 Mar 27 |
ICMA: Chapter 13 |
Groups 7 & 8 Present:
Chapters 7 & 8 Groups 9 & 10 Present: Chapters 9 & 10
|
|
12 |
Apr 01 Apr 03 |
ICMA: Chapter 14 |
Guest
Speaker (2) “TBA” |
|
Outside |
Apr 07 |
|
Town
Meeting b |
|
13 |
Apr 08 Apr 10 |
ICMA: Chapter 15
|
Groups 11 & 12 Present: Chapters 11 &
12 Town
Meeting Substitution (Apr 07) b |
|
14 |
Apr 15 Apr 17 |
ICMA: Chapter 16 ICMA: Chapter 16 |
Individual
Project Papers are Due Groups 13 & 14 Present: Chapters 13 &
14 Groups
15 & 16 Present: Chapters 15 & 16 |
|
No Class |
Apr 18 |
|
Good
Friday |
|
15 |
Apr 22 Apr 24 |
Review All Readings Read Study Guide |
Individual Project Presentations Individual Project Presentations |
|
16 |
Apr 29 May 01 |
Review All Readings Read Study Guide |
Individual Project Presentations Individual
Project Presentations |
| 17 |
May 05 |
|
Final Exam: 10:30-12:30 |
Important
Additional Information
*Computer sessions will be held in the computer lab which housed in the Oxendine Science Building (Room 106).
*Pembroke town meetings are scheduled for the first Monday of every month. The meetings start at 7:00pm and are held in the town hall. The town hall is located off of Route 711 at the second stoplight (from either direction) in Pembroke.
*Remember: You may substitute other Town Meetings if Pembroke’s is not accessible or if you have interests in another area.
*Possible deviations of any kind from the course outline should be brought to the attention of the instructor prior to commencement.
Updated:
Wednesday, January 8, 2003
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