PSC 5170 Problems in Public Administration: Grants and Contracts Online University of Oklahoma Department of Political Science Summer 2014

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1 PSC 5170 Problems in Public Administration: Grants and Contracts Online University of Oklahoma Department of Political Science Summer 2014 Instructor Scott Robinson Associate Professor Department of Political Science Office: DHT 304E Phone: Office Hours: phone/skype/g+ sessions available by appointment Course Description The work of public service is increasingly handled through a series of grants and contracts between government, nonprofit, and private-sector actors. As a result, the ability to manage such arrangements is an important skill for practicing public administrators. This course will address the process of managing grants and contracts from the early stages of a search for funding through the implementation and evaluations of a grant or contract based project. This material will integrate what is typically taught in a grant writing class and an introductory class in project management with particular application to these activities in public service organizations. Learning Objectives 1. To identify resources for finding funding for public service projects 2. To understand the project life-cycle and the skills needed at various stages within it 3. To demonstrate mastery of these concepts through the development of a realistic grant proposal for a nonprofit client Required Textbooks 1. Wysocki. Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme. Any recent edition should work (5-7th) 1

2 2. Hall. Grant Management: Funding for Public and Nonprofit Programs. First Edition. Recommended Textbooks 1. Quick and New. Grant Seeker s Budget Toolkit. Any recent edition will work. Course Requirements 1. There will be three weekly assignments to complete individually and a group project that brings these together Assignment #1 Needs Assessment (due at the end of week 1 - Friday by midnight) Assignment #2 Project Task List and Schedule (due at the end of week 2 - Friday by midnight) Assignment #3 Project Budget Sketch and Budget Justification (due at the end of week 3- Friday by midnight) 2. Final Paper as a group two versions of the grant proposal (one 5 pages long, one 20 pages long). Attendance and Late Policy 1. Attendance. In the absence of in-person class meetings, attendance comes in the form of active participation on the course message boards. You are expected to read through other peoples work, provide constructive comments, and react to comments on your own work always in the spirit of mutual respect and education. 2. Late Policy. Given the nature of the compressed schedule, there is little room for late work. Individual assignments turned in after the midnight deadline will be penalized 10 points (this includes if the delay was due to technical difficulties check the technology early to address any problems). Assignments turned in more than 24 hours late will not be considered. This is in the spirit of grant proposal submission. Late proposals (even a single day late) are rarely given any consideration. Grading 1. 3x individual assignments with 20% each 2. 1x group assignment with 40% 2

3 3. Final Grades A = (Excellent) B = (Good) C = (Adequate) D = (Poor) F = 59-0 (Failing) Academic Integrity 1. Academic misconduct includes plagiarism, cheating on exams, improper collaboration, and fraud (such as submitting the same assignment for different classes or fabricating sources). 2. Plagiarism includes (a) Copying words and presenting them as your own by failing to use quotation marks or block quote format even when a source is cited, and even when you change them slightly from the original. (b) Taking ideas, information, and arguments without citing the source even when you express them in your own words. 3. Instructors should not ignore evidence of academic misconduct. Even if students are already doing poorly in a class, they should learn that there is a difference between failing and cheating. In a 2004 survey, 35 % of students at OU admitted to committing acts of plagiarism in the last year. (a) In the course of investigating the incident, the instructor may discuss it with the student, but is not obliged to do so before filing a charge. (b) When an instructor concludes that an incident meets the definition of misconduct, the instructor must either file an admonition or a complaint of misconduct, according to the criteria set out in the Academic Misconduct Code. (c) Instructors may not apply punishments on their own, without filing a charge, for academic misconduct. It is in the interest of everyone involved, students and instructors, that these policies be followed. Most academic misconduct charges result in admissions of guilt by those charged, at which time appropriate penalties are applied. When charges are contested, it is very useful to the instructor for outside parties to bear the responsibility for final determination of responsibility and for the application of penalties. Special Accommodations: The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact the 3

4 instructor personally as soon as possible to discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations in this course. The Office of Disability Services is located in Goddard Health Center, Suite 166, phone 405/ or TDD only 405/ Religious Observances: It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required class work that may fall on religious holidays. Please see the instructor immediately if you will need to miss class any time during this semester. Course Calendar Week 1 (May 12-16: Finding Funding, Needs Assessment, and the Project Cycle) Hall Chs 1-2,5 Wysocki 1-2 Explore to search for grant opportunities (particularly those relevant to your group project) Listen to the audio-lectures on course introduction, funding research, and needs assessment Assignment #1 Needs Assessment Week 2 (May 19-23: Planning Tasks, Personnel, and Schedules) Hall Ch 3 Wysocki 3-5 Listen to the audio-lectures on planning tasks, planning personnel, and planning schedules Watch the youtube videos on MS Project (link will be provided) Assignment #2 Project Task List and Schedule Week 3 (May 26-30: Planning Budgets and Reports) Hall Ch 4,9 Wysocki 7-8 Listen to the audio-lectures on planning budgets, and planning reports 4

5 Begin integrating your work as a team to create your grant proposal Assignment #3 Project Budget Sketch and Project Budget Narrative Week 4 (June 2-6: Planning Evaluation and Proposal Submission) Hall Ch 7,8, and 10 Listen to the audio-lectures on planning evaluations and grant submission Complete your group proposals Group Assignment Two versions of the grant proposal (short and long) 5