LEADING AND MANAGING VOLUNTEERS
PLS 592
Fall Semester 2014
Jeffrey L. Brudney, Ph.D.
Betty and Dan Cameron Family Distinguished Professor of Innovation in the Nonprofit Sector
Academic Director, Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO)
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC 28403-5607
brudneyj@uncw.edu
(910) 962-3920 (voice)
(910) 962-3286 (fax)
Introduction
PLS 592, Leading And Managing Volunteers, addresses major issues in the involvement
of volunteers in the nonprofit and public sectors. The course focuses on the two main types of
volunteers: service volunteers and policy volunteers.
“Service volunteers” are those who assist organizations in undertaking or supporting their
major operational tasks, such as delivering services to clients (for example, providing mentoring,
counseling, etc.) and facilitating the work of paid staff (for example, performing administrative
and maintenance tasks for the organization, such as filing, telephone, etc.). When people speak
about volunteers, they usually mean these “service” volunteers. Equally important are
“governance” or “policy” volunteers, those who serve on the board of directors or policy-making
committees of nonprofit organizations (for example, finance committee, nominations committee)
and are entrusted with decision-making authority. Normally called board members or directors
or trustees, these volunteers bear ultimate responsibility for the organization, and offer strategic
guidance and leadership to it.
The course will closely examine both types of volunteers. With regard to service
volunteers, the course considers the design and organization of volunteer programs, including
background on volunteerism, elements of the volunteer program, structuring the volunteer
program, job design for volunteer programs, volunteer motivation and retention, and evaluation.
With regard to governance or policy volunteers, or directors or trustees of nonprofit boards, the
course considers the general requirements of board members, as well as some important models
of board governance.
This course is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at UNCW. The course
will be conducted in seminar mode, and students should come to class prepared and ready to
participate in discussion. The course may substitute for the internship requirement for the Public
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Administration Minor as a “Culminating Professional or Field Experience,” depending on
whether the undergraduate student chooses to conduct a project in the community to satisfy the
requirements of the course.
Readings
Required Book:
McCurley, Steve, and Rick Lynch. Volunteer Management: Mobilizing all the Resources of the
Community. Third Edition. Plattsburgh, NY: Interpub Group, 2011.
Other Required Materials:
Other required readings have been posted to Blackboard under the week(s) in which they will be
used.
Recommended Book:
Brudney, Jeffrey L. Fostering Volunteer Programs in the Public Sector: Planning, Initiating, and
Managing Voluntary Activities. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1990.
Course Materials and Access
I have posted materials used in the course on Blackboard. You will need to access these
materials.
Email Communication
Email should be used for short communications only. If you have an issue or concern or
question that requires in-depth explanation, please contact the instructor to schedule a meeting.
Cell Phones
Cell phones are to be turned off during class.
Portable Computers/Tablets/and the Like
Students are encouraged to bring computers/tablets/and the like to class to facilitate
learning. Computers/tablets should be used for class purposes only.
Disabilities, Respect, and Harassment
Students with diagnosed disabilities should contact the Office of Disability Services
(910-962-7555). Please give me a copy of the letter you receive from the Office of Disability
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Services detailing class accommodations you may need. If you require accommodation for testtaking, please make sure I have the referral letter at least one week prior to the examination.
UNCW has instituted a Respect Compact to affirm our commitment to a civil
community, characterized by mutual respect (http://www.uncw.edu/diversity/src.html). Students
are expected to treat others in this class in accordance with this campus policy.
UNCW practices a zero tolerance policy for any kind of violent or harassing behavior. If
you are experiencing an incident of this type contact the police at 911 or UNCW CARE at 910962-2273. Resources for individuals concerned with a violent or harassing situation can be
located at http://www.uncw.edu/wsrc/crisis.html.
Academic Integrity
All provisions governing academic integrity and the Honor Code at UNCW will be
observed and enforced (http://uncw.edu/odos/honorcode/).
Group Work
In some class sessions students may perform group work. Please accept your group
assignment so that class can proceed smoothly. Groups will likely be organized around various
nonprofit sub-sectors such as:
Environment
Historic Preservation
Education/Mentoring
Youth Recreation
Public Safety/Criminal Justice
Services for Older People
Library/Literacy
Homelessness
Housing
Transportation
Healthcare
Animal Welfare
Late Assignments/Incomplete Grades/Extra Credit
The grade “incomplete” (I) will be granted only in the event of serious extenuating
circumstances that occur after the withdrawal period, and will require documentation from the
student. Unless provisions have been made in advance with the instructor, late assignments will
not be accepted. This class does not allow “extra credit” beyond the required assignments: Do
your best work on the regular course components.
Evaluation of Student Performance
Evaluation of student performance will be based on the components below with the
percentage of the grade as indicated (in parentheses). We will discuss these components at our
first class session.
Class Participation (20 percent)
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This class will be conducted in seminar mode, and students should come to class
prepared to share their learning. Students may have individual reading assignments that they
will lead in discussing during class sessions.
Research Project/Applied Learning Experience/Training Module (60 percent)
This component of the course is intended to provide an in-depth learning experience
tailored to the interests of each student. Preparing a traditional research paper/project, or
undertaking an applied learning experience in the field (I can help to find a suitable
organization/opportunity), or developing a training module (for example, on recruiting
volunteers on-line, organizing an effective nonprofit board of directors, etc.), or creating a
demonstration program are all possible options. Other options exist as well: I would be pleased
to discuss with you. For those students who choose a traditional research paper/project I have
included as an Appendix appropriate guidelines.
Presenting the Research Project/Applied Learning Experience/Training Module (20 percent)
Students will present their Research Project/Applied Learning Experience/Training
Module to the class. Students should plan a presentation of 12 minutes (15 minutes maximum)
that is accessible to participants (for example, on PowerPoint), and provide copies of materials
that participants need to follow their presentations (if necessary).
Changes in Course Components and/or the Weights Accorded to Them
Should it prove necessary to change these components, or the weights accorded to them, I
will discuss these changes in advance with you.
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Course Schedule and Location
This class meets on Mondays, from 3:30 to 6:15 pm, in Leutze Hall, Room 246,
according to the schedule below. All readings refer to Steve McCurley and Rick Lynch,
Volunteer Management: Mobilizing all the Resources of the Community, Third Edition. Other
readings appear in Blackboard under the week(s) in which we will cover them.
August
25: Introduction
to the class,
review of
syllabus and
course
expectations
(Week 1)
September
1: Labor Day:
No class
8: Why a
nonprofit Sector?
Who are the
volunteers? Size
and
demographics of
the volunteer
pool, Chapter 1
(Week 2)
15: Policy
volunteers:
Boards of
Directors
(Weeks 3-4)
22: Organizing
the volunteer
program I,
Chapters 2-3
(Weeks 4-5)
29: Organizing
the volunteer
program II,
Chapters 2-3
(Weeks 4-5)
October
6: Motivating,
recruiting, and
retaining
volunteers, and
job descriptions
for volunteers I,
Chapters 4-6
(Weeks 6-7)
13: Fall Break:
No class
November
3: Managing
Volunteers for
Performance II,
Chapters 7-12
(Weeks 8-9)
December
1: Participant
presentations and
class reflection
on learning
(Week 13)
10: Volunteerpaid staff
relationships and
volunteer risk
management,
Chapter 13-14,
(Week 10)
5 (Friday), 3:00 –
6:00, if needed:
Final
Examination.
Please do not
make
arrangements to
leave campus
before this
date/time.
20: Motivating,
recruiting, and
retaining
volunteers, and
job descriptions
for volunteers II,
Chapters 4-6
(Weeks 6-7)
27: Managing
Volunteers for
Performance I,
Chapters 7-12
(Weeks 8-9)
17: Measuring
volunteer
program
effectiveness,
Chapter 15
(Week 11)
24: Volunteer
management as a
profession,
Chapters 16-18,
(Week 12)
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Appendix
Research Paper/Project Guidelines
Paper Guidelines:
• Minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 pages (excluding bibliography and cover page);
number the pages starting with the first page of text.
• 12pt font (Times New Roman or Cambria), double-spaced, 1” margins on all sides of the
page, and stapled.
• Minimum of 12 outside references (i.e., readings not on the course syllabus) from
legitimate academic sources (i.e. peer reviewed journals, not online blogs, Wikipedia, or
periodicals such as The Nonprofit Times). Assigned readings and course material should
be integrated in the paper but do not count toward the minimum 12 outside sources.
• Cite in APA or MLA format (in text and in works cited).
• Papers should be prepared in WORD.
• While the substance of the paper is the most important component, papers should be well
written and free of grammatical errors.
• Print and submit your paper: Electronic submissions will not be accepted.
Suggested Journals:
• Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
• Nonprofit Management and Leadership
• Voluntas
• Public Administration Review
• Administration & Society
• Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory
• American Review of Public Administration
• International Journal of Public Administration
• Public Administration and Management
• The Academy of Management Review
• Many others possible!!
Suggested Books:
• Connors, Tracy D. (ed.). The Volunteer Management Handbook: Leadership Strategies
for Success. Second Edition. New York: Wiley, 2012.
• Musick, Marc A., and John Wilson. Volunteers: A Social Profile. Bloomington, IN:
Indiana University Press, 2008.
• Powell, Walter, and Richard Steinberg (eds.). The Nonprofit Sector: A Research
Handbook. Second edition. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2006.
• Renz, David O. (ed.). The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit Leadership and
Management. Third edition. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass, 2010.
• Seel, Keith (ed.). Volunteer Administration: Professional Practice. Second Edition.
Markham, Ontario, Canada: LexiNexis Canada, 2013.
• Many others possible!!