PLSC 515 – Fall 2013
Public Personnel Administration
Instructor: Kevin M. Welch
Phone: 517-403 0338
Email: kwelch6@gmail.com
Office Hours: 30 minutes before in-class days or by appointment or any time via email.
Introduction
This course examines contemporary administration practices in public sector personnel management,
particularly as related to the local level of government. Areas of emphasis include the collective bargaining
process, discipline practices, grievance handling and arbitration preparation, affirmative action requirements
and recruitment and validation of evaluation and promotion practices.
This course is designed to provide both an overview of public personnel management and a more in-depth
examination of some major issues public managers are expected to deal with today.
This course is designed as a hybrid course, with about 50% of the class time spent in the class room
(face-to-face) and the remaining time spent on line.
Text – You can either purchase a hard copy or an etext. The etext is fairly inexpensive. Keep in mind that you
will only have access to the etext for 180 days and there is nothing to sell at the end of the course. You may
be able to download the etext as well. There should be plenty of used copies of this text available. There is
usually a salesperson with a few on the first day of class. Do not worry if you do not have a text the first class
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Personnel Management in Government Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations, Fifth Edition
by Dennis L. Dresang
Publisher: Longman
Copyright Year: 2009
Publishing Date: 2008/01/28
eText ISBN-10: 0-205-65057-0 eText ISBN-13: 978-0-205-65057-6
Print ISBN-10: 0-205-61679-8 Print ISBN-13: 978-0-205-61679-4
http://www.coursesmart.com/9780205650576
Other Readings
The instructor will assign other relevant readings from the Internet. Students are expected to read these
assignments.
Grading
There are a total of 1500 points to be earned for this class, as follows:
Graded Component
Total Course
Points per
Total
Components
Component
Points
On Ground Class Attendance
7
25
175
On-Ground Class Participation 7
50
350
On-line
8
75
600
Attendance/participation
Writing/Posting Assignment
1
175
175
Final
1
200
200
Total Points
1500
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Grading Scale
Points
1425
1350
1305
1245
1200
1155
1095
Letter Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
Percentage
95-100%
90-94%
87-89%
83-86%
80-82%
77-79
73-76
MPA Students must receive a B or better grade.
General
This class will be a hybrid class, composed of on-ground (where we met face-to-face at the EMU campus) and
the remainder in an online setting.
On Ground Class Participation and Attendance
Participation and attendance are two separate things. Students who simply show up for class will receive only
25 points, but nothing for participation. Students who actively participate in class will receive up to 50
additional points. Face-to-face or on ground class time will be made up of lecture, discussion, exercises, case
studies and small group projects. Students are expected to have read the assigned reading material (including
any case studies assigned or Internet sites identified) prior to the assigned class time and be prepared to
discuss and participate in the class discussion.
Participation is expected in class and includes asking related questions, leading a discussion, volunteering
information and bringing information for the class to discuss.
I reserve the right to lower a student’s grade due to frequent and unexcused absences. I understand that
many students work full-time and have other commitments that at times may result in missed class(s).
Examples of students who will receive full credit for participation and attendance:
Arrive to class on time and stay until it is over.
Complete assigned readings and other work.
Ask or provide related and constructive questions and comments.
Do not disrupt the class with private conversations or other interruptions.
o This includes things like “playing” with a laptop or other electronic device during class.
Consistently participate in the class discussion.
These are examples only and not an exhaustive list. Students who do not participate in class discussion or
group exercises will receive lower points for this component.
Note: It is perfectly acceptable to use your electronic devices during class time, as long as you do so to
enhance the course discussion, take notes or to search for information that is then presented during
class time.
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On-line Attendance and Participation
The course weeks we are not meeting on-ground; we will meet on-line in the class discussion board.
o The Discussion Board consists of threaded discussions by the instructor and classmates to explore material
posted by instructor.
o Students are expected to participate by commenting on the responses by the instructor and by other students.
o Must be completed within the week assigned. Monday- Sunday, midnight, with the week beginning on Monday.
o Active participation in threaded discussions will make the class more interesting and valuable.
o You are expected to actively participate at least four times within each week (Monday – Sunday). You
should try to post over the course of the week, rather than all four in one day.
o Active participation includes relevant and meaningful comments and or input.
INSTRUCTOR PARTICIPATION EXPECTATIONS
Examples of meaningful online responses can include, but are not limited to:
 Substantive comments or questions on other student postings and work
 Substantive comments or questions about other topics related to the course seminar
 References to materials related to the current seminar topics
 Discussion related to business topics or events related to the course seminar
 Posting discussion seminar related materials/articles from other sources
 Work experiences that relate to the seminar
Postings such as "I agree" or "nice job", etc, are not considered meaningful and will result in no credit given for
participation. Students are expected to post responses that contribute to the quality of the class discussion and to the
course. Postings must include your personal interpretation, opinion or evaluation of the topic. Simply posting a quantity of
meaningless comments will not meet my expectations. This course will be interesting if all students participate and
contribute his/her unique experiences.
If you submit articles, be sure to document the author and source properly and follow copyright policies. Students are
expected to bring new information to this class. Posting relevant web sites and other web research tools can be useful to
others in this class.
Online Writing Assignment/Posting Assignment – 175 Points
In order to encourage a wide variety of thinking and interesting discussion, students will be expected to
prepare one position assignment in this course. This assignment can be posted during an online week or
presented to the class during a face-to-face week. The class will be expected to respond to the presentation
with questions and or comments. The purpose of this assignment is for students to present a topic for the
class to discuss.
The student’s grade will be made up as follows:
Quality of topic preparation - 100 points
Topic relevance to course and week
Research conducted
Student’s Interaction 75 points
Interaction with other students
Ability to create interest
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The topic is to be based upon one concept that the student felt the most interesting, controversial, news
worthy or thought provoking for that particular week. The student should select a topic that will generate
interest. The support research may include web sites, news articles or media current events. Outside resources
must be documented. The online assignment must be one page or less. Students may include a web site link
as part of the assignment. The face-to-face version must be 20 minutes or less with 10 minutes of questions
and answer. The student must submit a summary of the face-to-face presentation to the instructor at the end
of the presentation.
For example, a student may choose to write about the controversial issue of merit pay and find an article that
supports or disagrees with this concept. Grading will be based on two factors;
1) Creativity of the topic itself and its complexity to the text and previous class discussions,
2) How well in depth the student supports and explains the topic. Hint: don’t pick a topic and position
that is mirrored in the text or simply is restated from class discussion.
You may also pick a topic or problem you are facing at work and ask the class to help solve that problem or
make suggestions. The only limitation on topic is that it must be related to this course in some fashion.
By the second class, I will ask each student to select a date for their posting. Students must obtain my
approval for the topic. Please provide me with a paper document showing your topic and desired date.
Please use the form attached to this syllabus to submit your topic.
Final Examination 200 Points
The Final examination will be an online, short series of 5-8 questions essay type examination. Students will
have a choice of questions to answer. Each question is limited to one page. The exam must be word processed
in 12 pt normal font, one inch margins. The final exam must be posted on-line. Late exams will not be
graded. I may offer an alternative to this written assignment, which will be discussed the first day of class.
The examination will be provided several weeks before the end of the term and may be completed outside of
class.
Late Assignments
Because all written assignments are due on line, there is not much excuse for late assignments. You are
welcome to post your assignment well in advance of the date it is due.
Extra Credit
I am often asked about the possibility of extra credit. The only extra credit opportunity that I will allow is for
students who miss a face-to-face class, due to circumstances beyond the student’s control. In this case, the
student may replace a face-to-face class by arranging an in-class guest speaker or presenting an additional
student assignment. The student is required to ensure that the speaker focuses on a topic that is related to
the course. The topic does not have to be specific to the course week. The date and topic must be prearranged
with the instructor. The student is expected to introduce the speaker and make all arrangements. There are
limited opportunities for this arrangement as I will only allow one speaker at each class. Note: Keep in mind
that a student who misses a class only looses 75 points out of 1300 total points. This student could
potentially still earn an A- in the class.
Water Cooler - Not Graded
Water Cooler is a completely ungraded discussion area of the eCollege portion of this course which is used by the
instructor and students to share concerns, difficulties they might be having with the course or anything else that is on their
minds. You can use the Water Cooler to vent, ask for help from classmates, provide helpful information, etc. Your
comments are shared with all other students, so be careful what you write.
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On-line Information
Each on-line week begins at 12:01 A.M. on Monday and ends the following Sunday at 12:00 P.M.. Odd things
happen in cyberspace: emails get lost, servers disconnect temporarily, and logins don’t work. Don’t wait until
the last minute to get things done. None of the above is a valid excuse for being late.
Also, please be sure to back up your work on disc or your own hard drive and keep a hard copy. You should
have a copy of all of the work submitted to eCollege for the course in your possession. Accidents do happen.
Instructor “Office” Hours:
Feel free to email or call the instructor during the week if you need to discuss assignments or other class issues.
Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty, including all forms of cheating and/or plagiarism, will not be tolerated in this class. Penalties for an
act of academic dishonesty may range from receiving a failing grade for a particular assignment to receiving a failing
grade for the entire course. In addition, you may be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Services for discipline that
can result in either a suspension or permanent dismissal. The Student Conduct Code contains detailed definitions of what
constitutes academic dishonesty, and it can be accessed online at www.emich.edu/sjs
Classroom Management Issues:
Students are expected to abide by the Student Conduct Code and assist in creating an environment that is conductive to
learning and protects the rights of all members of the University community. Lack of civility and disruptive behavior will not
be tolerated and may result in a request to leave class and referral to the Office of Student Services (SJS) for discipline.
Examples of inappropriate classroom conduct include repeatedly arriving late to class, using a cellular phone, texting, or
talking while others are speaking. Also, using a laptop to take notes is acceptable as well as searching for information for
group projects. However, students who are searching the internet during lectures or other class time is considered
disrupted. I will assume that you are not interested in the class and will therefore be asked to leave the class for the
remainder of the day.
Students with Disabilities:
If you wish to be accommodated for your disability, EMU Board of Regents policy #8.3 requires that you first register with
the Access Services Office (ASO) in room 203 King Hall. You may contact ASO by telephone at (734) 487-2470.
Students with disabilities are encouraged to register with ASO promptly as you will only be accommodated from the date
you register with them forward. No retroactive accommodations are possible.
Writing Standards:
Students are expected to produce quality writing in completing assignments. Unless otherwise stated, all assignments
must be completed in complete sentences – using good form, structure, and grammar. The grade on your assignments
will include an overall grade for content based on accuracy of the information presented.
Research and Writing Requirements
Almost all MPA courses require extensive research and writing requirements, and it is the policy of the MPA program to
utilize the Chicago Manual of Style. This writing style, often referred to as the author-date style, is required by most
publications in public administration and the social sciences more generally. A particularly useful web resource is the
Chicago Manual of Style Online found at http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. The Quick Guide
and the Q&A links offer many resources about the process of citation and writing more generally.
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Another useful reference source, for the APA (American Psychological Association) style and a wealth of resources about
the entire writing process, is the APA Formatting and Style Guide from the Online Writing Lab (OWL)
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/) at Purdue University.
Consider Your Audience
Those who read your message may be in entirely different circumstances than you. They may not instantly recognize
what you are talking about. Your date formats, measurements, and idioms may be totally foreign to others. Avoid slang.
Provide context. Focus on the topic and do everything you can to completely explain yourself. Not everyone in the world is
as wildly excited about your ideas as you are.
Be Brief
There are reams of irrelevant babble on the Internet. Make your words count. Write concisely, and target your message to
the appropriate persons. Don’t repeat what others have already said or simply say "I agree." Be extremely specific in your
writing, i.e. use words that don’t leave readers guessing what you meant. Copying everyone is considered "spam". Ever
had Spam?
Share Your Expertise
One of the primary advantages of the Internet is that people from all walks of life regularly share their expertise with
others. The door swings both ways. Share your information and expertise, and others will do the same.
Learn the Drill
Because voice inflection and body language don’t exist on the Internet, humor or sarcasm can easily be misinterpreted.
Emoticons help, but be careful that you are not offending others by mistake. Remember that TYPING IN ALL CAPS
MEANS THAT YOU ARE SHOUTING, and typing everything in lower case means that you are being submissive
(therefore, use mixed case).
Give Credit Where It Is Due
Plagiarism (claiming as one’s own the work and ideas of others) is juvenile and forbidden. If you are using facts or a quote
to support a cause, always state specifically where you obtained the information.
Getting Help:
For EMU-Online technical support call 888.538.0515 or e-mail helpdesk@emuonline.edu.
F and J visa students; you have 10 days to report any:
 Changes in your name, residential address, academic status (full or part-time enrollment), program of study
or completion date, student level (undergraduate to graduate), or funding source (employment or
graduate assistant position.)
 Intent to transfer to another university.
 Probation or disciplinary action due to a criminal conviction.
In accordance with the new federal regulations, these must be reported to the EMU Office of International
Students (OIS), 229 King Hall within 10 days of occurrence; failure to do so may result in arrest and
deportation. You may drop or withdraw from a course without OIS approval. If you have questions or concerns,
contact the OIS at 487-3116, not your instructor.
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Course Schedule
Each class week will be made up of a series of activities. The goal is to make the time interesting and a
beneficial learning experience for both student and instructor. Online classes will include a series of
questions and website references. Face to face classes will include a brief lecture, case studies or
exercises and a general discussion about some relevant issues that may have developed in the public
sector world. Students are encouraged to bring a topic to class to discuss.
The schedule is subject to change. Please read all Text material before class.
Week #
1
Date
9/10
Face to Face/Online
Face to Face
Text
1&6
2
9/17
Face to Face
3
3
4
9/24
10/1
On-Line
Face to Face
2
15
5
6
10/8
10/15
On-Line
Face to Face
15
8 & 14
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
10/22
10/29
11/5
11/12
11/19
11/26
12/3
On-line
Face to Face
On-line
On-Line
Face to Face
On- Line
On-Line
8 & 14
10
5&9
11 & 12
13
7&4
TBD
14
15
12/10
12/17
Face to Face
On-Line
TBD
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Topic
Introduction to Course/Public Sector
Personnel Administration
Ethics, Employee Rights and
Responsibilities
Merit System Concepts/Patronage
The Mechanics of Collective
Bargaining/Labor Relations
The Political Process and Labor Relations
Positions and How People are
Compensated
Organizational Planning
Employee Selection/Performance
Performance Management
Training and Safety and Health
Employee Discipline
Diversity And Succession Planning
Immerging Issues in Public Sector
Personnel/Reinvention of the Public Sector
Guest Speaker
Final Examination/On-Line Wrap Up
discussion of course
PLSC 515 Fall - 2013
Posting Assignment Submission Form
Student Name:____________________________ Class Week:_____________________
Topic Name (This will appear in course headline):___________________________________________
This topic must relate to something related to this course: Please provide a brief explanation of how it relates.
________________________________________________________________________________
Please provide a brief outline of your topic discussion:
Please submit this on 9/17/13 in class.
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