URBS 401/501: Foundations
Tuesday, 2:00 – 4:45
MH 112
Fall 2011 Syllabus
Dr. Beth Wielde Heidelberg
Office: 106 Morris Hall
Office Phone: 507/ 389-1714
Office Fax: 507/ 389-6377
E-Mail: beth.wielde@mnsu.edu
Office Hours:
Monday, 9am – 2pm*
Tuesday, 9am – 2pm*
*8am – 9am by appointment
Web Site: https://mavdisk.mnsu.edu/wieldb/
Course Description
Foundations is designed to provide a background into the profession of management and planning in the
local government environment. Whether you are a citizen, consultant with municipal clients, or local
government staff, this course will give you insight into the ‘inner world’ of city government.
The main goal of the course is to introduce you to the statutory policies you will need to practice – and
enforce – in local government management and planning. Because most local-level policy is governed by
state (rather than federal) statute, we will concentrate mostly on state statutes, using Minnesota statutes as
a case study. If you plan to practice in another state, you will need to research their statutes – some states
will have very similar policies, others will not.
Foundations intends to serve as a ‘rule book’ of some of the most important laws and policies that you will
use in your practice.
D2L Use
This course will rely heavily on D2L for communication and course materials. If you have not yet activated
your account, you must do so immediately. If you experience trouble with activation, contact the
Academic Computing Help Desk at 507-389-6654.
Readings
Instead of traditional academic/ theory books, I have posted relevant government documents on D2L.
These will serve as your readings. Many of them I have provided more as a reference for you to retain as
you begin your professional practice. I suggest waiting until after the lecture to look through them. You
are responsible for downloading and/or printing these documents.
These are all public government documents and as such do not violate any copyright laws.
Course Grades
Grades will be given based on a points systems. There are 235 points available for undergrad students,
257 for grad students, available for the course. The University allows “shaded” grades (+, -). This course
will use this system:
Grading Scale
Percentage
A+
A
AB+
B
B-
97 - 100%
94 – 96%
90 – 93%
87 – 89%
84 - 86%
80 - 83%
C+
C
CD+
D
DF
77 - 79%
74 - 76%
70 - 73%
67 - 69%
64 - 66%
60 - 63%
59% ↓
Course Projects
Assignment sheets will be posted for hard-copy assignments. Quizzes will also be done on D2L.
DUE DATE
Aug 30
Assignment
Pre-Quiz – What do you already know?
Format
In class
Points
10
Sept 20
Charter and Policy Research
Hard Copy
Oct 4
Management Quiz
D2L
UG – 30
GR - 42
40
Oct 18
Contracts and Clause Elements
Hard Copy
Nov 8
Nov 22
Dec 6
Zoning/ Subdivision Research
Practitioner Interview
Final Quiz – Planning
Hard Copy
D2L Dropbox
D2L
UG – 20
GR - 30
60
30
45
UG = undergraduate students
GR = graduate students
Final Project: Practitioner Interview Due (30 Points)
Students will interview a practicing professional (local government staff, consultant, someone drawing a
paycheck by doing planning or management) to get a sense of what a career in the Urban Studies field is
like in the “real world.” Because you have to rely on other people’s availability to get this assignment
done, I suggest you conduct this interview early in the semester.
Extra Credit Policy
By the time you reach this level in your academic career, you should be able to earn the grades you need
based on performance of the requirements for the class. There is no extra credit option for URBS 401/501:
Foundations (and this is non-negotiable, so don’t try).
“Redos” on Poor Assignment Performance (new policy, F2010)
In the past, I’ve had students request “redos” on poor performance on an assignment. By policy, I will not
permit ‘redos.’ If you are having trouble with an assignment, you should request help before it is due, not
after. This is to ensure one student doesn’t have special points options not available to other students. In
real world policy and planning, you don’t’ get a ‘redo’ if you screw up – you go to court, or pay a fine, or
end up with very angry citizens. There isn’t much room for a learning curve in this profession
If you want to really learn where the error was, I am happy to discuss it with you and try to help you learn
the material, but this will not earn any additional points for the class.
Attendance
Class attendance is crucial. The class is held only once a week, and missing one means missing a significant
amount of material. You are responsible for procuring notes from another student. If you want to discuss
the notes with me to clarify the material, I am happy to sit down with you – but you must bring notes
along with you. This is to avoid “starting from scratch,” as I will not do a second lecture.
I do not take attendance, but I do notice when people are habitually skipping. It’s a small enough class for
me to know who attends regularly or not. Don’t be a habitual skipper. When people habitually skip, I
tend to be much less sympathetic with them when they have questions or real emergencies.
Enrollment
You must be enrolled in the course during the semester to earn a grade. I will not “hold over” a grade,
allowing you to take the class one semester and officially enroll in another. This sometimes happens if the
tuition bill cannot be paid, or there is another dispute on student status. Basic rule: if you don’t have D2L
access, you cannot participate in the class.
Students with Disabilities
MSU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational programs,
activities, or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodation to participate in class activities or
meet course requirements should first register with the Office of Disability Services, located in 0132
Memorial Library, telephone 507/ 389-2825, TDD 711, and then contact me as soon as possible.
Cheating, Plagiarism, and Other Academic Fraud
Simply put, don’t do it, even for extra credit. The worst original work is better than the most perfectly
plagiarized. It’s okay to insert other people’s ideas, just make sure you cite them; after all, you would
want credit for an idea you had, right? And remember, I’ve read and seen a lot of stuff; they actually pay
me to do it, so do you want to take the odds that it’s a paper I’ve used for my dissertation research?
Cheating is not tolerated in any case. If you are caught cheating (and both the T.A. and I are watching!),
you will receive an automatic ‘F’ for the class and your case will be handled according to University policy.
General Education Requirements
This course does not fulfill a General Education category requirement.
This course fulfills an URSI Undergraduate Core requirement
This course fulfills an URSI Graduate Core requirement
Be sure you have not previously taken this course. Dr. Heidelberg will not be responsible for checking past
rosters to see if you were on there – if you accidentally repeat this course, it will not be counted toward
your progress toward graduation.
GRADUATES: If you took this course as an undergraduate at MSU, you may NOT repeat it as a graduate
for graduate credit – the graduate college will not accept it for credit. If you are uncertain if you had this
course before, please check your transcripts. Dr. Heidelberg is NOT responsible for ‘accidental repeats’ or
checking old rosters to see if you were on there.
URBS 401/ 501: FOUNDATIONS
Course Schedule (Subject to Change, especially if I have an opportunity to bring in guest speakers)
What’s Due
TUE
Topic
Aug 23
Syllabus and City Structure
Aug 30
City Council, Open Meeting Law, Meetings
Sept 6
Management Basics
Sept 13
Budgeting, Expenditures and Revenues
Sept 20
Charter Research (UG – 30, Gr –
42)
Sept 27
Guest Speaker – Don Reeder & Mary-Margaret Zindlin,
League of MN Cities
RFP and Contracts (ONLINE SESSION)
Oct 4
Planning Basics
D2L Management Quiz (40 points)
Oct 11
Subdivisions and Plats – Group A
Oct 18
Subdivision and Plats – Group B
Oct 25
Guest Speaker – Dick Edwards, Planning Director, City of
Maple Grove
Guest Speaker – Tom Struve, City of Minnetonka Public
Works
Eminent Domain and Community Development
Nov 1
Nov 8
Nov 29
Public Input Case Studies – Holiday & Ground Zero
(WARNING: Adult Content)
NO CLASS SESSION – Complete and turn in your
Practitioner Interview
Future Cities
Dec 6
Final Quiz (Online)
Nov 15
Nov 22
Pre-Quiz – What do you already
know? (10 points)
Contracts and Clause Elements
Grad (30), Undergrad (20)
Zoning/ Subdivision Research (60
points)
PRACTITIONER INTERVIEW DUE
via D2L Dropbox or in URSI office
D2L Planning Quiz (45 points)