PUAF 202

PUAF 202

Contemporary Issues in Leadership and Public Policy<= /p>

Fall 2006

Mondays, 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm

1126 Taliaferro Hall

Instructor: Dr. Robert Waters &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Campus Telephone: 301.405.5793

Associate VP for Acade= mic Affairs = &nb= sp; = Home Telephone: 202.667.8988

and Special Assistant = to the President = &nb= sp; = E-mail: rewaters@ umd.edu

1119 Main Administration= Building &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp;

Office hours: Monday <= st1:time Minute=3D"0" Hour=3D"13" w:st=3D"on">1-3pm and by appt.

Teaching Assistant:= Tyrone Stewart = ; &n= bsp; = ; Campus Telephone: 301.405.2342

Program Coordinator &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; E-mail: tstewart@umd.edu

Rawlings Undergrad. Leadership Fellows Prog.

1118A Taliaferro Hall = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

Course Overview

Description

This course, designed for participants in the Rawlings Undergraduate Leadership Fellows Program, exposes students to a variety of public policy issues and introduces them to the skills necessary to become competent public leaders. This course is structured as a 15-week lecture se= ries where you will hear from local elected officials, leaders of non-profit organizations, members of state and county agencies, and faculty from the School of Public Policy. T= he course will also include weekly journals/reflection papers and a final proj= ect outlining your interest in a specific policy issue.

Objectives

= 1. To understand the public policy process and several of the major issues which = face policy makers, legislative bodies and other leaders.

= 2. To develop informed and nuanced views on issues of public importance.

= 3. To understand and be able to respectfully debate and discuss your views of pol= icy with your classmates.

= 4. To be able to intelligently articulate, orally and in writing, summaries of the key factors involved in major policy debates.

Expectations<= o:p>

1. Attendance and participati= on

Each student is expected to come to class prep= ared, having read and contemplated the readings, and ready to share his or her perspectives, questions, and insights.&nbs= p; This course is conducted primarily as a seminar. The success of the class depends l= argely on the extent to which students engage in active discussion and debate arou= nd the issues posed in the lectures and readings.

2. Timeliness = of work

&nb= sp; Students are expected to complete all required readings and assignments as scheduled. Late assignments m= ay result in the lowering of a student's grade. Incompletes will be granted only f= or exceptional circumstances.

3. Ethical practices

All stud= ents are expected to abide by the code of academic integrity throughout this course = and all other courses offered at the University of Maryland. Academic dishonesty, including che= ating, fabrication, and plagiarism will not be tolerated and will be reported to t= he Student Honor Council. Studen= ts who have questions about the code, or their obligations under the code, should contact the instructor or the Office of Judicial Programs and Student Ethic= al Development (4-8204). The ful= l text of the University’s honor code is available on the web at: www.inf= orm.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Departments/jpo/code_acinteg.html.

4. Special nee= ds

A student with a documented disability or any = other special need who wishes to discuss academic accommodations should contact t= he instructor as soon as possible. The University is obligated, whenever possible, to provide appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities. Students who have questions about = their rights or accommodations may contact Disability Support Services (4-7682).<= /p>

5. Religious holidays

Students= will not be penalized because of their religious beliefs and observances. Whenever possible, students will be given reasonable time to make up any academic assignment that is missed due= to participation in a religious observance.&n= bsp; Students should inform the instructor of any conflicts between the course schedule and religious observances as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements may be made.

6. Instructor responsibilitie= s

The instruc= tor and teaching assistant for this course have high expectations not only for students in the course but also for themselves. Students should expect that the instructor will:

· Be prepared for class, read and return students’ work in a timely manner, and be interested and engaged in students’ projects;

· Remember that each student brings a different research background, experience, and perspective to this course;

· Learn from the students;

· Meet with students individually or in groups upon request and be available in person, by telephone, and by e-mail; and

· Work hard, have fun, and empower students to pursue their interests in these areas.

Course requirements and evaluation

Research Briefs

In the weeks preceding an invited speaker or speakers, students will be responsible for gathering and disseminating information to support their general view on a given subject in a shared written document.= A small amount of research will be required for these activities in which you= use public polls, academic research findings, or media/pundit viewpoints to gro= und your perspective. Your responsibility during the “shared readings” classes will be to disseminate your own view on the given subjects to the rest of the class. <= /p>

These documents should clearly and succinctly articula= te a description of the problem or issue as they see it occurring in the world (= no more than a 1-2 pages).

a. What evidence do you have that this is a problem/issue? Summarize your research = for this week.

b. Who are the people affected by this problem?

c. Who is the group or body that is/or should be mobilized to deal with this probl= em? And why should they act responsibly toward for the affected persons?

During the class period in which these views are shared by all classmates, it is expected that individuals will begin to form into groups of opinion. But more than simply dividing into groups during these sessions, we will question the validity of the evidence presented by each person, we will explore the ideological reasons for formi= ng the groups that we do, and discuss our expectations of the coming speakers.=

Journal Entries

You= will submit a weekly journal entry, reflecting on weekly readings and discussion= s. The journal entry must be e-mailed by the end of the day on Friday of each week.

Reflection Paper

You= r final paper will provide an opportunity to reflect on your semester experience and its relation to public leadership. This 6-8 page paper should discuss a specific policy issue and how you plan to engage as an agent of change whil= e in the Rawlings Program

Grade Calculation: Grades will be= based on the following point scale:

Par= ticipation &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 40 points

Res= earch Briefs &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 20 points

Jou= rnal Entries = &nb= sp; = 20 points

Refle= ction Paper &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; 20 points

PUAF 202: Contemporary Issues in Leadership and Public Policy

Meetings Monday (4-5:15) in Taliaferro 1126 unless noted otherwise with an asterisk = (*).

September 11^th

Welcome and introduct= ions from program directors, the instructor, and staff. Class introductions/ice-breaker. R= eview of the syllabus. Questions.

September 18^th =

Class Discussion/deba= te – Minimum Wage/Economic and Labor Policy – “Minimum Wage: Would raising the minimum reduce poverty?” (CQ Researcher)

September 25^th =

Speaker Date: Profess= or Mark Lopez, School of Public Policy. <= /p>

October 2^nd

Class Discussion/deba= te – Democracy, the Middle East, and American Foreign Policy – “Democracy in the Arab World: Will U.= S. efforts to promote democracy succeed?” (CQ Researcher)

October 9^th

NO CLASS <= /span>

* October 11^th <= o:p>

Event Date – &#= 8220;Can Religion be a Bridge for Peace in the Middle East?” 10-12 at, Maryland Room, Marie Mount Hall.

October 16^th

NO CLASS

* October 18^th

Event Date – &#= 8220;Rebuilding with Tools for Social Justice: Hurricane Katrina One Year Later” 11am-6:30pm. Stamp Student = Union

*October 23^rd

Class Discussion/deba= te – Katrina and the New Culture of Disaster – “Disaster Preparedness: Is the U.S. ready for another major disaster?” (CQ Researcher)

October 30^th

Class Discussion/deba= te – Education in Maryland= – “No Child Left Behind: Is the law improving student performance?” (CQ Researcher<= /i>)

November 6^th
Speaker Date – = John E. Deasy, Chief Executive Officer of Prince George’s County Public Schools.

November 13^th

Class Discussion/deba= te – TBA

November 20^th <= /p>
Speaker Date – = TBA

November 27^th <= /p>
Class Discussion/deba= te – TBA

December 4^th
Speaker Date -TBA

December 11^th <= /p>
Wrap-up, evaluations