Dr. Brett S. Sharp, Assistant Professor, has been a practicing public administrator in state and local government for over fourteen years. He received his Ph.D. and Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a B.S. in Political Science/Public Affairs with a minor in Religious Studies from Oklahoma State University. He is currently the Associate Director of the Oklahoma Policy Research Center at UCO. Dr. Sharp is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the Society for Human Resource Management. He is the immediate past president of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. The Oklahoma Political Science Association recently named him as the Oklahoma Political Science Teacher of the Year.

Office Hours:Mon/Wed/Fri 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and Wed 5:00-5:45 PM (and by appointment)

Office:Liberal Arts Bldg 102-J (in Political Science suite)

Email: bsharp@ucok.edu

Telephone:(405) 974-5526 (with voice mail)

Fax:(405) 974-3823

Web Site:  http://www.libarts.ucok.edu/political/faculty/sharp

Analysis of contemporary public administration issues and cases related to citizen participation, decision making, ethics, public health, national defense, bureaucracy, organizational behavior, budgeting and finance, planning, policy analysis, leadership, privatization, management, and human resources. Emphasis on case studies.

This class depends on active student participation and includes several case studies and other in-class simulations. Classroom questions and discussion are strongly encouraged. Students will attend lectures which will orient them to basic concepts and information concerning the practice of public administration. Students are responsible, through self-study and reading assignments, to learn relevant administrative concepts and applications. Students will also present case studies over a variety of public administration issues and review a contemporary book in administrative theory. The student is responsible for retaining backup copies of all homework assignments turned in. The student should also be aware that some flexibility is retained in the syllabus to accommodate invited speakers and other learning opportunities. Students should also regularly check the professor’s web site for any class announcements.

Linden, Russell M. (2002). Working Across Boundaries: Making Collaboration Work in Government and Nonprofit Organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. [Required]

Stillman, Richard J. (2000). Public Administration: Concepts and Cases (7th Ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. [Required]

Scott, Gregory M. & Garrison, Stephen M. (2001). The Political Science Student Writer’s Manual (4th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. [Recommended]

Attendance has its privileges. Class attendance is an important part of succeeding in this class and is expected of all students. Class time provides an opportunity for you to ask questions, clarify issues, and deepen your understanding of the concepts covered in the text. If you are absent, you are responsible for getting any notes, assignments, and schedule changes made on that day. If you come in late, you are responsible for seeing that the attendance record is correct.

In addition, students will have another opportunity to earn points by participating in an in-class case study culminating in a group presentation. For purposes of this exercise, the class will be broken up into teams to present their analysis of the case. Time in and out of class will be required for the completion of this assignment. Further guidance on this project will be provided closer to the time scheduled.

Write a 5-7 page, double-spaced typewritten report over Russ M. Linden’s, Working Across Boundaries: Making Collaboration Work in Government and Nonprofit Organizations. Your report should be in the form of an essay which includes a concise summary and more extensive analysis of the book. This report is due at the beginning of class, Wednesday, April 21. As part of your analysis, answer the following questions within the text of your report:

1.  What is the purpose of this book and what is its central thesis (philosophy or perspective)?

2.  Does the book achieve its goals?

3.  What is the method or approach used by the author to reach his conclusions?

4.  Are the the conclusions credible?

5.  What are the implications for the study and practice of public administration?

6.  What are the primary strengths and weaknesses of the book?

7.  Would you recommend this book to someone interested in public administration?  Why or why not?

Each student will select a Case Study from the textbook by Stillman (or from handouts distributed by the instructor) and prepare a 3-5 page summary and analysis of the contents. These case reviews should also include 2-3 questions to be posed to the rest of the class in order to stimulate class discussion. Each case review will be presented to the rest of the class according to the schedule as arranged with the instructor. Students are expected to make full use of visual aids and multimedia materials if available. Superior papers and presentations will demonstrate original research to update the relevant case study.

There will be two exams during the semester. Both exams will be comprised of essay, short answer, and/or multiple choice questions. The final exam will be comprehensive. Make up examinations will not be offered except for documented emergencies. Even then, an alternate form of the examination will likely be substituted. In case of school cancellation due to weather or other reasons during the scheduled time for the final exam, university policy will be followed in the assigning of grades, which in the past has included the professor’s best judgment to what the student has earned up until that point. Therefore, your best interest is to not depend upon the final exam to make up for previously poor grades.

The University of Central Oklahoma complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need special accommodations should make their requests by contacting the coordinator of Disability Support Services at 974-2459. Their office is located in the Administration Building, Room 211. Students should also notify the instructor of special accommodations needs by the end of the first week of class.

Up to five (5) percentage points of the overall total may be earned by attending select events related to the study or practice of public administration. Typically, one point will be offered for each event. Attendance and/or participation in the Student Symposium (on April 14, 2004) in any capacity will also earn extra credit.

Based upon the Oklahoma Regents’ Statement on Course Workload and Homework [OSRHE II-2-34], a college student should expect to spend 3 hours, on average, on outside work for each hour spent in class. The message the Oklahoma Regents are trying to communicate is that if you have a full time job (30-40 hours) you should not simultaneously expect to maintain a full-time academic schedule (15 hours). If you expect to do well, expect to put in the time!

Cheating = Failure (please refer to attached Academic Integrity Statement). Cheating is unacceptable conduct and will result in an automatic grade of "F" for the course, and be reported to Academic Affairs. Students are required to do all of the work for this class on their own. Copying answers to exercises or examinations from anyone constitutes cheating. Allowing another student to copy one’s answers will be treated as cheating. A student may discuss exercises and case briefs with others before preparing his or her own answers, but the answers must be each student’s own work product. Consulting with the instructor about any assignment does not constitute cheating and is encouraged.

The Political Science Department of the University of Central Oklahoma is asking all students taking political science courses to read the following Academic Integrity Statement. Our purpose in doing so is to ensure that all our students are aware of what is improper academic behavior.