Course Syllabus
HR 5773 - Policy, Program, & Practice
Faculty Contact Information
Caveat
Course activities will be modified in "real-time" due to low enrollment.
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Description
This course explores the role of policy, programs, and practices that empower students to evaluate, create, and execute critically oriented evidence-informed policy solutions in public and private sectors (e.g., government and non-government settings). For example, students will examine notable policy in the U.S. that was designed to address issues of inclusion and practice for marginalized populations. Further, students will identify and discuss key programs that have been designed as a response to policy solutions that increase access, equality, promote equity, and forge strategic change.
Course Prerequisites
Graduate standing or permission of instructor.
Course Materials
- There are no required textbook(s) for this class, however additional reading sources may be recommended.
- Journal articles will be the main source of reading in the course and provided through canvas.
- Computer access with internet, video chat function, word-processing capabilities, and an updated web browser are needed
Grades
Breakdown
Assignments will be used to evaluate students' abilities in synthesizing and applying material from the lectures and the class readings. Successful work with cooperative groups is also required. The grading breakdown is as follows:
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | Weekly Live Sessions | 10% |
| Group Presentation | Students will create a presentation that is an examination and development of policy and programs | 25% |
| Group Paper | Students will submit a written assignment that is an examination and development of policy and programs | 25% |
| Reflections | 3 reflections throughout the semester on your thoughts/perceptions on topics related to issues discussed in this course. | 25% |
| Peer Review | Two peer evaluations (on the presentation and paper) is required once groups submit their projects. | 15% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Participation
Each week, we will meet for Live Sessions online. Attendance/participation in the Live Session is highly encouraged and will be graded. There are two ways in which you can earn points for the Live Session:
- Participate Live: This option should be your preferred choice. When possible, you should attend and participate in the Live Sessions in real-time. To get credit for your attendance, type in the date and time of the session you attended by clicking on the red "Start Assignment" button at the top the Live Session page. Your self-reported attendance log will be cross-checked against the attendance tracker in Zoom.
- Make-Up (Watch Recording-Submit Written Summary): In the event that your time zone, work or personal schedule makes it impossible for you to attend, you will need to review the recording of the Live Session and write a paragraph summarizing the Live Session from your perspective. Click on the "Start Assignment" button to type (or copy/paste) your paragraph into the text field. Don't worry if the system indicates your submission is late. You will have until Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Central to submit your paragraph summary.
Note: Be sure to utilize option 1 or 2 for each of the Live Sessions to receive full points. Regardless of when the session occurred, you must post your response based on option 1 or 2.
Group Presentation
On the final week of class, each group will deliver a presentation of their policy proposal. This presentation can utilize any visual format you choose (PowerPoint, a Group Poster, Prezi etc.) but there must be a visual.
Your 10–15-minute presentation should provide a brief introduction of the literature and other relevant data, an overview of the policy, potential programs, and other outcomes.
Group Paper
For this final paper, each student will be added to a group and asked to develop a proposal for a new policy to address an issue facing one of the Modes of Marginalization. The policy is expected to be innovative and new, however, you are able to provide an addition to current policy where you are attempting to fill in any noticeable gaps/ or limitations found, for example:
- in its historical roots (literature review)
- in any current programmatic efforts to assist in addressing the policy
- in data or noteworthy changes since the policy’s inception
For this paper you will need to include the following:
- a title page
- introduction
- literature review that demonstrates a need for policy
- any relevant data that supports the need for the policy
- rationale
- an overview and description of the policy
- target audience
- description of potential programs related to the policy
- potential transformation in practice outcomes
This paper is expected to be between 13-15 pages (excluding title and reference pages), and double-spaced. All references and paper formatting are expected to be in 7th ed. APA format.
Reflections
Having an opportunity to reflect on your own experiences with the subject matter is a great way to develop an understanding of the relevance and importance of policies, programs, and practices. You are required to complete three reflection papers throughout the course. Reflections are your thoughts/perceptions on the topics related to issues discussed in this course. You will be provided the literature to review and questions to respond to in a written 2–3-page paper.
Peer Review
As part of the group project, members will also be asked to evaluate group members for participation and provided a separate grade.
Course Policies
Communication
Please address me as Dr./ or Professor Pulley.
Email is always the best way to reach me. You should expect a response within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays). If 48 hours or more have passed without a response, a follow-up email may be sent. Weekends and holidays, you can expect a response the following business day.
Any urgent questions or concerns that require more immediate attention should be flagged as such in the subject line (simply write “urgent”). During the week, you can expect a response to an urgent request within a few hours. However, on weekends the response time remains the following business day.
I will communicate with you via the “announcements” section of your Canvas page as well as through Canvas messages. No email will be sent to non-OU email addresses. It is essential that you check the “announcements” regularly as well as that you read and use your OU email.
Feedback
Students can expect a one- week turn around for feedback and grades on their activities and assignments. However, there are times that reviewing assignments can extend beyond this window where extenuating circumstances occur. In this case, I will notify students via announcements/or email in Canvas.
Late Policy
All late work will receive a one letter grade deduction (e.g., A drops to a B) after the first 24-hours it is late. Any work handed in more than 7 days after the deadline will NOT be accepted. A grade of 'zero' will be entered.
Late work will only be accepted for full credit if an acceptable excuse is provided. An acceptable excuse takes the form of a documented personal illness or emergency (e.g., a doctor’s note) or documentation of required participation in a work or government-sponsored activity that precludes the completion of the required coursework (e.g., a notice of jury duty). However, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the professor in the event that they experience difficulties completing their work in a timely manner. Each case will be considered on its own merits. If your instructor does not know that you are struggling, they cannot help you!
Holiday Policy
Beginning Summer 2021 Zoom LIVE sessions that occur on Monday holidays will be held as usual. Students who are unable to attend can view the recorded session in Canvas that is available the next day.
Note: While we require/offer classes on holidays, if a faculty member cannot teach on the holiday, the expectation is that the class content for that week will be taped and made available to students. As for students, our existing policy applies: if a student cannot attend class on a holiday, they will have access to the taped class lesson/session and be required to complete class assignment(s) as instructed.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Access the University Academic Policies Document.