Housing and Community Development (PADM 545) Summer 2012

Southern University

Public Administration Department

PADM 545

Housing and Community Development

Summer 2012

Instructor:        Leslie Taylor-Grover, Ph.D.

                        Assistant Professor

Office:             409B Higgins Hall

Contact:           E-mail:          leslie.t.grover@gmail.com(preferred)

                                                leslie.grover@subr.edu           

                        Office:             (225) 771-4260

           

Office Hours:  Tuesday and Thursday 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (official)

By Appointment

After class

Prerequisites:   None

Class Time:      Tuesday and Thursday 6:00 PM to 8:50 PM

Class Location:  Higgins TBD

Mandatory Course Materials   

·         This course requires an e-mail address that you check regularly. Though all students have an e-mail account with the university, it is suggested you also have an alternate e-mail address not affiliated with the university. I will communicate using Blackboard from time to time. You should expect to communicate via e-mail and via Blackboard.

·         Note: Class lectures will come from a variety of works and given solely by the instructor. Students should take extensive notes.

Class Attendance and Make-up Policy

            This is a graduate level class; therefore, class attendance is mandatory. Excuses for missed classes or for tardiness are not needed or accepted, as you are expected to be present at all classes, given the intensive nature of this course. Should a student miss a class session, please note it is the responsibility of the student to follow-up on any missed class information. If a student misses more than three class sessions, it is highly recommended the student drop this course, as the nature of the class work and assignments are so intensive many students find it impossible to maintain a passing grade in this course.

            There is no make-up work, extra credit or late work accepted in this course under any circumstances and with any exceptions. However, assignments may be turned in early.

Major Assignments

This course has four major assignment types. Please note if a student misses the group projects, skill assessments, reflection papers, or any combination of these, the student receives an automatic grade of D or F, depending upon points from the other assignments. Also, if a student receives zero points on any of the other assignments, including skill assessments or other written case study assignments, the student will receive an automatic grade of D or F, depending upon points from other assignments:

1.      Skill Assessment Group Assignment/Cheat the Grover Challenge (30%): This assessment will come mid way through the summer session and in it your group must prove and create an assignment that demonstrates your knowledge of the class material up to this point. Your group must create both an oral presentation lasting 15-20 minutes and you must submit a group paper of three to five pages in APA format, including references that summarizes and complements your presentation.

2.      Policy Reflection Papers (15%): This assignment consists of short papers based on your own  interpretation of the assigned housing topic. Your policy reflection paper must be at least one page and no more than three pages.

3.      Film Interpretation Assignment (15%): This assignment consists of a series of film based on the housing topics assigned in class. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding and policy options for the issues posed in the film through both individual and group assignments.

4.      Group Housing Project (40%): The final exam is a completed community project based on your research and built around the class concepts. You will be expected to give an oral presentation of your paper to the class as a group.

Grading 

This class is graded on a ten-point scale. Please note there is no grading curve for this class, nor is there a “rounding” of points. Your final grade is assigned exactly on the number of points you receive on your assignments. Fractions and decimal points are rounded using the .5 standard. For example, if your final points equal 89.4, your grade is B; if your final points equal 89.5 or above your grade is A:

A: 90-100

B: 80-89

C: 70-79

D: 60-69

F: 59 and below          

A — Excellent. Student exhibits exemplary creativity through a close reading and critical analysis of the required materials. Style is lucid and engaging with zero grammatical or analysis-based mistakes. Directions are followed perfectly and completely.

B — Good. References to the course material are well-selected and topical. Critical analysis is present, but largely rehearsed from class lecture and discussion. Student's style is clear and has few mistakes. Directions are followed perfectly and completely.

C — Satisfactory. References to the course material are well-selected and topical, but student performs little or no critical analysis. Problems exist in student's work. Work consists mostly of underdeveloped ideas, off-topic sources or examples, inappropriate research, or anecdotes. Directions may not be followed completely or student improvised the assignment’s directions.

D — Unsatisfactory. Student does not engage with the material and no critical analysis is present. Substantial problems exist in student's work.

F — Fail. Student does not submit work, or work is below unsatisfactory level.

Disability Statement

Students with disabilities of any kind who wish to request accommodations in class should register with the appropriate university offices early in the semester so appropriate arrangements may be made. In accordance with federal laws, a student requesting special accommodations must provide documentation of their disability to the university.  Students should also notify the instructor in person and in writing, should they wish to declare a disability of any kind.

Academic Misconduct Statement

Students are expected to practice academic honesty in every aspect of this course and all other courses. Students should ensure they are familiar with the Student Handbook, University policy and Departmental policy especially the section on academic misconduct. Students who engage in academic misconduct are subject to university disciplinary procedures. Any student involved directly or indirectly in any form of academic dishonesty will receive a grade of F in the course and may be subject to suspension or expulsion from the MPA program.

Forms of academic dishonesty include the following:

·         Cheating: deception in which a student misrepresents that he/she has mastered information on an academic exercise that he/she has not mastered; giving or receiving aid unauthorized by the instructor on assignments or examinations.

·         Academic misconduct: tampering with grades or taking part in obtaining or distributing any part of a scheduled test.

·         Fabrication: use of invented information or falsified research.

·         Plagiarism: unacknowledged quotation and/or paraphrase of someone else's words, ideas, or data as one's own in work submitted for credit. Failure to identify information or essays from the Internet and submitting them as one's own work also constitutes plagiarism.

Purpose of This Course

The purpose of this course is to expose students to concepts in housing and community development with special attention to socioeconomic status. Students will gain critical thinking and critical writing skills, as well as provide hands-on laboratory for the application of these skills.

Course Goals

            The goals of this course include both theoretical and applied. They include the following:

·         Exposing students to housing concepts.

·         Exposing students to community development concepts.

·         Exposing students to the thought process for beginner’s level community research writing and critical thinking.

·         Providing students the opportunity to engage in critical thinking and critical writing exercises based on housing, community development, public policy and public administration issues.

Student Learning Outcomes

            At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to do the following:

·         Recognize the components of a comprehensive plan.

·         Recognize the elements in beginning the process of research for a public policy/administration white paper.

·         Critically analyze community issues and planning issues, particularly for low-income populations.

·         Evaluate, critique and summarize research reports, comprehensive plans, and urban planning applied case studies.

·         Present and summarize scholarly work to peers.

Writing Requirements for Submitted Assignments/Papers

All class assignments and papers submitted (graded or ungraded), exams and research projects must conform to the following requirements:

·         Be typed/word processed.

·         Conform to APA style in terms of citations, references, and so forth. All information used must be properly cited with the corresponding reference listed in the reference page. Information cited should be from the correct source document. 

·         Not include any information copied and pasted from other sources, including from any website. 

·         Sparingly use direct quotes (direct quotes are to be used only if paraphrasing would lose the essence of the comment/information being conveyed).

·         Use size 11 font and double spaced unless instructed otherwise. Use only Times New Roman or Modern No. 20 style.  Margins should be 1” other than the left margin (1 ½”) unless instructed otherwise.

·         Rely on scholarly information or other nationally recognized sources.  In presenting any concept, students should be able to demonstrate through the use of the literature they are aware of (and pivoting the discussion around) the authoritative articles/books/authors on the subject.  If expert opinion is used, the person(s) should be recognized as an authority on the subject. 

·         Not use Wikipedia and avoid the use of general dictionaries (including those on-line).  If a term needs definition, scholarly sources should be used.  

Nonconformance to any of the requirements listed above can result in one of the following: a reduced grade, the refusal of the professor to accept the assignment/paper/exam, a “0” (no credit) or other consequence as determined by the individual professor.  

Any information used for which the source is not duly/carefully cited is considered plagiarism. Plagiarism can result in a "0" on an assignment/paper/exam and/or an "F" in the class and/or a letter of reprimand in the student file.  If extensive, plagiarism can result in a recommendation for academic suspension or expulsion.  

Southern University addresses plagiarism in its policy on Academic Dishonesty:

Academic Dishonesty: The University defines academic dishonesty in two categories—premeditated and unpremeditated fraudulent behavior. Premeditated fraud is defined as conscious, pre-planned, deliberate cheating with materials prepared in advance. It may consist of committing plagiarism—failing to identify sources, published or unpublished, copyrighted or uncopyrighted, from which information was taken.

http://web.subr.edu/fileadmin/files/pdf/08undergradcatalog.pdf

I reserve the right to update or append this syllabus at any time during the course of this semester.

Summer Research Section (Universal)

Research Section Syllabus (Universal)

Southern University
Public Administration Department
Research Section

Instructor: Leslie Taylor-Grover, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Office: 409B Higgins Hall

Contact: E-mail: leslie.t.grover@gmail.com

Office: (225) 771-4260


Office Hours: Varies
By Appointment
After class

Prerequisites: PADM 502, PADM 503 and PADM 511
Written permission from instructor

Class Time: Varies

Mandatory Course Materials
This course requires an e-mail address that you check regularly. Though all students have an e-mail account with the university, it is suggested you also have an alternate e-mail address not affiliated with the university as well.

No special assignments or arrangements will be made to accommodate work schedules, family schedules or other personal issues. The decision to undertake graduate level work includes the willingness and ability to make sacrifices in order to achieve your goals. This class is based on the assumption students are interested and willing to do the work necessary to do well in this class.

Recommended Course Materials
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition (This is also known as the
APA Style Guide).

Mastering APA Style Student’s Workbook and Training Guide, 6th Edition by Harold Gelfand, Charles J.
Walker, and the American Psychological Association.

Associated Press Stylebook (Any edition)


Course Description
This course is the second in the series of research classes in the MPA program. At this point, students have selected a research chair and students are ready to start/continue the process of completing a successful MPA Research Project of Thesis. As it states in the MPA Handbook, this second class is limited to those who have completed PADM 502/503/511 and have selected this professor as their chair.


Class Objectives
Because research/thesis supervision is a very individualized process, completion rates of all objectives vary greatly. Students may finish or come close to completion by the end of a semester or it may take two semesters or more – beyond the semester calendar of this particular class. Generally speaking, the completion of the MPA Research Project/Thesis depends on these elements:
• The extent of the literature reviewed prior to the start of the class and therefore the readiness of a student to select a purpose and “hit the ground running”
• The willingness and ability of students to dedicate concentrated time to the research process
• The rigor or demands of any individual research project. For example, if human subjects are used, it will take extra effort, time, planning and preparation for IRB approval.

Ideally, students will achieve at least three of the following objectives:
• Identify a topic, problem being addressed, purpose and hypothesis (if required/desired)
• Identify and collect appropriate literature/previous studies on the subject
• Identify an appropriate methodology
o Identify the research design
o Identify the population and sample (if a sample is used)
o To identify the appropriate data to be collected, the best source of that data, and the most appropriate means to use to collect the data
• Determine the timeframe of the study
• Determine the location of the study
• Determine the appropriate statistical techniques to use for that specific purpose
• Initiate/complete the IRB process, if needed
• Collect the data following the prescribed methodology
• Manage the data, present the findings and interpret the results appropriately
• Improve writing skills from one draft to the next
• Accurately use APA style for the purpose of the MPA Research Project/Thesis
• Understand the concept of plagiarism and write the paper in such a manner that there is no
plagiarism.

Learning Indicators
As stated previously, this class is individualized and progress depends on several factors, therefore there can be no standardized or blanket template for a class as a whole. Rarely will a student finish all and graduate in the same semester. Most often, students will succeed in completing certain steps in the research process during the research class and complete the rest in a subsequent semester. Successful students will have completed one or more of the following:
• Selected an appropriate topic, problem to be addressed and purpose. The indicator for success is
the chair’s (instructor’s) approval
• Selected an appropriate hypothesis, if used. The indicator for success is the chair’s agreement.
• Selected sufficient literature on the topic. The indicator for success is the chair’s agreement.
• Selected the appropriate methodology for the study. The indicator for success is the chair’s approval.
• Selected the appropriate statistical techniques for the study. The indicator for success is the ability of the student to articulate a basic understanding of the technique, to the chair’s satisfaction and approval.
• Completed the IRB process, if needed. Indicator for success in learning the IRB process and following the proper protocols for protecting human subjects is the IRB approval.
• Collected the data per the prescribed methodology. The indicator for success is the chair’s
Approval. Managed the data and interpreted the results appropriately. The indicator for success is the chair’s agreement.
• Exhibited proficiency in the use of APA. The indicator for success is no mistakes in the application of the APA style in the student’s research project.
• The writing of the MPA Research Project is done without any plagiarism.
• The indicator of success is approval of the chair, typically assisted by an on-line search to assure originality and accuracy of citations.
• The MPA Research Project is professionally written, edited and proofread. The indicator of success is no grammatical mistakes. The editing meets with the chair’s approval.
• To successfully complete the MPA research project. The indicator of success is the defense of the project and the approval of the committee as indicated by their signatures.

Class Requirements
Instruction Methods: The syllabus, MPA Student Handbook including the research policies and the MPA
Research Handbook are available electronically as well as on reserve in the PADM main office. Each student must have access to Blackboard and must register for the class on Blackboard. Because research is an individualized process, the class will rarely meet as a whole. Rather, it is the responsibility of the student to make and keep frequent appointments so that the progress of the research project can be reviewed. Students should email drafts (depending on the stage of the research process) prior to the appointment.

Part I: MPA Research/Thesis Policies
All students in the MPA program must successfully complete either a thesis or research project.
Before you make the choice, you need to discuss the option with your research chair. The research option may include a white paper, applied project, theoretical analysis, literature review or other deliverable as decided by the research committee and the student. For the purposes of this document, these will collectively be described as the research project.

Theses differ from research projects in a few fundamental aspects. Additionally, the Graduate
School prescribes guidelines to be followed for theses. A thesis must have a hypothesis to be tested. Theses use a theoretical framework; for example, some theses test an existing model or construct a model to be tested, using various theories.

Second, a thesis must “exhaust” the literature, in other words the student, through the review of the literature, should demonstrate that he or she thoroughly knows and is able to appropriately and comprehensively use the literature base for that topic/purpose.

Research projects may also exhaust the literature and have a hypothesis, but they are not required to do so. Research projects, unlike theses, can be practitioner-based research. In other words, research projects can focus on a topic, purpose, methodology, and analysis of data that has an important and practical application in some organization. Students can elect to conduct a practitioner’s project (for example, a job satisfaction study of or community image project for their own organization) or a case study. Regardless, the quality must meet the expectations for graduate level work.

A thesis proposal must be defended at least a semester before the defense of the completed thesis.
The thesis proposal must include: introduction, purpose and hypothesis, review of the literature, and methodology. A proposal defense is not required for research projects.

The thesis title and committee members must be registered with the Graduate School, on the date per the academic calendar. The title and thesis chair will be listed on the commencement program.

The Graduate School will review theses, but not research projects. The approved, completed thesis is to be submitted per the Graduate School guidelines (or per the Chair of the Department).

Theses and research projects should focus on issues/topics relevant to public policy, public administration and public management and can include topics common to the MPA concentrations and core: health care services/management, economics and public finance, policy analysis, program evaluation, not for profit management, ethics, organizational theory and behavior, political science, and a broad spectrum of public policy issues (for example, health care, education, public assistance programs, criminal justice, the environment, international affairs, and so forth).

Registration for research/thesis hours
As of the spring semester, 2006, students are to take the first three hours of research/thesis
(Research I ) through either PADM 610 and PADM 502 or through PADM 502 and PADM 511 within the first semester of the program of study, but no later than the second semester.

Students must complete PADM 511, 512 (or be enrolled in 512) and 543 (or demonstrate proficiency in spreadsheet applications and SPSS) before taking the second/last three hours of Research or Thesis.

Students are not to take the second three hours of research/thesis until a chair has been selected and the chair has agreed to chair the research.

Research/Thesis Committee
Students must select (and gain an agreement from) a research chair upon the completion of 24 hours in the program of study and prior to registering for the second three hours of research/thesis.The chair of the research or thesis should be a tenured (or tenure track) faculty in the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, MPA Department.

Committee members can be selected within the university and among adjunct faculty. Outside members (outside the university) require the approval of the Chair of the Department. Committee members are to be selected by the student, with the approval of the research chair. It is the student’s responsibility to gain the agreement of the committee member selected.

There must be a minimum of a chair and two committee members for a thesis, but only a chair and one committee member for a research project (the committee can be larger, at the student’s discretion and in consultation with the chair).

Both the thesis and Research Project require six hours, which cannot be taken in the same semester. Independent research hours cannot be substituted for research or thesis credits. Only six hours of research/thesis can count toward the program of study.

Every semester a student should give his/her research chair a plan (goal) for what will be accomplished that semester. The student’s grade (pass/fail) will be based upon progress toward that stated goal.

Most chairs expect to review several drafts of the research project, at various stages of development.

Students are not to collect data without the chair’s approval of the instrument and approval of other aspects of the methodology (for example, the population to be surveyed and sample method). Chairs also reserve the right to examine all data collected, both in hard copy (e.g., returned surveys) and data file copy.

If the research relies on data collected from people (human subjects), the research proposal must receive Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.

The student’s research chair reserves the right to step down as chair (typically this happens if there is lack of satisfactory progress toward completion of the research project but may occur for other reasons).

Students can also elect to change research chairs, if needed. If a faculty resigns as chair or if a student elects to change research chairs, the onus of responsibility is on the person (faculty or student) initiating the change to notify the other party.

When graduation forms are completed, students are to provide the Chair of the Department with a list of the research chair and committee member(s).

Defenses
Research projects and theses are to be defended within the week listed on the academic calendar.
Or, if the Graduate School schedule is not posted, the Chair of the Department will determine the defense week (typically, four weeks before the date of graduation). The Chair of the Department will post the defense week a month in advance of the defenses. This announcement will be posted on the bulletin board at 409 Higgins Hall, as well as on the department’s Facebook page.

The defense will be scheduled if and only if the research chair considers the draft worthy of defense. Only the research chair, not the student, can schedule a defense. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the committee member of the date and time of the defense and to assure that the committee member is available.

Committee members are to have copies of the approved defense draft two weeks prior to the defense, or earlier if required by the research chair. No defense draft may be submitted to committee members if less than a week prior to the defense week. The chair must certify the defense draft as acceptable for defense, prior to submission to the committee members.

At the defense, students are to keep the presentation short and crisp. In one-half hour or less, the student should provide the purpose, significance, methodology, findings and implications.

Students may receive a Pass, Conditional Pass, or Fail. If given a Pass, students will be expected to make the necessary revisions (generally, minor). A Conditional Pass indicates that major revisions are needed. A Fail indicates that the thesis/research project is considered unacceptable.

Typically, a Fail indicates that the project is flawed, incomplete, and/or lacking the quality of a graduate project.

The Final Research/Thesis Product
Unless the project is failed, students have approximately one week to make the required corrections and submit the revised thesis/research project. (If the student fails to make all required corrections within the time limitation, the research project/thesis will not be approved and he/she will not be allowed to proceed to graduation.) The final project must be submitted on the date posted. Failure to meet these deadlines disqualifies an applicant from graduating for that semester.

Oral examinations are covered during a student’s thesis defense.



Style and Publication
• When approved by the research chair, the thesis/research project is to be printed on cotton bond paper (not less than 25% cotton).
• Except on the left-hand side (1 ½), the margins are to be one inch with a font of 12.
• Citations and references should follow the style of the American Psychological Association (APA). Any other style must be approved by the research chair.
• Theses use chapters: Introduction, Statement of the Problem (includes purpose,research questions and hypothesis), Significance, Limitations, Review of the Literature, Methodology, Analysis, and Conclusion. A new chapter will start on a new page. Research projects have sections, not chapters, with a continuous flow from one section to next (in other words, new sections do not start on a new page).
• After the final copy of the research project has been approved, Students are to obtain the signature of their chair and committee members. Those signatures and the signature of the Chair of the Department constitute approval of the project (this approval certifies that the student meets the research requirement for graduation).
• After the signatures are obtained, the student shall keep a copy of the signature page for his or her own records and a copy shall be filed in the student’s Departmental file.
• The student is to have the research project bound (hard cover binding). That service can be obtained at LSU Graphic Services, 3555 River Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803. 225-578-2800.
• Research projects are to have black binding with the name of the student and title of the project in gold on the spine. The printing, in gold lettering, on the front of the bound copy is to be the same as the title page (first page of the research project). Students must have one copy bound for the department and may have other copies bound at their discretion. The bound departmental copy must be submitted to the department prior to the date of graduation.
• Theses are to follow the graduate school guidelines regarding submission. For theses, students are to pay for binding at the business office on campus. That paid receipt must accompany the thesis.
• Theses students are to supply one copy for the department (and pay for its binding). Other copies may be bound at the student’s discretion.
• Allow at least 6 – 12 months for a personal bound copy to be returned to the Department and placed in the mail. Students should keep a current contact address on file.

Part II: Class Grading and Deliverables
Though this class is individualized, you are still required to put effort and work into this class. If you do not engage in the weekly e-mail updates, or if your fail to turn in your preliminary documents and your final write-ups, you will receive a grade of NP or F in this class – regardless of who serves as your committee chairperson.

Preliminary Document
This document must be submitted in hard copy to the main office in PADM in my mailbox, to me, or to the secretary no later than 12 noon. Your document is not to exceed two single spaced pages and must include the following information:

• Evidence you have completed 502, 503, 511, 512 or a combination of 610 and 502, 610 and 511 or 610 and 512. If you are not a public administration student, and are a public policy student you must submit evidence of completion of at least 9 hours in your program. Students from other disciplines are not permitted to take my research section without express permission from me before registering for the class. All students not submitting this information will be dropped from my class roll or will receive a grade of F.
• Your Name
• Your Committee Chair
• Your Department
• Your proposed topic
• Your intended goal for this class
• A project timeline for completing your research
• This statement: I verify all information I am submitting is true. I agree to abide by all deadlines I have set for myself, as well as those listed in the syllabus. I have read the syllabus, and I understand and agree to abide by its contents. I understand should I refuse to do so I will receive a grade of F in this class.
• Your signature and date below this statement
• Attach all other documents you wish me to review if you have already started your work.