Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Program Evaluation

PADM 6450-71I

Course: PADM 6450-71I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 33899

Course Description

This course focuses on principles and methodologies of evaluating programs, measuring performance, and assessing program effectiveness in government and nonprofit entities. The course is designed to introduce material through individual reading assignments, apply it through case assignments and group work, and then implement it through a major team project to be completed on a case study scenario. (As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): PADM 6200 and PADM 6440 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: B- Registration Restriction(s): MPA majors only

Required Texts

There is one required text along with a Coursepack that includes various case studies for this course.
  • Text: Rossi, P. H., M. W. Lipsey, and G. T. Henry. 2019. Evaluation. A Systematic Approach. 8th Edition. Sage Publications. (referred to as Rossi)
  • Coursepack: Harvard Business Publishing Case Studies to be purchased: Harvard Business Cases Coursepack
Other required readings: Selected articles will be required periodically throughout the semester. Articles can be accessed through the SUU online library (sign into your MySUU portal first to ensure access to articles and other library resources) or through attached PDFs.



Learning Outcomes

Program evaluation is a vital component of public administration at many levels. Students trained in program evaluation will be better equipped to collect pertinent information for use in future evaluation, recognize the need for and applications of program evaluation, appropriately solicit program evaluation from internal or external actors, and evaluate the quality of evaluative proposals and reports. By the end of the semester, students will be able to complete the following:

•    Understand the purposes and logic of program evaluation and its processes.
•    Assess the theory and objectives of a program or policy.
•    Determine the research questions that guide an evaluation.
•    Identify the research design and data collection techniques that properly address the research questions.
•    Evaluate the implementation of a program or policy.
•    Evaluate the impacts of a program or policy.
•    Understand, and address, issues of ethics, power, and equity in evaluation.

Course Requirements

We will accomplish the course objectives with the following requirements:
Assignment | Points | Percentage of Total
Intro Discussion Post | 5 | 3%
Reading Quizzes for completion | 30 | 17%
Mini Case Quizzes | 30 | 17%
Program Evaluation Document | 55 | 30%
Prog Evaluation Presentation | 30 | 17%
Group Presentation Feedback | 10 | 5%
Competency Portfolio | 20 | 11%
Totals | 180 | 100%

Course Outline


This course schedule is subject to change. The professor will notify students and post updates on Canvas regarding any changes necessary during the semester. Students are responsible for staying up-to-date with any changes made.

Synchronous lecture: For each module, I will hold a synchronous lecture. This lecture will essentially be every other Wednesday at noon. 

Module 1 – Program Evaluation and Planning (Aug. 27 - Sept. 7)
Reading: Rossi Chps. 1 & 11
  • Mini Case Quiz:
  • Group Milestone 1: Team Charter, Program Description, and Research Goals
  • Introduction Discussion Post
  • *Video Lecture - WEDNESDAY, August 27 @ Noon

Module 2 – Social Problems and Stakeholders (Sept. 8 - 21)
Reading: Rossi Chps. 2 & 12
  • Mini Case Quiz:
  • Group Milestone 2: Stakeholders, Responsibilities, and Needs or Problems
  • *Video Lecture - Wednesday, September 10 @ Noon

Module 3 – Assessing Design, Process, and Implementation (Sept. 22 - Oct. 5)

  • Reading: Rossi Chps. 3 & 4
  • Mini Case Quiz:
  • Group Milestone 3: Program Theory, Logic or Design Model, Program Assessments (Current)
  • *Video Lecture - Wednesday, September 24 @ Noon

Module 4 – Program Outcomes and Economic Efficiency (October 6 - 19)
Reading: Rossi Chps. 5 & 10
  • Mini Case Quiz:
  • Group Milestone 4: Program Outcomes, Measurements (reliable and valid), and Economic Costs
  • *Video Lecture - Wednesday, October 8 @ Noon

Module 5 – Isolating and Exploring Program Effects (October 20 - November 2)
Reading: Rossi Chps. 6 & 9
  • Mini Case Quiz:
  • Group Milestone 5: Impact Evaluation or Needs Assessment (better off without)
  • *Video Lecture - Wednesday, October 22 @ Noon

Module 6 – Evaluation & Analysis (November 3 - 16)
Reading: Rossi Chps. 7 & 8
  • Mini Case Quiz:
  • Group Milestone 6: Biases, Analysis, and Ethical Considerations
  • *Video Lecture - Wednesday, November 5 @ Noon

Module 7 – Final Presentation, Paper, and Wrap-Up (November 17 - December 7) (Thanksgiving Holiday is during this time, no classes between Nov. 24-30)
Reading Chart
  • Course Portfolio Update
  • Group Evaluation Presentation
  • Group Evaluation Presentation Feedback (Due on 12/10)
  • Group Program Evaluation

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

All assignments are due at 11:59 PM (MOUNTAIN TIME) on the day listed in the course outline. It is your responsibility to ensure that the correct and final version of your assignment has been submitted by the deadline. Assignments received after the due date and time are considered late and will be penalized 10% of the possible grade (this includes Discussion Posts). For each week after the initial week that assignments are late, an additional 10% penalty will be applied.

Attendance Policy


This course is fully online. However, virtual meetings will be scheduled and students are encouraged to attend the meeting or watch the recording afterwards.  Recordings of class meetings and discussions will be posted in the Media Gallery in Canvas for that course’s shell.

Group presentations in virtual meetings will require that students be in attendance for those meetings.  Contact your instructor if you have a conflict to work out an alternative option. 



Course Fees

N/A

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.