Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Public Human Resources Management (Online)

PADM 6500-71I

Course: PADM 6500-71I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32442

Course Description

This course provides MPA students with the knowledge and skills to supervise and manage employees. Topics include how to set performance expectations, motivate and coach for performance improvement, comply with HR rules/regulations, and incorporate staff needs into the budget process. (Fall [Online], Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): MPA majors only

Required Texts

Berman, Bowman, West, Wart (7th Edition). Human Resource Management in Public Service. Thousand Oaks: Sage [978-5063-8233-3]

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Understand the mission, scope, and functionality of public sector HR in general and in your organization
  2. Understand the challenges and liabilities involved in balancing employee, organizational, political, governmental, legal, and contractual requirements when managing HR matters
  3. Understand how the role of all managers is critical to effective employee engagement and productivity in the workforce
  4. Learn and practice HR-related skills, methods, and processes to enhance the effectiveness of management and leadership skills, as well as professional interactions in the workplace

Course Requirements

Memo & podcast project - Learn and practice HR-related skills, methods, and processes to enhance the effectiveness of management and leadership skills, as well as professional interactions in the workplace
Case Studies - Identify and apply human resource skills to real-world public sector challenges.  Communicate and coordinate with other stakeholders in resolving human resource challenges.
Reflection Journal - Understand how the role of all managers is critical to effective employee engagement and productivity in the workforce
Participation - Understand the mission, scope, and functionality of public sector HR in general and in your organization

Course Outline

Pay attention to due dates.  Assignments need to be turned in by 11:59 pm on the due date. 

  1. Participation - 15% of the total grade.  As you can see from this course outline, participation is crucial.  Participation will include the following:
    1. Orientation - Participation is expected.  I will hold a synchronous (live) orientation during the first week of the semester. The purpose of this orientation will be to review the syllabus and assignments as well as the expectations of the student.   
    2. Lecture participation - There are recorded lectures approximately each week of the course, which you will need to listen to. Material from the lectures should be incorporated into your course papers, course discussions, and case studies, where applicable. A failure to include lecture material in these assignments could result in a lower or failing grade. Lecture material will need to be properly cited. 
    3. Synchronous get-togethers - There will be additional lectures (Front Porch discussions, MPA lecture series) that you need to participate in, either live or by viewing the recording.  I will notify you well in advance of such an event.  If you are unable to attend these synchronous meetings, prior arrangement needs to be made with the professor.
    4. Course portfolio updated - You will be required to update your portfolio for this course and submit the URL to the semester by the end of the semester.
  2. HR topic memo & podcast - 25% of total grade.  During the semester, you will have one moderately sized paper and the development of a human resource training podcast (also known as a professional project.)  Details about paper and podcast requirements can be found in those modules. Please remember that the memo must be written in memo style following SUU MPA Style Guide.  The Style Guide information can be found in the Resource folder in Modules. A failure to follow these guidelines will result in a "0" grade for that assignment. 
  3. Case Study Discussions - 25% of the total grade.  You will be assigned a group within the first two weeks of the semester.  You will have two case studies spaced throughout the semester.  They will cover approximately a three-week period each.  Each week, some components of the case study will be due.  The first week will be individual work.  The second week of each case study will require you to work in groups and prepare a ten-minute video of your group analysis and assessment.  The third week will be an individual reflective assignment.  Groups will be created the first week of the course.  Each student will as the group leader at least once (and likely more often) throughout the semester.  Specific guidelines for case-study work are found in the module entitled Case Study Discussion Guidelines.  These assignments will represent a quarter of your grade for the semester and should be placed as a high priority in your semester studies.  The expectation of the case study assignments is that the students will actively engage in case study review, research, group discussions, and consideration of the application.  Furthermore, outside research and productive dialogue will be expected in these assignments.  
  4. Application/reflection journal - 20% of the total grade.  Each week as part of my lecture and the reading, you will have a journaling question. These are reflective questions that you will be asked to think about and respond to. There are two parts to this assignment. First, you will be graded on submitting your assignment by the due date. No partial grade will be given for this portion of your journal. You will submit it on time and receive full credit or after the deadline and receive no credit. Second, it is at the end of the semester that your journal will be reviewed and graded for the quality and comprehensiveness of your response. 
  5. CV/Resume/Cover letter - 15% of the total grade. You'll be asked to develop your curriculum, Vitae or résumé and to draft a cover letter for either a potential job in local government or higher education. As part of this assignment, you'll be required to work with the SUU Career Center and have them review these documents. Your completed resume can then become a part of your academic portfolio, which is required in the Capstone course.

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

Late Policy - In order to avoid point reduction, prior arrangements will need to be made between the student and the professor for any assignments to be turned in late.


Attendance Policy

This is an online course. Attendance policy will be provided by the instructor.

Course Fees

None

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.