Syllabus

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

EDU 806: Policy Analysis – Spring B 2018

Credits - 3

Description

Policy analysis, formulation and implementation are presented as elements for leaders to utilize in promoting and establishing sound and stable protocols and procedures to guide and govern individuals and organizations in performing tasks and achieving desired outcomes. Means by which transformative leaders introduce new or revised policy with maximum participation and minimum disruption are emphasized. Major national policies will be analyzed to understand their effect in employees and employers. Students will analyze a policy relevant to their stakeholders and propose changes to address equity and access to resources.

Materials

Bardach, E. (2016). A practical guide for policy analysis: The eight fold path to more effective problem solving. (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Describe relevant policy-making process from the perspectives of global, federal, state, local and workplace levels.
Critique and take action on a proposed federal or state policy relevant to your site leadership
Analyze major policies that have had a significant effect on society and the political landscape.
Identify relevant research and integrate these resources for case study analyses and for the final policy brief.
Design and deliver an effective plan for addressing change related to a current workplace policy.
Implement the eight fold path process for policy analysis.
Evaluate the outcomes of policies on individuals and groups within society and the workplace.

Assignments

Analysis of FMLA and ACA Policies

Using the eight-step process, students will submit an analysis of the above policies. This paper should be no more than 8 pages, plus an additional reference page and a title page (APA format.)

Policy Brief

Select a workplace policy that you would like to write about and analyze. Using the Bardach 8-step process, provide a comprehensive analysis of this policy. Include an introduction, a summary of the existing policy ( describe when it was written, what is it, who does it impact, and other details), the 8-step process, and a conclusion in fewer than fifteen pages.

Workplace Policy Presentation

You will create a presentation based on your paper, where you will present a compelling argument for your point of view.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignment	Points
Discussions (6 @ 3 pts; 1@2 pts)	20
Analysis of FMLA Policy	15
Analysis of ACA Policy	15
Policy Brief	40
Workplace Policy Presentation	10
TOTAL	100 POINTS

Grading

The criteria for all courses in the Ed. D. program are described in the modules and/or rubrics. Assignments will include guidelines with rubrics, descriptions of expectations, or examples, and include point values. Coursework will be assessed and graded using individual evaluation protocols that are provided for the three major assignments. Final “grades” will reflect the following schema:

High Pass (HP): Work that exceeds all or most of the criteria of the respective assignment. To receive a high pass the work must demonstrate exceptional command and display of all or most required elements;
Pass (P): Work that meets all requirements and expectations as specified in assignments, and is fully satisfactory in every respect;
Low Pass (LP): Work is deemed unsatisfactory.

Note** The instructor will determine if an assignment may be revised and resubmitted for rescoring. Candidates may proceed to subsequent courses in the curriculum with one LP grade, and although there is no failing grade, a second LP course grade results in termination from the doctoral program.

All assignments are to be completed in a timely manner with appropriate accuracy, detail, thought, and reflection fitting of doctoral-level degree candidates. All assignments (done in writing or with other media applications) are graded on the basis of faculty assessment of your ability to accurately apply concepts from readings, organization, and mechanics. Please note that you must save all submitted documents in Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint in order for them to transmit successfully. All work must be properly identified and include author(s)’ name(s). Submit all written work in APA style (Refer to the APA Publication Manual for guidance; Purdue OWL is an excellent, user-friendly resource).

Schedule

Week	Topic	Activities & Assignments	Dates
1 2/28-3/4	Introduction to Policy	Group Discussion Post and Responses	Due: 3/4 at 11:59 p.m. ET *Post your initial response to the discussion board by FRIDAY.
2 3/5-3/11	The Legislative Process	Group Discussion Post and Responses	Due: 3/11 at 11:59 p.m. ET *Post your initial response to the discussion board by WEDNESDAY.
3 3/12-3/18	Workplace Policies	Group Discussion Post and Responses	Due: 3/18 at 11:59 p.m. ET *Post your initial response to the discussion board by WEDNESDAY.
4 3/19-3/25	Case Study: The Family and Medical Leave Act	Group Discussion Post and Responses FMLA Policy Analysis Paper	Due: 3/25 at 11:59 p.m. ET *Post your initial response to the discussion board by WEDNESDAY.
5 3/26-4/1	Case Study: The Affordable Care Act	Group Discussion Post and Responses ACA Policy Analysis Paper	Due: 4/1 at 11:59 p.m. ET *Post your initial response to the discussion board by WEDNESDAY.
6 4/2-4/8	Policy Analysis: The Policy Brief	Group Discussion Post and Responses	Due: 4/8 at 11:59 p.m. ET *Post your initial response to the discussion board by WEDNESDAY.
7 4/9-4/15	The Uses of Policy: Creating Workplace Change	Group Discussion Post and Responses Workplace Policy Analysis Paper	Due: 4/15 at 11:59 p.m. ET *Post your policy paper and initial response to the discussion board by FRIDAY.
8 4/16-4/22	Presentations	Workplace Policy Analysis Presentation	Due: FRIDAY, 4/20 at 11:59 p.m. ET

Student Resources

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Policies

AI Use

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Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.

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Late Policy

Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

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16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

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UNE Online Student Handbook

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Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.