| Course
Information |
| Course
Description: |
Historically, private nonprofit institutions have served as
mechanisms for citizen participation, social responsibility, and
collective action in the resolution of societal problems. From social
service agencies, foundations and churches to museums, schools, and
professional associations, the nonprofit sector includes a diverse array
of organizations, all chartered with a particular public or collective
purpose. This course introduces the nonprofit sector of organizations and
the role(s) it plays in society.
The course will utilize readings, discussion, case
studies, and a written assignments to expand student awareness of the
scope and breadth of the nonprofit sector in the United States, examine
the inner workings of nonprofit organizations, and provide a foundation
for further study related to the field of nonprofit organizations.
|
| Course
Objectives: |
This is a survey course examining theoretical,
philosophical, practical and ethical perspectives related to nonprofit
organization creation and administration. Upon completion of the course,
the student will possess an understanding of:
1) the historical development of the nonprofit sector,
2) the multiple rationales for the existence of the
nonprofit sector,
3) the distinctive characteristics of nonprofit
organizations,
4) the structures, processes and complexities of
organizational governance shared by volunteer board members and
professional staff,
5) the dynamic environment of the contemporary nonprofit
organization, and
6) the current issues of importance to nonprofit
decision makers.
|
| Prerequisites
and Corequisites: |
None. |
| Course
Topics: |
History and Scope of the Nonprofit Sector; Starting a
nonprofit Organization; Nonprofit Governance; Strategic Planning;
Program Evaluation, Revenue Acquisition and Marketing; Volunteerism;
Financial Management; Risk Management; Lobbying and Political Activity;
and the Future of the Nonprofit Sector. |
| Specific
Course Requirements: |
|
| Textbooks,
Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements |
| Required
Textbooks: |
Please visit the Virtual Bookstore
to obtain textbook information for this course:
http://rodp.bkstr.com |
| Supplementary
Materials: |
None. |
| Hardware
Requirements: |
See
RODP
Minimum Requirements |
| Software
Requirements: |
See
RODP
Minimum Requirements |
| Assessment
and Grading |
| Testing
Procedures: |
Exams will be "open-book."
Exams are designed to both reinforce key concepts and allow the individual
student to expand his or her knowledge base through personal research work
or from other students in the class via chats and discussions. |
| Grading
Procedure: |
All exams will be provided on-line a minimum of seven
days before the due date. Late exams will be penalized one letter grade
for each 24 hour period late up to 72 hours. Any exam over 72 hours late
will receive a failing grade and not completing the final exam will
result in an automatic failing grade. All assignment dates for a given
module will be announced upon the start of that module and will also be
listed in the assignments section of the course calendar. While the
grading emphasis of the assigned written assignment will be on their
topical content and quality, consideration will be given to the
technical quality of the writing; therefore grammar, spelling, sentence
structure, organization, and the like should not be ignored. |
| Grading
Scale: |
The following grading scale and assignment value
percentages will apply:
100 to 91 - A
90 to 81 - B
80 to 71 - C
70 to 61 - D
60 and below - F |
| Assignments
and Participation |
| Assignments
and Projects: |
The course will be structured into learning modules. Each
module will have readings and graded activities such as case study
analysis, development of a case study, written exams, and class
participation. |
| Class
Participation: |
You will be expected to participate in all interactive
aspects of the course. For example, you will be assigned to groups at
various points in the course to discuss case studies. You are also
expected to communicate with the instructor as a learning resource.
Students must check the course bulletin board frequently for
announcements and must actively participate in threaded discussion
events. |
| Punctuality: |
The course is divided into modules to give you a
structure to your progress through the course material. You need to meet
deadlines or due dates of projects, discussions, assignments, exams, and
all aspects of the course. |
| Course
Ground Rules |
|
Online participation is required. In addition to
completing readings and assignments, you will be expected to...
-communicate with other students in team projects
-learn how to navigate in WebCT -keep abreast of course announcements
-use the assigned e-mail address in WebCT (as opposed a personal e-mail
address)
Be sure to address technical problems immediately and
observe course netiquette at all times. |
| Guidelines
for Communications |
| Email: |
1. Always include a subject line.
2. Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the
wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be
helpful in some cases.
3. Use standard fonts.
4. Do not send large attachments without permission.
5. Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html,
etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or
other communication.
6. Respect the privacy of other class members. |
| Discussion
Groups: |
1. Review the discussion threads thoroughly before
entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
2. Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a
new topic.
3. Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of
the discussion group. Be respectful of other's ideas. 4. Be patient and
read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your
remarks.
5. Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
6. Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
7. Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner. |
| Chat: |
1.Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat
session.
2.Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory
statements.
3.Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.
4.Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.
5.Be constructive in your comments and suggestions. |
| Web
Resources: |
TBA |
|
Library
|
|
The
Tennessee Board of Regents Virtual Library is available
to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links
to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases,
interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps,
and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to
complete online assignments and as background reading must be included
in all courses. |
|
Students
With Disabilities
|
|
Qualified students with
disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic
accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability
services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability
accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written
verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from
the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's
responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's
disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for
having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor. |
|
Syllabus
Changes
|
|
The
instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this
syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the
instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by
individual email communication and posting both notification and nature
of change(s) on the course bulletin board. |
|
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