CLCE 390: NGOs in the News

Dr. Heideman

Thursday 6-8:40

DuSable 461

Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 10:45-11:30 and 3:15-4

Office: Zulauf 812

Email:

Course Description:

What are the current challenges facing non-profits/non-governmental organizations(NGOs), both in the United States and around the world? In this course, you’ll learn about current issues NGOs face and the strategies they use to address their own challenges – whether created internally or externally. Starting with a headline, we will discuss the backstory that concerns an NGO.

This class will feature guest speakers with particular expertise, including both academics and practitioners. Through readings before class, interaction with the guest speakers, reflection writings, and student-led discussions, the class will explore a wide variety of domestic and international issues.

You will have the opportunity to work with another classmate to research and put together a case study about an NGO in the News. The case study can reflect negative or positive issues with a nonprofit and how that nonprofit adjusted to its challenges. Aside from critically analyzing a nonprofit, you will present your case study to the class and lead a discussion that challenges the thinking of your colleaguesabout the topic at hand.

Student Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will:

  1. Learn how to find and analyze news stories about NGOs
  2. Develop critical thinking skills by analyzing case studies and applying lessons to other cases.
  3. Improve their understanding of NGO challenges such as fundraising, awareness raising, management, governance, political environment, and conflict within and between organizations.
  4. Improve skills in both written and oral communication
  5. Improve critical reading skills
  6. Learn to lead large group discussions

Course Readings:on Blackboard

COURSE POLICIES:

Attendance: Attendance is required. You may miss one class during the semester without penalty if you contact me in advance of the class to inform me of your absence. However, you will miss any points from participation from those days.

As we will have guest speakers throughout the semester, it is crucial that you are in your seat, ready to begin at the start of class time. Students more than 5 minutes late will not receive credit for attendance.

Preparation: You are expected to come to class prepared. This means you will have completed the readings and any assignments.

Late Work: Late work WILL NOT be accepted without prior written approval from the instructor. All late work automatically loses 10% of the grade per day it is late.

Etiquette:We will have many guest speakers throughout the semester. Please remember that you will be representing NIU to our speakers. Be on time, do the readings in advance, be prepared to ask questions, and put away your cell phone: show that you know how to be a professional!

A good classroom atmosphere requires mutual respect. I expect you to listen to your classmates and respond thoughtfully in discussions. Use of electronic devices for non-class purposes is prohibited.

We have a lot of ground to cover this semester, so it is absolutely imperative that we maintain a positive and active learning environment in the classroom at all times. The classroom is a safe zone for all students regardless of sex, age, race, ethnic background, religion, sexual and political orientation, ability or disability. I expect you all to promote an active learning environment in the classroom by supporting each other intellectually, asking questions (of me and your fellow students), and by being an aggressive learner.
A few basic ground rules:

  • Treat everyone in the class with patience and respect.
  • Be curious and ask questions of your classmates; of our readings; and of your professor.
  • When you speak, remember that you are in dialogue with the entire class. Speak with and listen to your classmates.
  • You are responsible for your own learning and accountable for your own work—I am here to help, but you are ultimately in charge of your own educational experience.

Blackboard: The course website will have important information about this class, including course readings. You are expected to visit the website regularly to check for updates.

Getting in touch with me: Email is the best way to get in touch with me. Please put the class number in the subject line. I will respond to your requests and questions as soon as I can, but please allow at least 24 hours for response on weekdays and 48 hours on weekends. Emails should be limited to questions of clarification that can be answered in a sentence or two. For anything requiring a detailed response or a back-and-forth dialogue, please attend my office hours.

Accommodations:

If you have a disability that requires accommodation for course work, you should work with the Disabilities Resource Center to determine appropriate accommodations.

Email:

Phone: 753-1303.

Feel free to discuss with me any issues that may affect how well you do in the course. While I cannot guarantee any special accommodations for issues that are not technically disabilities, I will try my best to come up with a way in which you can get the most out of this course.

Academic Integrity:

NIU (and I) take academic integrity very seriously. Copying the work of others, turning in writing that is not your own, and not properly citing others are all examples of violations. If I find violations in class, the student will receive an automatic fail on the assignment, with the possibility of additional penalties, depending on the severity of the offense.

For more information, see:

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AWARE OF WHAT CONSTITUTES ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT.

Other Resources:

NIU Writing Center

Assignments and Grading: Your final grade will be made up of the following assignments:

Attendance/Participation/Homework / 10% (20 pts) / ongoing
Bluebooks / 10% (20 pts) / ongoing
Critical Reading Briefs / 30% (60 pts) / ongoing
Discussion Leaders / 10% (20 pts) / ongoing
Case study paper / 15% (30 pts) / 5/5
Case study presentation / 25% (50 pts) / 5/5
TOTAL / 100% (200 pts)

The grading distribution for the class is as follows:

A: 93-100%

A-: 90-92.99

B+: 87-89.99

B: 83-86.99

B-:80-82.99

C+: 77-79.99

C: 70-76.99

D: 60-69.99

F: < 60

If you are unhappy with your grade on a paper or exam, you can raise the issue with me. You must wait at least 48 hours before contesting a grade. Contestation should take the form of a 1 – 2 page memo explaining why you deserve a better grade, followed by a meeting with me during office hours. Your grade can go either up or down upon review.

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Schedule (Subject to change):

January 21: Introduction

January 28:Current issues for NGOs

February 4:Diversity in NGOs

February 11: Starting an NGO (Dan Kenney)

February 18: Managing an NGO(Douglas Clayton)

February 25:Community Foundations (DeKalb County Community Foundation)

March 3:Finding News Articles

March 10: Raising Awareness (Gayle Sulik)

March 17: SPRING BREAK

March 24:cancelled--weather

March 31: Refugee Resettlement (Stephanie Dawkins)

April 7: NGO Sector Growth (Mark Schuller)

April 14:Working Across Cultures (Anthropology Museum)

April 21:Supporting NGOs (Marc Cohen)

April 28:Donor Withdrawal (Laura Heideman)

May 5: Class presentations 1 + wrap-up

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