(12/18) - Final Grades are now posted.  Have a Happy Holiday!

(12/7) - The final exam is now posted (Download exam & handouts).  Be sure to sign and attach your honor pledge.  It is due at 6:30 PM on Monday (12/12).

(12/7) - Your final policy paper is due by 5:00 PM on Friday (12/9). 

(12/1) - Next week (12/5) we will continue discussing the readings on evaluating alternatives and discuss the readings on benefit-cost analysis.  Your final case presentations and memos on Case #12 on solid waste collection are also due. 

(11/21) - Next week (11/28) we will discuss the readings on evaluating alternatives and begin discussing the readings on benefit-cost analysis.  Your final case presentations and memos on Case #12 on solid waste collection are due the following week (12/5). 

(11/10) - Next week (11/14) we will finish discussing the readings on identifying alternatives and then begin discussing the readings on evaluative criteria.  Your group memos and presentations for Case #14 - Emergency Aid for Home Fuel are also due. 

(11/10) - Several students have asked for general advice on memo writing.  This handout provides some general advice on memo writing while this article in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (JPAM) that has a number of useful writing tips (Download).  This website also provides useful style guidelines  (Click here). 

(10/31) - Next week (11/7) we will discuss the readings on identifying alternatives.  Be sure to bring a copy of the handout summarizing all of the generic policy instruments.  Your memo on alternatives for your policy paper is also due at the start of class. 

(10/17) - Next week (10/24) we will begin discussing the readings related to the rationales for government intervention.  The memos and presentations for Case #15 - A Tax on Diapers are also due. 

(10/17) - Groups are also allowed to revise their first case memo.  However, it must be a substantive revision of the memo.  Just correcting the comments I put on your memo will not significantly improve your grade.  If you decide to revise your group memo, you must turn in the original with the revised version and I'll average the two grades. 

(9/28) - There will be no class next week (10/3) because Milan Dluhy can no longer cover the class.  Our next class will be after Fall Break on October 17th.  You should place your problem memo assignments for you policy paper in my mailbox so that I can review them before our next class. 

(9/28) - Our next class (10/17) will focus on the readings related to agenda setting and the public policy process. 

(9/19) - Next week (9/26) we will continue discussing the readings on collecting and interpreting data and defining problems.  Your case memos and group presentations are also due. 

(9/19) - This reading from the CQ Researcher on the future of libraries is a great follow-up to the tour last week.  When compared to the readings from Patton, et al. it readily demonstrates how much the world has changed in a relatively short period of time. 

(9/19) - If you didn't see this article yet on the tough choices facing Wilmington, NC that was in the NY Times, you should give it a read.

(9/7) - You are required to watch (or read) President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress on Thursday, September 8th at 7:00 PM and complete the homework assignment that can be downloaded by clicking here.  We will discuss it when our regular class meets on 9/19.  The library session next week should familiarize you with some of the tools you need to find the information necessary to answer a few of the questions. 

(9/2) - There is no class next week due to Labor Day (9/5).  The following week will be your tour of the Library and research tools available for your final project.  There are two sessions and you can find out which section you are assigned by clicking here.  You should report directly to Randall Library 1022 a few minutes before the scheduled session starts. 

(9/2) - Your group assignments and the cases you are responsible for presenting are also posted. 

(9/2) - Our next regular class session is September 19th.  Be prepared to discuss the readings on what is policy analysis and collecting and interpreting data.  In particular, we will focus on defining problems.  

(8/18) - Welcome to PLS 505 - Policy Analysis.  I will periodically post reminders and announcements on this website so you should check the website frequently.  The syllabus for this class can be viewed on the website or can be downloaded for printing by clicking here.  You should view the course schedule for the topics and dates that readings and assignments are due.  Please check the class web site and your email frequently as the course schedule may change. 

(8/18) - Class begins on August 29th. The first class will begin promptly at 6:30 PM with a panel discussion of city/county managers who will discuss a variety of topics related to the main themes of the class.  We will be joined by the students in the capstone course and will meet in LH 110.  When the panel discussion is over we will discuss the introductory readings and review the course requirements.  You should bring a copy of the syllabus. 

(8/18) - Since this class involves a lot of writing, I advise you read this recent article in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (JPAM) that has a number of useful writing tips (Download).   This website also provides useful style guidelines  (Click here).