Course Syllabus
This page provides highlights from the course syllabus
Meet your instructor
Welcome, my name is Cheryl Hughes, MBA and I am a Senior Lecturer with O'Neill-SPEA. I have been with O'Neill-SPEA since 2008 teaching courses in Human Resouces, Leadership and Management. I look forward to an amazing semester.
Email: ckhughes@iu.edu
Phone: 812-855-2844
Office location: SPEA 335 (note: Note A335 which is a classroom)
Office Hours: By Appointment (students will schedule Zoom or face-to-face office hours by emailing the professor. I found this more respectful of your time and eliminates students waiting outside my office for long periods of time)
Course Description
Course Description: SPEA-V 479 Employee Recruitment and Selection in the Public Sector (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 373. This course will provide an in-depth examination of organizational staffing process in the public sector but is also relevant to the private and non-profit sectors. Effective employee selection and talent utilization for increasing organizational effectiveness will be covered. Other topics include the planning process, retention, and identifying talent.
The focus of this course is best practices of strategic manpower planning, advanced compensation and reward systems, and developmental interventions all make for a foundation culminating in an "organization of choice" rather than an "organization of last resort." Topics covered include the development of a qualified pool of candidates, labor force trends, long term strategic growth and retention. Within that focus, I have selected class materials that present a variety of topics and arguments, including possible connections between our course and current and/or historical events outside the classroom will come up in (lectures/class discussions/ assignments). Those connections may require careful thought rather than being immediately obvious, but the ability to understand and analyze connections among ideas and events is a core skill in professional career and will stand you in good stead in your life beyond IU.
Students will develop their ability to understand and analyze current and/or historical events through the lens of concepts from this course.
Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Develop a basic understanding of the theory, practice, principles, concepts and language of employee selection, recruiting, career management and succession management.
- Develop an understanding of recruitment, staffing and career management processes and how these elements interrelate.
- Learn how to develop an integrated recruitment and selection strategy in both traditional and new economic organizational environments.
- Understand the key elements of succession management to sustain competitive advantage.
How much time should you be spending on this class: This is a standard 3-credit semester length class, you are expected to spend an average of 6 or more hours outside of class per week on reading, studying, assignments, etc.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS
One e-text book is required for the course. The e-text will be available on your Canvas Course site.
I will provide you with additional materials, which will enhance your knowledge of Hiring and Selection in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Additional readings will be posted to this class’s Canvas Module Tab.
Technical requirements
You will need the following to participate in this course:
- Desktop or laptop computer
- Paper and Pen or Pencil (bring to each class session)
- Reliable Internet connection
- Webcam
- External microphone or headset with built-in microphone
- Some way to make and post a simple video (e.g., using a webcam, or a smartphone)
- Access to Canvas
- Access to Kaltura
- Use of phones, laptops, or other devices for non‑course activities is prohibited during class. (Note: No phones should be out or in use during class.)
Technical support
For additional help with technical issues, consult:
- University Information Technology Services (UITS) (phone and online support)
- IU Knowledge Base (IUKB) (information and how-to articles on all supported UITS software and services)
- Canvas Student Guide (information and step-by-step instructions for all of Canvas's tools and features)
Course Assessment & Grades
Course assessment:
See Canvas Modules/Assignments for a full list of assignments for this course.
Submitting assignments
Assignments will be submitted on Canvas/Assignments, unless otherwise instructed by instructor.
Assignments will be submitted through Turnitin on Canvas
How will I know how I’m doing in this course?
Grades will be posted in Canvas within 72-96 of the due date unless otherwise indidcated by instructor. The Canvas Grades tool shows the grades given to individual assignments as well as your calculated course grade based on the assignments that have been graded thus far. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact me.
Use of generative AI (such as ChatGPT) in this class. Using AI to assist in completing assignments will be allowed only in the following ways:
- “ChatGPT may be used to find sources.” OR “In Assignment as instructed, will be using and citing ChatGPT as part of the assignment. See Assignment for details.”
All other use of AI is prohibited. You are permitted to use the free version of Grammarly and Microsoft Word’s spelling and grammar tool.
If you use AI in an unauthorized manner, you will be committing plagiarism* and will be subject to penalties in this class and sanctions by Indiana University.
WARNING: Submitting any questions, assignments, notes, slides, or other instructor-produced course materials into Generative AI without permission is a violation of the faculty member’s exclusive rights and will be reported to the Dean of Students as academic misconduct.
*Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s work, including the work of other students, as one’s own. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged, unless the information is common knowledge. Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct. (emphasis added)
Grading Scale
Your assignment and course grades will be determined using the following scale:
Grading Scheme
| Grade | % Range |
|---|---|
| A | 94-100 |
| A- | 90-93 |
| B+ | 87-89 |
| B | 84-86 |
| B- | 80-83 |
| C+ | 77-79 |
| C | 74-76 |
| C- | 70-73 |
| D+ | 67-69 |
| D | 64-66 |
| D- | 60-63 |
| F | <60% |
Late Work
Late Submission of Assignments
Due dates for all assignments can be found on the Canvas-Assignments tab. Pay attention to the Assignments tab, any changes or adjustments will be reflected on this tab. Failure to submit an assignment by the due date/time will result in a 10% deduction of the assignment’s point value up to 24-hours past the deadline. After a 24-hour period a grade of “0” will be assigned.
Please make sure you are aware that the “due” date is different from the “available until” date in Canvas.
Note: This does not apply to exams. Exams are due as noted on Canvas.
There are no make-up examinations or assignments unless there are qualifying circumstances.
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Students will work with the Student Care Team: An attendance memo is a notice sent by the Student Care and Resource Center on behalf of the Dean of Students office to instructors to alert them of an absence during an emergency. They will require documentation to verify your absence and will not share the reason for the absence with your instructors.
- The situations that qualify for an attendance memo are student hospitalizations, the death of an immediate family member, or similar crisis moments that prevent the student from contacting their professors directly. If your situation does not qualify for an attendance memo, please reference the student responsibility information and contact the Student Care and Resource Center at 812.856.CARE or email iucare@iu.edu.
- An attendance memo cannot be made for absences that occurred in the past but are meant to communicate in the present moment.
- Attendance memos are not necessarily required by all instructors. You may find that you can communicate with your instructors without the assistance of an attendance memo.
What should I do after an attendance memo is sent?
- An attendance memo does not excuse a student’s absence or coursework. It is up to each instructor to decide whether to excuse an absence and if alternative arrangements will be required.
- As soon as students are able, they are responsible for being in contact with their instructors to determine the next steps for addressing missed class time and coursework.
- The Student Care and Resource Center supports students by ensuring they have all the appropriate campus and community resources to be safe, healthy and successful. To get connected, please submit a Care ReferralLinks to an external site..
Attendance and In-Class Activities
Students who seek accessibility measures (accommodations) due to temporary impairments, which AES (Accessible Educational Services) defines as including, but not limited to, “broken bones, sprains, concussions, and appendicitis,” should be referred to Accessible Educational Services.
Attendance and In-Class Activities/Participation
Attendance & Participation Policy
Attendance Expectations
Regular attendance is required and will be recorded each class session. Students may earn up to 2.5 points per class for attendance.
There are 29 scheduled class sessions, excluding Labor Day and Thanksgiving week.
Students are granted three (3) discretionary absences for the semester. These absences may be used for any reason; however, students are encouraged to plan wisely.
Participation Expectations
Students may earn up to 2.5 points per class for participation. Active, constructive engagement is expected. Note: these points are not automatic. Students must participate to earn points, level of participation will determine how many points earned each class session.
Points may be deducted for:
- Arriving late or leaving early (unless approved prior to class or an emergency)
- Excessive entering and exiting of the classroom during class.
- Lack of participation
- Use of phones, laptops, or other devices for non‑course activities (Note: No phones should be out or in use during class.)
Students are expected to contribute meaningfully to class discussions and activities. See Attendance and In-Class Activities/Participation for more detail.
After the three allowed absences, the remaining 26 sessions count toward the attendance/participation grade. Students will begin the semester with full points, the professor will deduct points as necessary throughout the semester.
Attendance 26 sessions × 2.5 points = 65 total possible points.
Participation 26 sessions x 2.5 points = 65 total possible points
Make‑Up Policy for In‑Class Activities/Assigments
*If a student uses one of their three excused absences on a day when in‑class activity points are assigned, those points may be made up within five (5) days of the missed class session. Unless otherwise noted in the assignment. In class activity/assigment points are in addition to participation points.
Students who seek accessibility measures (accommodations) due to temporary impairments, which AES (Accessible Educational Services) defines as including, but not limited to, “broken bones, sprains, concussions, and appendicitis,” should be referred to Accessible Educational Services.
Guest Speakers
Public, nonprofit and private sector officials and executives may be invited to speak to the class. The dates and subjects will be announced according to guest availability, and the schedule and syllabus will be revised accordingly.
Attendance will be taken during guest presentations and material from these presentations may appear on an exam, quiz or assignment. When guest speakers are visiting our classroom. Respecting our guests, students are to arrive on time and remain seated. No entering and leaving the classroom during the Guest speaker visit. Students will earn Guest Speaker Activity points not only for attendance day of the guest visit but also for participation. Points earned for attendance and points earned for participation. Please note: if you have a condition or need to leave during a guest speaker meet with me at the start of the semester so that you can be accommodated and not lose points. Further see the Accessible Education ServicesLinks to an external site. office for additional support.
What is Participation?
In-class participation is:
- Raising and answering questions.
- Sharing ideas, observations, and personal experiences.
- Pointing out relevant data.
- Generating potential solutions.
- Relating and synthesizing the ideas of others.
- Pointing out relationships to earlier discussions.
- Helping others develop their views and ideas.
In-class participation is NOT:
- An opportunity for the instructor to appear more knowledgeable than you.
- An opportunity for the most extroverted or vocal students to continually offer their ideas while everyone sits there quietly.
- Asking about course administration topics. Those should be asked outside of class via email, office hours, or schedule a private Zoom meeting.
In-class participation is an opportunity to:
- Make class interesting.
- Explore ideas both closely to and sometimes tangentially related to the topic for the day.
- Substantively engage course material that is complex.
- Examine issues from multiple perspectives.
- Practice speaking in front of a large group conveying complex thoughts/ideas.
- Discuss topics about which you are uncertain in a safe environment. No one should be “afraid to be wrong” in this course. Also, if you are confused or have questions, it is likely others do too. Speak up.