Course Objectives:

Students of Organizational Communication (SP 323) will have a unique opportunity to engage our local community this semester by participating in a service learning project that connects organizational study with philanthropy. We will begin the term by interviewing local nonprofit organizations and submitting funding recommendations to the Bonner Leaders program to determine which organizations are most apt to serve Spokane’s West Central neighborhood. The project, entitled Engaging Community, Inspiring Philanthropy, is designed to create a service learning opportunity where students gain practical experience in an applied environment yet collaborate in an effort that serves people through charitable giving.

The course will also examine the relationship between organizational context and communication processes, and in doing so develop the premise that organizational communication is a transactional process that is largely symbolic. This class will also provide a critical framework for evaluating how and why an organization operates as it does at various organizational levels. This framework in turn will allow students to make educated communication decisions in relation to the types of organizations they are preparing to serve.

The Course goals will be accomplished through lecture, reading, activities, discussion, case studies, papers, exams, guest lecturers and group projects.

Course Outcomes:

• Understand the role of philanthropy in various organizational contexts
• Understand the characteristics and functions of nonprofit organizations
• Engage in service learning so as to promote a culture of community serving
• Develop skills of collaboration, decision making and communication within small groups
• Develop an understanding of how organizational context influences communication processes
• Develop a greater awareness of how communication influences organizational behavior
• Develop a theoretical framework for understanding organizational structures
• Understand how specific organizational approaches (systems, critical, & cultural) influence organizational communication processes

Departmental Goals:

1. Demonstrate the interpersonal skills required to excel in job, family and other contexts.
Students will be able accurately to analyze interpersonal communication situations, and to make appropriate communication decisions based on those assessments. Students will demonstrate appropriate skills in human perception, verbal and nonverbal communication, listening, self-presentation, conflict management, and relationship development.

2. Demonstrate the ability to work both independently and cooperatively, and to be effective and comfortable in both settings. Students will develop work habits to complete tasks when working alone. Students will also work effectively in pairs and groups to complete tasks, whether assigned by others or discovered by the group. Students will display audience sensitivity and respect toward fellow group members. They will use effective interpersonal skills to facilitate the completion of group tasks, and to promote group cohesion.

3. Demonstrate the critical thinking skills required to excel in the intellectual, professional and personal dimensions of life. Students will be able to apply higher level thinking skills to human communication situations. Higher level thinking skills include: application of communication principles in the classroom, and beyond; analysis of the parts, organization, arrangement, relationships and principles of communication; synthesis of parts of communication to produce unique communication messages; and evaluation of communication by making appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative judgments of communication.

University Educational Goals:

Critical Thinking
The university enables students to use the tools of analytical and creative thinking to collect, process, and apply knowledge, and to imagine possibilities.

Effective Communication
The university teaches students to listen deliberately, speak persuasively and write clearly, and to engage responsively in artistic expression.

Oral Communication Requirement
This course fulfills the Oral Communication requirement for graduation. Through the study of content areas such as the nature of verbal and nonverbal communication, students will learn to create and organize effective messages for interpersonal contexts. Through the study of content areas such as the nature of human perception, listening, and conflict management, students will develop knowledge and skills necessary to share and receive interpersonal messages effectively.

Service-Learning:

Service-learning enhances understanding of course concepts through enabling students to put into practice in a community setting learned knowledge and skills. If at any time during the semester you have questions or concerns about your service-learning project in this class or you would like additional clarification or assistance, please speak with me or contact the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement.

Classroom Environment/Participation
A communication classroom requires a supportive environment where students are actively learning and engaging in various kinds of communication related activities and interactions. When listening to other students speak, be attentive and encouraging. A large majority of the learning will take place within the classroom through active participation in the form of class discussion and interaction. Please be mindful of your peers and reciprocate the same level of respect you would have others extend to you. Poor listening habits or distracting behaviors may result in a reduction in your grade.

Tentative Class Schedule

Date Topic(s)/ Due dates Readings

Feb. 5 Course Overview; Discuss Course Schedule
Feb. 7 Service Learning Overview; Classical Approaches Ch. 1
Discuss Group Project/Paper

Feb. 12 Human Relation Approaches / Discuss Audit Project Ch.2
Feb. 14 Communication in Human Relations; Group Paper Due

Feb. 19 Group Presentations Ch.3
Feb. 21 Group Presentations; Human Resource Approaches

Feb. 26 Systems Approaches Ch.4
Feb. 28 Systems Methods for Network Analysis

Mar. 4 Cultural Approaches Ch.5
Mar. 6 Communication & Culture; Audit Project Due

Mar. 11 Critical Approaches Ch.6
Mar. 13 Communication within Cultural Studies

Mar. 18 Recommendations Due; Exam Review
Mar. 20 Midterm Exams

Mar. 24-28 Spring Break – No Class

Apr. 1 Assimilation Processes Ch.7
Apr. 3 Communication during Assimilation; The Church Service

Apr. 8 Decision Making Processes Ch.8
Apr. 10 Participation in Decision Making; Too Many Majors

Apr. 15 Conflict Management; Approaches & Processes Paper Due Ch.9
Apr. 17 Alternative Views of Conflict; Problem w/Teamwork

Apr. 22 Change and Leadership Processes in Organizations Ch. 10
Apr. 24 Emotion in the Workplace; After9/11 Ch. 11

Apr. 29 Organizational Diversity Processes Ch. 12
May 1 Perspectives on Encouraging Cultural Diversity

May 6 Technological Processes Ch. 13
May 8 The Changing Landscape or Organizations / Review Ch. 14
May 13-16 Final Exams

Assignments

Exams – 50 points each
You will be given two exams throughout the duration of the term that are designed to assess your level of knowledge and mastery over the various materials that are presented and emphasized in class.

Quizzes – 10 points each
You will also be given the opportunity to demonstrate your level of understanding and involvement with the readings and the lectures by taking quizzes. Quizzes will be unannounced and given either at the beginning of class or administered through Blackboard.

Cases Studies –10 points each
We will review several case studies throughout the course of the semester. Each case is accompanied by discussion questions that relate the case material to the concepts presented from the readings. You will be responsible for reading the assigned case studies, typing your responses to the questions (no more than two pages), and preparing to discuss your responses in class.

Writing Assignments – 200 points total
You will be given ample opportunity to demonstrate your level of understanding and application of the concepts presented from class in the form of writing assignments. As mentioned previously, your ability to thoughtfully express your ideas in writing will be an important measure of your mastery over the key concepts.

Group Project and Presentation – 90 Points
In this assignment you will work together in groups and begin a research process designed to deepen your understanding of philanthropy and nonprofit organizations. After compiling your research you will organize your information, articulate it in the form of a paper, and present it before the class using PowerPoint. Your presentation should be 20 minutes in length and include a bibliography with at least six internet resources and two references from other sources. Below is a basic structure of what to cover in your paper.

Philanthropy (3-4 pages)
• Define Philanthropy- what is it?
• How is Philanthropy applied?
• Why is Philanthropy important?
• Are there various forms of philanthropy?
• Examples of philanthropic contribution

Nonprofit Organizations (3-4 pages)
• What is a nonprofit organization?
• What differentiates them from for-profit organizations?
• How does grant writing factor into a nonprofit
• Examples of nonprofit organizations

Organizational Audits – 75 points
In this assignment you will have an opportunity to conduct interviews with local nonprofit organizations who are applying for grant money. The results of your interviews will actually be submitted as recommendations for grant funding to the students of the Introduction to Community Engagement course, who will make the final decisions. As a group, you will examine the funding criteria from the RFP (Request for Proposals) that the Bonner Leaders Program developed in Jan Term 08. Your group will then develop an interview process that is congruent with the RFP criteria. Your interviews will serve as a guideline for determining which prospective nonprofits will best meet the foundation’s objective in serving the West Central neighborhood of Spokane. After compiling the results from your interviews, your group will write formal recommendations based on the data. Additional details regarding this assignment will be provided in class.