DRAFT UPDATE OF SEPTEMBER 20, 2005

Fall 2006

Title: Financial Resources Management EDLS 8430

EDLS 8430, Financial Resources Management, addresses financial management practices and problems of nonprofit organizations in the areas of education, government, and human resources. Specific topics include financial accounting, preparation and interpretation of financial statements, financial analysis and cost accounting, budgeting, cost containment and retrenchment, and financial planning. Teaching strategies include case studies, exercises, lectures, and reading. Field experience is required.

The purpose of EDLS 8430, Financial Resources Management, is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the principles and strategies of management control in educational institutions. Simply defined, management control is the design and implementation of effective and efficient programs that monitor, adjust, and improve operations leading to the achievement of organizational goals.

The principles and strategies of management control are not unique to any particular organization, as indicated in the preface to the course's text, Management Control in Nonprofit Organizations (7th Edition) by Robert Anthony and David Young:

We wish to emphasize that this is not primarily a book on accounting. Rather, it is intended for a course on management control problems in nonprofit organizations in general. Such a course is often offered by an accounting department, but the book has also been used in courses offered by economics and finance departments, and by management departments in schools of education, medicine, public health, social work, theology, and public administration. Our goal is to put accounting-like issues into their broader organizational context.

Although written to apply to all types of nonprofit organizations, including governmental entities, the book can easily be adapted for a course that focuses on a single type, such as education or health care, by the selection of cases appropriate to that type. (Italics provided by the authors.) (Pp. v-vi.)

EDLS 8430 presents the principles and strategies of management control employed by organizational leaders in a variety of governmental and non-profit settings. Although the students in EDLS 8430 are likely to be oriented toward careers in education, the content of the course and the case studies that support that content are appropriate for students pursuing other careers in the public sector.

The overarching objective of this course is that students will learn the principles and practices of management control in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of educational institutions (e.g., K-12 public schools, private schools, community colleges, higher education institutions, etc.). The course emphasizes the achievement of the goals of educational institutions through management control processes such as strategic planning, programming, budgeting, accounting, fiscal and programmatic data systems, and evaluation.

Upon completing the course, students will be able to accomplish the following objectives:

1. Analyze the contributions of management control processes, including planning, programming, budgeting, fiscal management, information systems, and evaluation, in the effective pursuit of organizational goals and objectives.
2. Apply strategic planning principles for resource development, goal setting, budget preparation, monitoring of organizational operations, and evaluation and reporting of organizational effectiveness.
3. Conduct a management audit/operations analysis of an educational organization based on the management control process.
4. Critique strategic planning, budgeting, fiscal, and programmatic management systems of educational and other non-profit organizations.
5. Understand and apply pertinent state and federal laws, administrative regulations, and principles and practices of the latest publication, updates, and statements of the Governmental Standards Accounting Board (GASB).
6. Explain the underlying ethical and legal issues in the provision of educational services that meet legal tests of adequacy and equity within the student's particular field of study.
7. Identify and explain critical terms and concepts related to management control and the overall budgetary operations of non-profit and governmental institutions.
8. Interpret and analyze the external audit report or reports of a non-profit or governmental organization with particular emphasis on principles and practices of management control.
9. Identify and explain organizational outputs that should be used in assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of non-profit and governmental organizations.
10. Compare and contrast the critical elements of the financial accounting system used in one non-profit organization with that of other non-profit organizations.
11. Use the Internet and appropriate computer accounting system to locate, interpret, and evaluate financial and performance data from a particular non-profit or governmental organization in order to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of that organization.
12. Apply principles and practices of management control to a variety of case studies and field-based situations.

Required Texts:

Anthony, R.N. & Young, D.W. (2003) Management Control in Nonprofit Organizations (7th ed.). New
York, NY: McGraw- Hill.

Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Governmental Accounting and Reporting Standards (2005-
2006 ed.). Norwalk, CT: Author.

(Reference use only.) Students should not purchase this publication unless specifically told to do so by the instructor. The publication will not be available in the university bookstore. Sections of the latest GASB publication and updates pertinent to the student's interests and career aspirations may be available from the non-profit institution in which the student serves his or her practicum or from governmental websites.)

Key Websites:

In order to tailor the course to the needs of individual students and to apply management control concepts to a variety of non-profit and governmental settings, the course will rely heavily on accounting information and financial data available on-line. The table below presents websites that will be used in the course, the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for each site, descriptions of the websites, and the group of students most likely to benefit from a particular site. The table does not present an exhaustive list of websites to be used in the course, as many of the sites listed below provide links to sites providing more detailed information. Throughout the semester, the instructor will identify additional websites to be used by students.

• Students are expected to have completed a Master's level course in school business management or a similar Master's level course in their field of study.
• Students are expected to have some degree of familiarity with the planning process, budgeting system, accounting structure, and financial reporting system of a governmental or non-profit educational institution.
• Although this is not an accounting course and students will not be expected to perform complicated calculations using a spreadsheet, they should be able to use a spreadsheet to do basic calculations and develop simple budget documents in simulation and field activities.
• Students are expected to have the knowledge and skills to access accounting information and financial data using the Internet.
• Students are expected to identify and make arrangements with a governmental or non-profit educational institution in which they will serve a practicum of at least 30 hours during the course of the semester.

Assignments

Because the course uses the case study method extensively, students must read assigned chapters completely before each class session and must be prepared to discuss the case or cases assigned for the class session. In addition to discussions of cases based on assigned chapters in the text, students will write three case study reports. The course also requires students to pass an examination over critical terms and concepts of management control, complete a practicum of 30 hours in an educational setting, and write an organizational analysis of the management control process based on their experiences during the practicum. The assignments are listed in the table below.

Late Work:

Late assignments are subject to a 10% grade reduction for each day that the assignment is late. Note that the penalty is imposed for each day that an assignment is late and not for each session. No assignment will be accepted after being one week late.

Class Attendance and Participation:

Attendance is required and affects the final grade. Attendance is defined as presence and participation in class discussion and activities. Absences are not classified as excused or unexcused. If a student is not in class, he or she is considered absent. The student's grade will be affected by unprofessional or disruptive behavior in class or while participating in field experiences. Attendance will be recorded on a sign-in sheet that is circulated at the beginning of each class session. Under no circumstances, may a student initial the sheet for another student. The grade for the course will be affected by absences as follows:

0-2 absences No change
3 absences Points earned by student are reduced by 10%
> absences Student will receive a failing grade

Two late arrivals, two early departures, or one of each will count as one absence.

Student Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act:

In accordance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Houston-Clear Lake endeavors to make reasonable adjustments in its policies, practices, services and facilities to ensure equal access to all our educational programs and activities. Whenever a special accommodation or auxiliary aid is necessary in order to ensure access to and full participation by students with disabilities in university programs and services, the departments responsible for the program or service will work with the Office of Health and Disability Services (Bayou 1406) and appropriate federal and state agencies to ensure that reasonable accommodations are made. The student requiring special accommodations or auxiliary aids must make an application for such assistance through the Office of Health and disability Services. Proof of disability from a competent authority will be required, as well as information regarding specific limitations for which accommodation is requested. If you need special accommodations, please contact me after class, or by phone.

Academic Honesty Policy:

Academic honesty is the cornerstone of the academic integrity of the university. It is the foundation which the student builds personal integrity and establishes a standard of personal behavior. The University can best function and accomplish its mission in an atmosphere of the highest ethical standards. The University expects and encourages all students to contribute to such an atmosphere by observing all accepted principles of academic honesty. This policy is designed to encourage honest behavior and is jointly administered by faculty and students.

Honesty Code: The Honesty Code is the university community's standard of honesty and is endorsed by all members of the University of Houston-Clear Lake academic community. It is an essential element of the University's academic credibility. It states:
I will be honest in all my academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty.

School of Education Statement regarding Professional Dispositions:

Each student in the School of Education is required to read and abide by the Statement on Professional Dispositions. (See Website #31 in Attachment #1.). Students may read the statement by going to http://www.uhcl.edu/soe, clicking on the Site Map tab at the top of the page, scrolling down the list on the right to Policies and Procedures, and then clicking on Statement on Professional Dispositions. As the statement indicates, "As an NCATE accredited institution, we will recommend for certification only those persons who have demonstrated the necessary strong, positive dispositions associated with the professional educator." It is imperative that each student abides by the dispositions described in the document.

At the end of the course and at other appropriate times, the instructor will assess students' compliance with these standards using a form provided by the School of Education. These assessments will be invaluable to the student and the program faculty in the student's professional development.

Grades will be based on the student's performance in assignments described under "Course Expectations." The point value of each assignment is expressed in the table below.

Grading Scale Based on Total Points for Class: