Guns on Campus

In this course, we will examine higher and postsecondary policy from an integrated theoretical and practical stance.  As such, we apply conceptual models of political decision making to contemporary policy issues facing colleges and universities, for example through the model of polis, which analyzes political decision-making through the lens of paradoxical values and goals.  As current and aspiring educational leaders, this course is designed to simulate authentic contexts for policy analysis and advocacy.  As such, this course will focus on the following objectives:

•    Critically review definitions of policy, politics, law and policy analysis

•    Examine the larger goals or values that drive the political, social, economic, legal, and cultural contexts of educational policy

•    Identify and apply techniques for analysis of postsecondary policy issues;

•    Increase familiarity with the roles and perspectives of educational policy stakeholders and actors (federal, state, individual) in regard to contemporary postsecondary education policy matters

•    Remain abreast of the current policy issues that are central to contemporary postsecondary institutions

•    Develop and demonstrate analytic, written, and verbal skills that are part of the public policymaking process.

•    Conduct in depth analysis of educational policy within the theoretical constructs of the field of educational leadership at the postsecondary level