SYLLABUS
Business Principles
Fall 2011
Saturday from 9:00 A.M. – 11:50 A.M. Northridge Campus 4251
Mark E. Harden
Instructor with Austin Community College 2001 to present-
Bachelor of Science English Indiana State University
Master of Business Administration Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Work Phone/Voice Mail: (512) 223-7814
E-Mail: mharden@austincc.edu
Office hours are Saturday from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. at Northridge Room 4204
and TBA at the Round Rock Campus
or by appointment anytime Monday through Friday at the Highland Business Center.
Please feel free to call or e-mail anytime.
The purpose Business Principles is to provide to you a broad understanding of the contemporary business environment. Topics to be covered include entrepreneurship, small business, marketing, production, economics, human resource management, and any other business related topics of interest to the class. I want this to be an interactive course- everyone has something to offer the class.
Understanding Business, McGraw-Hill, 9th Edition
Your grade in this course is based upon the following criteria:
Attendance- The Saturday course meets once a week. We will cover two chapters during this period. We will generally complete one chapter per session in the Tuesday/Thursday class. It is expected that you attend class. Although I do not grade attendance,
poor attendance can become a factor that may affect your final grade.
Four exams- 175 points each for a total of 700 points
(the final exam is not comprehensive)
Five page research paper- 150 points
(topic that is of interest to you, or from a list provided by me)
Biz Game Assignment- 50 points
Four in-class quizzes for a total of 100 points- You must be present in order to get credit
for the in-class exercise-
Grading is based upon the following point scale:
A = 900-1000 points
B = 800-899 points
C = 700-799 points
D = 600-699 points
Students are expected to be on time. If you do come late, and class is in session,
please enter quietly. If you need to discuss something with me, please wait until
the break.
Students are expected to read the assignments before class and be prepared to discuss the material. I usually provide an outline for the chapters, but it would not be wise to depend exclusively upon the outline to get through this course. It has been my experience that students who do not study the text content do not fare well on the exams. Exam questions will include text information not always covered in class.
Makeup exams: It is imperative that I be notified prior to a test day absence. Unless other arrangements are made, makeup tests will be taken between the originally scheduled test day and before the next class session.
Late assignments: A penalty is assessed for late work. It is your responsibility to get the work to me.
Classroom etiquette: everyone knows what this is- cell phones, pagers, eating, drinking, small children, alcohol, weapons in class are all no-go’s…
E-mail information: Everyone needs an email address. E-mail is a primary communication tool. If you don’t have an e-mail address, and don’t know how to get one, see me.
Student withdrawal policy: If you need to drop this course, formally withdraw from it. I will not drop you from this course. Failure to properly withdrawal from this course will result in a failure grade. In rare circumstances, it is possible to receive an incomplete grade. The following is the Management Department’s official policy on incomplete grades:
An incomplete (I) will be granted to a student in rare circumstances. Generally, to receive a grade of I, a student must have completed all examinations and assignments to date, be passing, and have personal circumstances that prevent course completion that occur after the deadline to withdraw with a grade of W.
Academic Freedom Statement: Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class. In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. These differences enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On sensitive and volatile topics, students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but also with the instructor. It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.
Scholastic Dishonesty Statement: Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework” (Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 32). Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and my range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an F in the course and/or expulsion from this institution.
Student Discipline Statement: Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from class. ACC’s policy on student discipline can be found in the Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 32.
Students with Disabilities Statement: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester” (Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 14).