Syllabus Spring 2012
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BUSG 1341; #43782 PCM
SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING
COURSE SYLLABUS
16 Week Session
Spring 2012
INSTRUCTOR: Kathryn Schwartz
OFFICE: Rio Grande Campus Student Lounge
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment
By phone: (512) 663-1718
By e-mail: kmschwartz@sbcglobal.net
Note: This is the fastest way to reach me. Instructor will respond within 24 hours. Test grades are posted within 48 hours.
HOME PAGE: Blackboard Website
DEPARTMENT HOME PAGE: http://www.austincc.edu/mkt
COURSE LOCATION: PCM Course - On-line
The Distance Learning Help Line is available to assist students with DL questions Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (The Help Line is closed during all official ACC holidays.) Phone: (512) 223-8026 | Toll-free: 1-888-223-8026 | Email: dl@austincc.edu
Technical support or instructional mode resources.
The URL of the Blackboard Support website which offers instructions for logging in, Student FAQs, and help for using Blackboard features such as Discussion Boards and Assignments.
Computer Lab & Media Center hours of operation and locations
COURSE TIME: 16 Week Session January 17 – May 13
COURSE NUMBER: BUSG 1341
COURSE TITLE: Small Business Financing
CRN NUMBER: 43782
CREDIT Hours 3
Prerequisite: None
LEVEL:Intermediate
METHOD OF PRESENTATION: Online.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Study of financial structure of a small business. Topics addressed: business finance including where the funds come from and what they are used for; budgeting including planning and preparation, record keeping, taxation, insurance and banking. Skills: R.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: Entrepreneurial Finance: Finance
For Small Business by Adelman and Marks, 5th edition. #0132434792. Pearson Prentice Hall.
Textbook purchasing options available to Distance Learning students. ACC Bookstore website is austincc.bkstore.com
COURSE RATIONALE:
The purpose of this course is to prepare the student to understand the dynamics of handling their finances in their own small business. This course can be the one of several to prepare the individual to become more aware of all the aspects of planning, researching, and utilizing their finances for their small businesses more effectively.
This course will help students to develop the understanding and skills necessary to become more effective stewards of their small business finances. This course integrates all aspects of planning using finances in a persons small business. It incorporates the preparation of a financial plan for a small business that involves the preparation of balance sheets, income statements, sources of financial recourses and the various forms of business ownership. Various techniques and tools will be reviewed, as will the understanding of income tax laws and their impact on small business.
Small business finance is not just about textbook learning; it challenges the student to use their critical and creative skills in all aspects of managing their small business financial resources and not just those covered in the text. The student will learn how to apply the knowledge and skills learned in this course to real world situations.
COMMON COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES
COURSE EVALUATION PROCESS (Grading)
COURSE GRADE
***Participation in Weekly Bulletin Board Discussions 0 points (no participation) -100 points (if participate at least once in almost all discussions)
Individual Exams 4 @ 225 points each 900 points
Totals 1000 points
GRADING SCALE
Your letter grade is determined using the grade distribution that follows. Your percentage is found by dividing your total points by the total points available. This percentage is then matched to a letter grade. You can determine your standing in the class at any point in the semester by tracking your points and the total points to date.
A 900 or more points
B 800 - 899 points
C 700 - 799 points
D 600 - 699 points
F Less than 600 points
INDIVIDUAL EXAMS
The four (4) exams will be made available to you at the Testing Center you requested 7 days before the due date. You may take one sheet of notes (front and back) into the test with you and a calculator. You must take the test by the end of the Testing Center day on the due date.
For ACC Academic Guidelines, Policies and procedures see
http://www.austincc.edu/handbook
See www.austincc.edu/support
Tutoring: ACC Learning Labs on campus and online tutoring from SMARTHINKING
READING ASSIGNMENTS
Students are expected to complete the readings before the bulletin board discussions.
DISCUSSION BOARD PARTICIPATION
This is an on-line class and each student is expected to participate in the current events, and before and after exam discussion board discussions throughout the semester. Your grade will depend on number of postings and the quality of postings.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS
There will be no make-up exams unless approved by the instructor in advance or due to extenuating circumstances (as determined by the instructor). The due dates for the exams will be strictly followed. Late exams will be accepted, as long as the answers are not yet posted, but the grade will be lowered the equivalent of one (1) letter grade.
TEACHING AND LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Teaching and learning is a partnership between faculty and students. I will fulfill my partnership obligations by serving as advisor, consultant, mentor and providing general comments and clarifications of difficult or confusing concepts. You will fulfill your partnership obligations by being a fully participative, responsive, helping, and working member of the class.
The individual exams and bulletin board participation both play an important role in your education in this course. They are an essential part of the learning process in that they require the synthesis and extension of concepts. They also help both the student and the instructor to evaluate one's progress in mastering the material. Past experience indicates that generally the course material cannot be adequately mastered without active involvement on your part.
SUPPORT
For information on student support services and resources including:
ACC Student ID cards
ACC Student Handbook
DL Student Handbook
Library Services for DL students
Go to www.austincc.edu.
Course Policies
Attendance/Class Participation
Regular and punctual class and laboratory attendance is expected of all students. If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class.
Withdrawal Policy
It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.
Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall, 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate, for that course.
State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.
Incompletes
An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.
Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty
A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution. Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents. Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college. See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures.
Statement on Students with Disabilities
Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.
Students who have received approval for accommodations from OSD for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from OSD before accommodations will be provided. Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student.
Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations.
Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available at http://www.austincc.edu/support/osd/
Safety Statement
Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/ehs. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency/.
Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.
You are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.
Use of ACC email
All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account. Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php.
Testing Center Policy
Under certain circumstances, an instructor may have students take an examination in a testing center. Students using the Academic Testing Center must govern themselves according to the Student Guide for Use of ACC Testing Centers and should read the entire guide before going to take the exam. To request an exam, one must have:
Do NOT bring cell phones to the Testing Center. Having your cell phone in the testing room, regardless of whether it is on or off, will revoke your testing privileges for the remainder of the semester. ACC Testing Center policies can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/
Student And Instructional Services
ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services. Information on these services and support systems is available at: http://www.austincc.edu/s4/
Links to many student services and other information can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/current/
ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course to be tutored. The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found at: http://www.autincc.edu/tutor/students/tutoring.php
For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab.
ASSIGNMENTS
Date* /Homework Assignment
1/17 On-line orientation-get familiar with the course website and student introduction on the Hello Board. Purchase textbook. .
1/23 Begin reading Chapters 1, 2, and 3
1/30 Finish reading
1/30 Discussion of sample Exam #1 questions on discussion board
2/3 Individual exam #1 available Chapters 1-3
2/10 Individual exam #1 due
2/12 Individual exam #1 discussion board discussion
2/12 Begin reading Chapters 4 and 5
2/19 Finish Reading. Discussion of sample Exam #2 questions on discussion board
2/24 Individual exam #2 available Chapters 4 - 5
3/2 Individual exam #2 due
3/5 Individual exam #2 discussion board discussion
3/5 Begin reading Chapters 6, 7, and 8
3/10-3/18 Spring Break
3/19 Discussion of sample Exam #3 questions
3/23 Individual exam #3 available Chapters 6 - 8
3/30 Individual exam #3 due
4/2 Individual exam #3 discussion board discussion
4/2 Begin reading Chapters 10 and 11
4/9 Discussion of sample Exam #4 questions on discussion board
4/13 Individual exam #4 available to take, Chapters 10 - 11.
4/25 Individual exam #4 due
4/26 Individual exam #4 discussion board discussion
5/1 Final grades are posted; you can email me or call me to discuss. Class over! Good luck to Everyone!
* Subject to change if needed. Changes will be communicated through the announcements section of Blackboard.
** Take notice of this important requirement for most people.