SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Introduction to Business, Bus 005
Fall 2015 Course Syllabus
CRN 80054 Credit Units: 3
Mon. Wed. & Fri. – 8:00 am Room 0506
August 17 thru December 20
Instructor: LaVonne Slaton, M.B.A.
Office Location: Building 500, Room 513
Office Hours: Monday 1:00 – 5:00pm; Tuesday 12:30 – 1:30pm
or by appointment call (707)365-2314
E-mail:
Office Phone: (707) 864-7000 ext 5821
Cell Phone: (707) 365-2314
Website: http://connect.mheducation.com/class/l-slaton-bus-005-fall-2015-crn-80054
Textbook INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS (cover) – Understanding Business, (inside title) 11th edition, Nickels, McHugh, & McHugh.
Purpose of the Course
The purpose of this class is to introduce you to the many facets of the free enterprise system and of the business that operate within it. Since it is the first course in business, Introduction to Business is not going to teach you "everything you wanted to know about business, but were afraid to ask." It is anticipated, though, that through your experiences in this course, you will gain a better understanding of what private enterprise is all about and what is included in each of the several academic areas of study in business at institutions of higher learning such as the one you are attending. It is hoped that this improved understanding will increase your appreciation of the free enterprise system and will assist you in planning both your academic program and future career.
Goals of the Course
· Acquaint you with the free enterprise system - the foundation upon which American business is built;
· Acquaint you with the American economic system and contrast it to other possibilities:
· Acquaint you with the aspects involved with starting a business;
· Acquaint you with the various functional areas of business - accounting, finance, management, and marketing, - and how these areas are interrelated by means of information systems;
· Acquaint you with the nation's security markets - a dynamic part of your everyday life;
· Stimulate you to think about how you are affected by the business system and how you might fit into that system;
· Acquaint you with the language of business.
Student Learning Outcomes
Recognize the importance marketing, legal, economics, accounting, business forms, financing, risk, and personnel management in business and formulate hypotheses based on these concepts.
Resource and Materials
Periodicals such as Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, Newsweek, Time, U.S. News and World Report, and your daily newspaper; The Library; and the Internet.
Ten (10) scantrons Form No. 882-E are needed for exams and class quizzes. A #2 pencil is required to be used on the scantrons.
Method of Instruction
A combination of any or all of the following instructional methods will be used: lecture, PowerPoints, discussion student case analysis, controversial topic debates, connect, learn smart, films, and guest speakers.
Power Point Slides
The PowerPoint Slides used in lectures are available for use by going to bcs.solano.edu. In the “Main Campus” box, click on “Drive H: Workarea.” Scroll down and click on ”lslaton2”. You then will see a list of courses; Click on “Bus 5.” There, find the appropriate chapter and click on it. You may view them there, or you may print them out and bring them to class to assist in note-taking.
If you wish to print them, at the top Tool Bar, go to “File”, “Print.” You should get a Print box. On the left side of the box, near the bottom, find “Print What.” In the drop-down menu, select “Handouts”, and then click “OK.”
Class Attendance and Participation
This is a college-level UC and CSU transferable course. Students must attend class in order to participate in student-involvement activities. Each student is expected to be on time for class and be prepared for each day’s lesson. That is, be prepared to ask questions, answer questions, and otherwise participate in discussion of the topic(s) for that day. Consistent and timely attendance is expected. Past experience indicates a direct relationship between regular attendance and passing grades. Also, with that in mind, each student is expected to read and understand the attached page titled Student Responsibilities, Attendance and Participation as extracted from the Solano Community College Catalog.
Grades and Grading Criteria
There will be ten-points or a one-grade penalty assessed on the examination not taken when scheduled. There will be only one (1) makeup exam allowed, and this will not be the Final.
Late assignments will not be accepted. They are due at the beginning of class on the scheduled due date. There will be plenty of notice and sufficient time to complete assignments on time. Assignments may be e-mailed.
Every week students are responsible for completing the following assignments:
1) Read assigned textbook chapters
2) Writing Assignments
3) Connect Learn Smart Assignments (three lowest grades dropped)
4) Quizzes (lowest quiz dropped)
5) Exams
Grades will be based on your performance on the following:
Examination #1 (ch. 1 – 4) ------150 points
Examination #2 (ch. 5 – 6 & A) ------100 points
Examination #3 (ch. 7 – 9) ------100 points
Examination #4 (ch. 10 – 12) ------100 points
Examination #5 (ch. 13 – 16) ------150 points
Examination #6 Final Exam (ch. 17 – 20) ------150 points
(Final exam to be held on 12/16/15 – 8:00 am – 10:00 am)
Learn Smart Assignments (25 points each) ------450 points
Chapter Quizzes (15 points each) ------300 points
Current Business News (20 points each) ------100 points
Business Report (100 points) ------100 points
Total Points Available 1,700 Points
Participation------+ / - (Instructor appraisal)
The following grading criteria will be used for this course:
Grade Percent Points
A (90% – 100%) = 1,530 – 1,700
B (80% – 89%) = 1,360 – 1,529
C (70% – 79%) = 1,190 – 1,359
D (60% – 69%) = 1,020 – 1,189
F (59.9% and below) = 1,019 and below
Extra Credit
Extra Credit may be offered during the semester. There are plenty of opportunities during the semester for students to achieve the grade desired providing that they to put in the effort. Each student can earn up to 25 extra credit points maximum. Students can do this by showing me that you have learned the course material by answering bonus questions, completing short assignments in addition to the class requirements. Please contact me for approval of assignments that may qualify for extra credit.
Student Responsibilities
Attendance and Participation
Students must attend the first meeting of their classes to assure verification of their enrollments. Students failing to appear may be dropped from class rolls.
Regular attendance and participation is required of all students enrolled in courses and laboratories at Solano College. This includes regular attendance, completion of examinations, assignments, participation in class activities and discussions. Instructors shall provide students with written statements describing course requirements, grading standards and course prerequisites.
Regular attendance is an obligation assumed by every student at the time of registration. Absences per semester should not exceed the number of hours or the number of days that a class meets per week. Absences in excess of the maximum may result in students being dropped from classes or having their grades lowered. Students who fail to attend their classes may be dropped by their instructors no later than the end of 62.5% of a full-term class, short-term class, or summer session. Students have the responsibility for verifying their enrollment status. Students who withdraw from classes are responsible for initiating the drop process by the appropriate deadlines.
It is the responsibility of students to know the status of their attendance records and to complete all academic work missed due to absences. Compliance with the above regulations may be waived in the presence of verifiable extenuating circumstances including accidents, illnesses, shift changes and temporary changes in military assignments. Students who are dropped from classes because of unsatisfactory attendance and/or participation may petition their instructors for class reinstatement. Instructors may reinstate a student by signing an add card and writing "Reinstate" on the card. The add card must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records.
Withdrawal from Class
Students are responsible for officially withdrawing from classes. To officially withdraw from a class, students must:
1. Drop the course(s) using online services at www.solano.edu
2. Turn in a completed drop card at the Office of Admissions and Records (Building 100).
Refunds are not automatic. If you are entitled to a refund, you must submit a completed “Refund Request” form (available from the Office of Admissions and Records, Building 100). Refer to the current Schedule of Classes for applicable time frames and policies regarding refunds.
A student may withdraw from a class during the first four weeks of instruction. Courses dropped by the end of the first four weeks of instruction will not appear on the student's record.
Courses dropped after 30% of instruction through the end of 62.5% (full term classes only) of instruction will be recorded as a "W" on the student's record. A student must petition the Academic Council for a "W" after the last day to drop if extenuating circumstances apply. Documentation is required.
Short-term or summer session courses, which are less than a full semester in length, dropped during the first 30% of the class will not appear on the student's record. Courses dropped 31% to 62.5% of the term/session will be recorded as a "W" on the student's record. Courses dropped after 62.5% of the term/session may be recorded as a "W" if extenuating circumstances apply. Failure to appropriately drop a class may result in a grade of "F" for the course.
The student must petition the Academic Council and provide documentation to verify cases of accidents, illnesses, or other circumstances beyond the control of the student.
Withdrawal from College
Students who find it necessary to drop all courses during the semester are required to fill out a Withdrawal Card at the Office of Admissions and Records. Seeing a counselor is advised before deciding to withdraw. It is important to clear any debts owed to the College before leaving the College. Failure to withdraw properly could result in a failing grade.
Academic Honesty Policy
The College community functions best when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness, respect and trust. Therefore, an individual should realize that deception for the purpose of individual gain is an offense against the members of the College community. Violation of the Academic Honesty Policy includes but is not limited to:
1. Plagiarism – from the Latin word for “kidnap” – involves using another’s work without giving proper credit, whether done accidentally or on purpose. This includes not only words and ideas, but also graphs, artwork, music, maps, statistics, diagrams, scientific data, software, films, videos and the like. Plagiarism is plagiarism whether the material is from published or unpublished sources. It does not matter whether ideas are stolen, bought, downloaded from the Internet, or written for the student by someone else – it is still plagiarism. Even if only bits and pieces of other sources are used, or outside sources reworded, they must still be cited. To avoid problems, students should cite any source(s) and check with the instructor before submitting an assignment or project. Students are always responsible for any plagiarism in their work.
An instructor who determines that a student has cheated or plagiarized has the right to give a failing (i.e. “F”) grade, or numerical equivalent, for the assignment or examination.
2. Violation of class assignments, examination rules, e.g., communicating or transferring information to another student, using any materials such as books, notes, etc., other than those expressly allowed for the exam, looking at another student’s exam, etc.
3. Unauthorized preparation, giving, selling, transfer, distribution, or publication, for any commercial purpose, of any contemporaneous recording of an academic presentation in a classroom or equivalent site of instruction, including, but not limited to, handwritten or computer generated class notes, except as permitted by any college policy or administrative procedure.
Accommodations
If a student has a condition such as a physical or learning disability, which will make it difficult to carry out the work or will require accommodations, please notify me as soon as possible. The student will also need to contact the Disability Services Program (DSP) office located in building 400 or phone (707)864-7136. All information and documentation is confidential. Please feel encouraged to make an appointment with me to discuss specific learning needs in this class.
Welcome to BUS 005
This syllabus and the information attached provides essential information about this course. Please plan to refer to it often as questions arise. The tentative schedule attached is an approximate schedule and may be altered as needed for particular topics or unforeseen circumstances.
Good luck and enjoy the class!
Professor Slaton
SCC Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
Upon completion of Solano Community College’s General Education program, a student will demonstrate competency in the following areas:
I. Communication
Students will communicate effectively, which means the ability to:
A. Read – Students will be able to comprehend and interpret: various types of written information in (1) expository prose and imaginative literature (including essays, short fiction and novels), (2) documentation such as manuals, reports, and graphs.
B. Write – Students demonstrate the ability to:
• Communicate thoughts, ideas, information, and messages in writing
• Compose and create documents such as manuals and graphs as well as formal academic essays, observing rules of grammar, punctuation and spelling, and using the language, style, and format appropriate to academic and professional settings
• Check, edit, and revise written work for correct information, appropriate emphasis, form, style, and grammar
C. Listen – Students will be able to receive, attend to, interpret, and respond appropriately to (1) verbal, and/or (2) nonverbal messages
D. Speak and Converse – Students have the ability to:
• Organize ideas and communicate verbal or non-verbal messages appropriate to the audience and the situation
• Participate in conversations, discussions, and group activities
• Speak clearly and ask appropriate questions