TROY UNIVERSITY
ACT3394 Section TRAA
Governmental Accounting
COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring 2013
January 9 – May 8, 2013
NOTE: For course syllabus posted prior to the beginning of the term, the professor reserves the right to make minor changes prior to or during the term. The professor will notify students, via email or Blackboard announcement, when changes are made in the requirements and/or grading of the course.
OFFICE HOURS:
M & W 8:00 - 11:30 and 1:00 – 2:30
Or by appointment
I'm available by email at any time or by phone on weekdays between the hours listed above (Central Time). I respond much more quickly to emails than to phone calls.
PREREQUISITES:
ACT2292 (with a C or better)
COURSE INFORMATION:
Class Time: Tu/Th 11:30 – 12:45 p.m.
Class Location: Bibb Graves Hall (BG) 201
ENTRANCE COMPETENCIES:
The student must possess the knowledge and skills of a high school graduate and the capability to perform on a college level. Knowledge of basic mathematics, such as multiplying and dividing fractions and using percentages, and simple algebra, is assumed.
STUDENT EXPECTATION STATEMENT:
· The student is expected to participate in the course via email exchanges (or other communication) with the professor, by reading the assigned readings, submitting assignments, and completing exams in a timely fashion.
· The student is expected to attend class, participate in class discussions, and completing assignments. You cannot benefit from the class lectures and discussions if you are not present.
· You must have studied the assigned chapter prior to coming to class, so that you are prepared to contribute to class discussions. If called upon, you are expected to be an active participant in this class. You should be prepared to present homework assignments to the class. You should be able to explain the steps involved in completing the assignment. This will help reinforce the learning process and will give you additional practice in effective communication.
· Students should treat others with respect and conduct themselves with a professional demeanor while in the classroom. Furthermore, talking to one’s neighbor during inappropriate times, speaking out without permission from the professor, leaving the room while class is in session, ringing cell phones, and text messaging also disturb fellow classmates. Every time someone causes a disturbance, the group loses their focus which results in a loss of effectiveness and efficiency for all.
· Students are expected to check their emails daily and the announcements at least every 48 hours.
· Students will need to devote a considerable amount of time outside class reading and processing the information in the text. Reading the chapter introduces the topic. Class lectures discuss and explain the topic. Homework, projects and studying reinforce the topic. Several hours outside if class should be devoted to the course each week.
· Poor preparation for business meetings may create the impression that an individual lacks the
necessary attributes to be effective in performing their business related tasks. Your class experience can be enhanced, by demonstrating both a professional demeanor and strong work ethic that indicates a strong desire to learn throughout the whole semester. A professional demeanor is demonstrated through excellent attendance, arriving a few minutes early, opening the textbook to where the last class ended, taking out class notes / any completed homework, raising your hand to regularly participate in the class discussions, and being respectful. A strong work ethic is demonstrated through a sincere attempt to complete all homework assignments prior to class and sharing your solutions during in class coverage of such assignments. If you are not able to solve a problem, then you should write down your question that would have helped you to do so. The development of good behavior is a prerequisite to be successful in business.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
Analysis of governmental and not-for-profit accounting issues including the preparation and use of budgets, records, and statements. Accounting majors must complete this course with a grade of C or better. Prerequisite: ACT 2292.
PURPOSE:
To introduce the concepts and practices associated with accounting for not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, and governmental agencies.
SPECIFIC CHAPTER LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Each chapter of the textbook begins with specific learning objectives that serve as guideposts for your journey through that chapter. The learning objectives are introduced at the beginning of each chapter and are referenced throughout the chapter.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the principles and mechanics of both governmental and not-for-profit accounting.
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. Apply the major accounting standards and professional guidance affecting governmental units and not-for-profit entities.
2. Use application software to account for transactions and prepare the financial statements required by GASB for governmental entities.
3. Account for transactions and prepare the financial statements required for not-for-profit organizations.
TEXTBOOK(S) AND/OR OTHER MATERIALS NEEDED:
Reck, J. L., Lowensohn, S., Wilson, E. R. Accounting for Governmental and Nonprofit Entities (16th) [with City of Smithville/Bingham access code]. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill. (current ISBN 9780077936549)
Important Note: If you purchase a book without the access code, you must arrange on your own to obtain an access code. Every student will need their own code. NO exceptions!!
To purchase a City of Bingham access code ($15.00):
http://paris.mcgraw-hill.com/paris/purchaseproductsview.do?productid=0078110939&goto_url=http%3A%2F%2Fparis.mcgraw-hill.com%2Fsites%2F0078110939%2Fstudent_view0%2F
To register a City of Bingham access code and to login:
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078110939/student_view0/index.html
Students should have their text AND access to City of Bingham the first week of class. Not having your book will not be an acceptable excuse for late work. Students who add this course late should refer to the “Late Registration” section for further guidance.
Other materials: Pencil, paper, calculator. No translating devices or cell phones will be allowed during exams. PowerPoints are provided by the professor for student use.
Supplements: City of Bingham access code; Other as deemed appropriate
*You are required to bring the City of Jacksonville, Florida Financial Statements (Appendix A) to every class meeting.
Internet Access
§ Students must have access to a working computer and access to the internet. Students can use the Troy University computer lab, a public library, etc., to ensure they have access.
§ “Not having a computer” or “computer crashes” are not acceptable excuses for late work. Have a backup plan in place in case you have computer problems.
TROY EMAIL:
All Students
Effective July 1, 2005, all students were required to obtain and use the TROY email address that is automatically assigned to them as TROY students. All official correspondence (including bills, statements, emails from professors and grades, etc.) will be sent ONLY to the troy.edu (@troy.edu) address.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
· Upon Enrollment: confirm email address (and be sure to keep your box cleaned out!!); purchase and/or register City of Bingham
· Participation in class discussions
· Homework assignments
· City of Bingham project
· Required examinations
STUDENT/FACULTY INTERACTION:
· Interaction will take place via email, telephone, comments on written assignments, office visits.
· The student will participate in this course by following the guidelines of this syllabus and any additional information provided by the professor or Troy University.
· The student is expected to remain in regular contact with the professor and class via email or other communication means, by submitting assignments and taking exams, all in a timely fashion.
· I respond to e-mails typically the same day or on Mondays to weekend emails.
· I will communicate as necessary via Blackboard Announcements or e-mail.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Attendance will be taken daily at the beginning of class. Students that miss attendance, whether late or absent, will be marked absent. Students should present documentation for excused absences on the first class day following the absence (i.e. doctor’s excuse, Troy University excuse, etc.). Students are allowed three (3) unexcused absences. For each additional absence, five (5) points will be deducted from your total points for the course.
For any quizzes, problems, exams, or other activities that are completed in class, you must be present to receive credit.
Routine absences from class will have a large, negative impact on your grade.
Students are expected to punctually attend all scheduled classes. People who arrive late disturb everyone else!! Students who arrive at class after roll call will be counted absent.
MAKE-UP WORK POLICY:
Missing any part of this schedule may prevent completion of the course. If you foresee difficulty of any type (i.e., an illness, employment change, etc.) which may prevent completion of this course, notify the professor as soon as possible. Failure to do so will result in failure for an assignment and/or failure of the course. See “Attendance” above.
If you miss an exam due to an excused absence, I will allow a make-up exam with advance notice to me. If you cannot make it up before the next class meets, you may take a make-up exam during a scheduled time. For any exam not completed, the student will receive a zero (0) grade.
If I have not heard from you by the deadline dates for assignments or exams, no make-up work will be allowed (unless extraordinary circumstances existed, such as hospitalization). Requests for extensions must be made in advance and accompanied by appropriate written documentation if the excuse is acceptable to the professor. "Computer problems" are not an acceptable excuse.
INCOMPLETE GRADE POLICY:
If circumstances will prevent the student from completing the course by the end of the term, the student should complete a request for an incomplete grade. The professor may report an "Incomplete (I)" for a student whose progress in a course has been satisfactory (e.g. the student is passing the course), but who is unable to complete the course grading requirements because of documented circumstances beyond his/her control. Refer to TROY Incomplete Grade Policy.
Note: A grade of incomplete is not automatically assigned to students, but rather must be requested by the student by submitting a Petition for and Work to Remove an Incomplete Grade Form. Requests for an incomplete grade must be made on or before the date of the final assignment or test of the term. An incomplete is not a substitute for an F. If a student has earned an “F” by not submitting all the work or by receiving an overall F average, then the F stands. An incomplete will not be awarded for excessive absences. An incomplete will only be awarded to student presenting a valid case for the inability to complete coursework by the conclusion of the term. It is ultimately the professor’s decision to grant or deny a request for an incomplete grade.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:
To assist you in mastering the course material, I will lecture on each chapter, highlighting and explaining the important concepts, and then together we will work on exercises, problems and financial statement analysis. PowerPoint slides and other materials are posted for your use in Blackboard.
The student is responsible for all instructions and assignments given in class, as well as for the supporting textbook content. The student should read the textbook material before the lecture covering that material. This leads to a better understanding of the lecture, as well as the opportunity to ask questions about material(s) in the text that were unclear or that the student did not understand.
Homework will be assigned for each chapter. These assignments are made for the sole purpose of allowing the student to see if they understand the material. Some of these assignments will be turned in for grading. Students who do not work the homework problems perform very poorly on the tests. The homework assignments are directly related to the course goals and objectives, and to the chapter learning objectives. On the homework assignment due dates, you should be prepared to present the problems, cases, or any other assigned material.
The labs in Bibb Graves are available for student use and tutors are available.
The focus will be on developing analytical and conceptual thinking, not on memorization. Each of you will be an active participant in the learning process, not a passive recipient of information. You will learn by PARTICIPATING!
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
Exam 1 100 points
Exam 2 100
Comprehensive Final Exam 150
Homework 65
City of Bingham project 100
Total 515 points
ASSIGNMENT OF GRADES:
All grades will be posted in the student grade book in Blackboard and will be assigned according to the following or similar scale:
A 90 – 100%
B 80 – 89%
C 70 – 79%
D 60 – 69%
F 59% and below
Postings: Grades will be posted in the Blackboard grade book during the course and final grades will be posted in Trojan WebExpress.
FA: “FA” indicates the student failed due to attendance. This grade will be given to any student who disappears from the course for three or more weeks. See the Attendance Policy section of this syllabus for additional information.
The last day to drop a course is March 18. After this date, students will not be allowed to drop the course and students will have to take the grade earned in the course. You may drop via Trojan WebExpress or the Records office.
A grade will be assigned to you at the end of the course based on your performance on exams and assignments.
SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS:
· As per the schedule, homework assignments noted in BOLD will be submitted directly to me for grading at the beginning of class. Homework assignments that are not noted in bold will be presented to me at the beginning of class as noted per the schedule for completion check. IF YOU WILL NOT BE IN CLASS, YOU SHOULD MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO SUBMIT YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE CLASS IN PERSON OR VIA EMAIL. Those late to class will NOT receive credit for that day’s homework. NO EXCEPTIONS. We will review selected homework assignments during class.
· City of Bingham required printouts will be submitted to me as per the schedule. Note: We will discuss the software in-depth on the first day of class. If you have any problems, please see me.
EXAMINATION SCHEDULE & INSTRUCTIONS:
· Tentative examination dates are indicated on the assignment schedule. Exam dates are subject to change with advance notice from the professor.