Small Business Operations Syllabus for 2020-2021
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Course Information

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

BUSG-1315-002 Small Business Operations

Prerequisites

Course Description

A course in the unique aspects of managing a small business. Topics address management functions including how managers plan, exercise leadership, organize and control operations.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Tech Supported

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Small Business Management 17^th ed, Longenecker, Petty Palich, Hoy

ISBN: 978-1-133-94775-2

Supplies

• Due to the COVID-19 Crisis we will be using the Cengage Online Learning portal. The book is freely available and will be shared by your instructor. If you wish to have a physical book you may purchase it from the Amarillo College Bookstore.
• Textbook:  Small Business Management 17^th ed, Longenecker, Petty Palich, Hoy
• Computer/tablet    (Be aware: not all class objectives can be accessed on tablets or smartphones)
• Ability to access the course in Blackboard through AC Connect to submit assignments. Students MUST have the ability to access the course in Blackboard through AC Connect to submit assignments, take exams, participate in discussion boards and team projects (www.actx.edu)

 *If you don't have computer and printer access as home, make sure you locate the computer lab of your choice on campus to complete your assignments on time.

Technical support and assistance to log on to the course:

• For hands-on technical support, visit the Student Help Center.
• For telephone support, call AskAC at 371-5000.
• Also see the AC Connect Student Resources online help.

Student Performance

Course Learning Outcomes:

1. The student will describe important issues about small businesses and the entrepreneurial process.  SCANS* Information C5-C7; Thinking Skills F7, F9, F12
2. Student will discuss and identify essential management skills required of a successful entrepreneur, including the comparison of the traditional entrepreneurial personality with the traditional managerial personality.  SCANS* Resources C1-C4; Information C5-C8; Thinking Skills F7-F12; Interpersonal C9-C14
3. Student will list the basic steps involved in preparing a business plan including:
   a.  Analyzing the Industry and the Market
   b.  Analyzing the Product/Service
   c.  Protecting Intellectual Property
   d.  Building a Founding Team
   e.  Calculating start-up capital requirements
        SCANS* Information C5-C8; Systems C15-C17 Resources C1-C4
4. Student will identify and discuss the five stages of growth of a business and discuss the concept of harvesting@. SCANS* Information C5-C8; Thinking Skills F7-F12

*Meets Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS)

Information:  Acquires and uses information.

Interpersonal:  Works with others, serves clients, exercises leadership.

Systems:  Understands complex interrelationships.  (evaluates, monitors, improves social organizational and technological systems)

Thinking Skills:  Thinks creatively, makes decisions, solves problems, visualizes, knows how to learn and reason.

Resources:  Identifies, organizes, plans, and allocates resources (time, money, materials, facilities and human resources)

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

BEST PRACTICES:

• This is an 8 week class, have your book at the beginning...we will hit the ground running!
• If this is your first online class, get into Blackboard and "get lost"
• Log into Blackboard on Mondays to see what is due for the week (check the college email several times a week to stay informed)
• Plan ahead if you have limited internet access
• Communicate, communicate, communicate with your instructor
• USE SPELL CHECK  (What do you think about the person or an articles with incorrect spelling?)
• Know your resources, (student help, library hours, tutoring locations, etc.) if you don't know and need help....ask!!

DISCUSSION BOARDS:

• Use complete sentences in discussion boards.  DO NOT use abbreviated language used in text messaging. 
• Use spell check. 
• Address classmates in a non-threatening tone of voice; refrain from insults, slurs, insensitive comments and slang. 
• Please be respectful or classmates on the discussion boards.
• * Initial post word count is a minimum of 150 words

EXAMINATIONS:

Exams are to be taken INDIVIDUALLY.  If at student is caught participating in group testing, he/she will automatically receive a "0" and will be subject to further disciplinary actions as outlines in the AC Students Rights & Responsibilities. 

Plagiarism, Cheating and Individual Work Ethic

Amarillo College policies and Code of Student Conduct is strictly adhered to when dealing with plagiarism, cheating, and duplication of work product. Any evidence of plagiarism, cheating, or duplication of work product will result in a zero on the work in question.

A complete statement regarding scholastic dishonesty can be found in the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook at http://catalog.actx.edu/content.php?catoid=12&navoid=426

Grading Criteria

GRADING SCALE:

            90 - 100%         =          A          Excellent

            80 -   89%         =          B          Above Average, Very Good

            70 -   79%         =          C          Average, Good

            60 -   69%         =          D          Poor, but passing

            Below 60%        =          F          Failing

Instructor reserves the right to subjectively influence the final grade relative to class attendance, participation, and attitude.

Weighted Total:

30% Cengage Assignments

25% Project

15% Discussion Boards

30% Cengage Post-Test Exams 

100% Total Grade

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Weekly assignments MUST be typed and submitted into Blackboard. 
• Assignments are due on Sunday by 11:59 pm.
• Late assignments are not accepted. 
• Extra credit is not available.

 

EXAMINATIONS:

• Examinations will consist of essay, true-false, multiple choice, matching or short answer questions.
• Final Examination will be comprehensive. 
• Should you have an emergency, contact me in ADVANCE before 8 pm on Sunday.  There are no make-up exams. 

 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: 

• It is the responsibility of the student to initiate drop or withdrawal procedures through the Instructor of the course.
• Students who stop attending the class but do not officially drop or withdraw from this course will receive a grade of F if their average falls below a 60.  
• PLEASE communicate with the instructor to discuss options before considering dropping the class! 
• A student wanting to drop a class must set up an office visit with the instructor in order to drop the class.  
• Once the class is dropped, all grade records are deleted in Blackboard and can not be accessed again. 

***If after two weeks of coursework, a student’s grade is under a 70, an academic retention alert will be sent to an advisor and financial aid department.

Accessing Grades Online:

To view your current course grades:

• Go to www.actx.edu, click on AC Connect and log in using your ACNetID and password
• Click on BUSG-2309
• Click on My Grades on the menu to the left.

Final grade will be determined by dividing total number of points by the number of tests and projects. Instructor reserves the right to subjectively influence the final grade relative to class attendance, participation and attitude.

To view your Final course grades:

• Go to www.actx.edu, click on AC Connect and log in using your ACNetID and password
• Scroll down to Self Service on bottom right of the page, and click on Current Student.
• Under current student, click on Academic Profile and click on Grades.

Be aware that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (as amended) does not permit instructors to disclose information regarding grades over the phone, via email, or to a third party. Therefore, if you need to discuss your grades, you must do so in person.

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

"90% of success is just showing up."  ~ Woody Allen 

In order to be successful in this class, students are expected to log in and participate at least three times a week.  Students are expected to participate in the weekly discussion boards.  Instructors can see when the last date of log in occurs. 

• * Due to the freedom that online courses offer, it may be tempting to wait until the last minute to work on the course. From past student experience, almost NONE of the learners who take this approach are able to finish the course.
• * GET INTO THE HABIT OF GETTING ONLINE EVERY MONDAY to see the discussion boards, assignments and tests so you can plan accordingly and meet deadlines. 
• * It is suggested to work work ahead or create a plan that allows access to the course at least three times a week.
• * Learners who have biweekly attendance (or more) complete the course in a timely manner and get the best scores on their discussion boards, assignments, exams/quizzes and overall grades. Obviously the choice is up to you.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

• * It is the responsibility of the student to initiate drop or withdrawal procedures through the Instructor of the course. 
• * Students who stop attending class but do not officially drop or withdraw from this course will receive a letter grade at the end of the semester. 
• * PLEASE communicate with the instructor to discuss options before considering dropping the class.
• * Drop date: available on the AC Master Calendar
  • Paperwork needs to be turned in BY the DROP Date

CENSUS DAY/ADMINISTRATIVE DROP:  Students must log into the course within the first week of class and participate in discussion board initial posts, replies and assignments to be considered “attending” in an online course.   If student's DO NOT log in, access work and submit work for the class by Census Day -  the student will be administratively dropped from the course. 

Steps to drop:  (just saying you want to drop, doesn't get you dropped from the class)

1. Contact financial aid to see how it will affect financial status before dropping
2. Consider how it will affect your status (students are only allowed 5 drops over the degree-seeking period)
3. Contact the instructor
4. The instructor will send a drop form via email
5. Student signs drop form with the reason of drop
6. Instructor signs drop form
7. The student takes drop form to an academic advisor
8. The student is not dropped from the class until the form gets to the academic advisor for their signature and the academic advisor sends it on to the registrar

EXAMINATIONS/QUIZZES:

• * Exams/Quizzes will be open for one week.
• * Students are expected to take the exam/quiz by the due date. 
• * NO make-up exams/quizzes are allowed except for extenuating circumstances. 
• * Take the exam with a reputable device and good internet connection location
• * If a computer glitch happens while taking an exam:
•        1.  Try to get back into the exam
•        2.  Contact the instructor asap. 
•        3.  The instructor will determine if the exam will be reset to be retaken. 

Calendar

Additional Information