Course Syllabus


Print Syllabus
Course ID: GBS151
Title: Introduction to Business
Modality: Print-Based
Credit Hours: 3.00

Course Section Information

Institution: Rio Salado College

Section: 17492

Term: Summer I 2014

Start Date: 7/21/2014

Last date to withdraw: None

Instructor: Brian Anciaux

Course Materials

Be sure that you have all the necessary materials prior to the start date of your course.

Required Textbook:

Title: Excellence in Business
Author: C. Bovée, J. Thill, and M. Mescon
ISBN: (10 digit) 0-558-17623-2
(13 digit) 978-0-558-17623-5

Rio Salado College has developed a unique Textbook Savings Program that uses customized textbooks and saves students up to 50% off the original price of textbooks. This textbook is included in the Textbook Savings Program and has been customized specifically for this course at Rio Salado College by Pearson Custom Publishing so that it contains information most relevant to the course. Your course materials are available through the Rio Salado College Bookstore. All materials should be verified by ISBN before purchasing at the Rio Salado Bookstore (480-517-8710 or 1-800-584-8775 or http://learnatrio.com/RL-bookstore) or from another seller.

Additional Materials: None

Software Required for Course: Microsoft Word

Course Description and Competencies

Official Course Description
Characteristics and activities of current local, national, and international business. An overview of economics, marketing, management and finance.
Official Course Prerequisites
None.
Official Course Competencies
  1. Describe in writing the economic systems of capitalism, communism, socialism, and free enterprise; and identify major United States historical economic events.
  2. Identify in writing the advantages and disadvantages of a sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation; identify the function of management; analyze the aspect of human relations in business; identify the major labor organizations and summarize the historical development and current trends of labor organizations.
  3. Describe in writing the marketing functions of promotion, selling, merchandising, distribution, producing goods, and producing services.
  4. Identify in writing the major financial institutions; explain risk management and money management; and explain the functions of accounting and data processing in a business.
  5. Describe in writing the economic effects of international business and the laws affecting business and consumers, and analyze mergers and consolidations.

Course Requirements

  1. You must complete all course assessments listed in the lessons to be eligible for a passing grade.  Check the due dates in your course package. 
  2. You are allowed to submit your assignments, including quizzes, only one time unless you have permission from your instructor to resubmit an assignment.
  3. You are expected to write at a college level.  Use the grading matrix (if applicable) to see how your assignments will be evaluated.  Edit your work carefully before submitting it to your instructor.
  4. Keep a copy of all assignments that you submit.
  5. Contact your instructor if you have any questions while you are enrolled in the course.
  6. Assignments must be submitted by the specified due date. If you find that you need an extension on an assignment, contact your instructor before the scheduled due date.  Individual instructors will determine whether or not to grant the extension.  If you do not apply for an extension, or an extension is not granted, your instructor will decide whether or not to accept the work and if points will be deducted.
  7. Each student must submit his or her own original work, as outlined in the plagiarism section in the syllabus.  Plagiarism can include, but is not limited to:
  • submitting work that is not your own
  • submitting work that is copied from another source such as another student, a Web site, or a print source without proper citation
  • submitting work that is paraphrased or summarized from another source without proper citation.
  1. Assignments must include information summarized in your own words and personal examples in addition to quoted information from properly cited sources.
  2. You must earn an average of 60% or higher on the exam(s) and/or Midterm/Final Project(s) in order to be eligible to pass the course.

Time Requirements

Remember that this is a three credit-hour class. As such, you will need to dedicate significant time to this course. Plan to spend at least three hours on course content and at least six hours on homework for a total of at least nine hours each week. Be prepared to double your weekly class and study time if you choose an accelerated calendar.

Grading Procedure and Scale

Assignments will be graded based on content, incorporation of course and text concepts, and quality of writing. Even though this is not a writing course, college level writing is expected of all students. Essays should be formatted properly; spell checked; and reviewed for grammar, word usage, and sentence construction before being submitted. Your essay answers should be a combination of your own ideas supported by information from the text. This shows that you have read and understand the material, and are able to apply it to different situations.

Proper formatting of essay assignments includes:

  • an introductory paragraph where your main ideas are presented,
  • body paragraph(s) where your ideas are described in detail and supported with references to the text (references are required), and
  • a concluding paragraph which ties everything together.

Students are expected to include citations or references to the text or other sources to support their ideas. Proper citation format for a reference includes the name of the authors, the date of publication, and the page number (Levy & Weitz, 2007, pg. 25).

Your essays, assignments and exams will be graded using the grading matrix below. Please don’t hesitate to contact your instructor if you have questions.

Criteria         % of grade
Accuracy and relevancy of answer Answer given is inaccurate and not relevant to the question asked Answer given is accurate but not relevant or barely relevant to the question Answer given is accurate and somewhat relevant to the question Answer given is very accurate and very relevant to the question 35%
Completeness and detail of answer Answer is not complete at all and provides no detail Answer is partially complete and provides minimal detail Answer is complete and provides adequate detail Answer is very complete with additional details to support ideas 30%
Use of key terms Key terms are not used or are used incorrectly Minimal use of key terms; key terms that are used are not all used correctly Key terms are used to some extent; use is correct Key terms are used often and are all correct 15%
Spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and format Answer contains gross errors in spelling, grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and format Answer is barely at a college writing level with many errors in grammar, spelling, sentence format, punctuation, and format Answer contains some errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and format Answer is correctly formatted with no or minimal errors in spelling, grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and format 20%


Grading Procedure

There are 870 possible points for this course.

Syllabus Acknowledgement = 20 points
1 Quiz = 30 points
2 quizzes (40 points each) = 80 points
1 Essay = 20 points
2 essays (60 points each) = 120 points
3 case studies (100 points each) = 300 points
2 Exams (150 points each) = 300 points
Total = 870 points

Grading Scale

Letter grades for assignments, examinations, and the course will be determined by the following scale:

783 - 870 points = A (90% - 100%)
696 - 782 points = B (80% - 89%)
609 - 695 points = C (70% - 79%)
522 - 608 points = D (60% - 69%)
0 - 521 points = F (0% - 59%)

Please note: Extra credit is not available for this course.

The grading procedure for this course is based on the total number of points possible and is administered equally to all students in the course. Do not expect to receive a grade higher than that earned by your total points. There will be no "point adjustments" made for such things as "class participation" or other subjective factors.

Exams

There are two required in-person exams for this course. Please review the Grading Procedure and Scale portion of your syllabus for the point value of these exams. Your course materials will give specific information about accessing the exams.

The Midterm Exam consists of 50 multiple-choice and five (5) essay questions taken from the first half of the course (Lessons 1-6). Prepare by completing the practice exercises found at the end of each chapter and using your instructor’s feedback for guidance. You are expected to integrate the concepts and apply them to different situations. Your lesson assignments will also help you prepare for your exam. You will take this exam at a testing center in a proctored environment but you may use your textbook for the exam.

The Final Exam also consists of 50 multiple-choice and five (5) essay questions. The multiple-choice questions will be taken from the second half of the course (Lessons 7-12), but the essay questions may require you to apply concepts studied in the first half of the course in addition to the second half. Again, you may use your textbook for this exam, but you must take it in person. In both exams, you are expected to answer the essay questions by using an essay format as described above. You are expected to support your ideas and thoughts with references and citations from the text or other sources. Check your Calendar of Due Dates for specific due dates for your exam(s).

In-person exams are given at various locations throughout the valley for students who live in

Maricopa County.

 

You may view testing information on the Internet at: http://learnatrio.com/RL-testing

Students who live outside of Maricopa County or are registered with Disability Services may

request to have exams proctored. Please contact the Testing Center at (480) 517-8560 or 1

(866) 670-8420 (Toll-free).

 

Requests may also be made on the Internet by filling out and submitting the proctor request

form, located at: http://learnatrio.com/RL-testing-examproctor.

 

In-Person Examination Procedures

 

  1. There is no appointment necessary to take your exam. Exams can be taken during

normal hours of operation at any Rio Salado College testing site.

  1. You must complete the final exam by your course end date.
  2. You may take your exam(s) before your course end date if and only if you have

received all of your graded assignments.

Final Grade Options

  • Letter grade (A, B, C, D, F)-Awarded if the student completes all work, including the final exams.
  • Extension (in lieu of Incomplete grade) - Students may request an extension because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, if they have been doing acceptable work. The instructor will define the requirements and timelines to complete the course.
    Please Note: Instructors are not obligated to give extensions.
  • Withdrawal-Students may submit a withdrawal request on or prior to the “Deadline for Student to Withdraw with Guaranteed Grade of W” indicated in the college catalog.

    Students should not contact their instructor to request a withdrawal. A student wishing to withdraw from a class within the stated timeline must do so by visiting my.maricopa.edu or by calling Student Enrollment Services at 480.517.8540 (1.800.729.1197 toll-free). In extreme circumstances, students do have the option of requesting a complete withdrawal from the college by providing Student Enrollment Services with appropriate documentation.

  • Credit/No Credit Option (P/Z) - This course may not be taken on a credit/no credit basis.

Late or Missing Assignments

Assignments that have due dates are due on time according to the due dates. If you need to request an extension for an assignment, a request must be made to your instructor by voicemail at least one week prior to the due date.

Late points may be applied at the instructor's discretion.

Copyrights and Acknowledgements

The following items are copyrighted and have been reproduced in this course through special permission granted by the rights holders, with all rights reserved. If permission has not yet been received, items are made available under the Fair Use Statute, Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976. The material is made available solely for the use of registered students in this class and may not be further distributed to any person outside the class, whether by copying or by transmission in electronic or paper form.

Byrnes, Nanette. “AIG’s Uphill Battle.” Business Week Online (2/27/09): 18. Used with permission.

David, Henry and Amy Borrus. “No Escaping Sarbanes-Oxley.” Business Week Online (1/6/2005): pN.PAG. Used with permission.

Davis, Nick. “International Report: Trading Blocs and the Future.” Adhesives and Sealants Industry 13.9 (September 2006): 17-18. Used with permission.

Investopedia. “Economics Basics: Elasticity.” 11 March 2008
http://www.investopedia.com/university/economics/economics4.asp.

 Jamail, Nathan. “Daily Motivation Builds Momentum.” Supervision 70.3 (March 2009): 14-15. Used with permission.

“Negotiating Alliances” Copyright of InsideCounsel is the property of Corporate Legal Times Corporation. Used with permission.

Landis, David. “How to Win in Any Type of Market.” Kiplinger’s Personal Finance 59.10 (October 2005): 50-53. Used with permission.

Levy, Piet. “Ringing up a New Approach.” Marketing News 43.4 (3/15/2009): 8-9. Used with permission.

Love, Alaina. “Plotting a Better Course for Your Company.” Business Week Online 1/19/09: 7. Used with permission.

Mason, Eli. “Ponzis.” Accounting Today 23.3 (2/23/2009): 6-8. Used with permission.

Mokhiber. “Kathie Lee Goes on Defense.” Multinational Monitor 20.9 (September 1999): 7-8. Used with permission.

Ramsey, Robert D. “20 Ways to Become a Better Communicator.” Supervision 70.3 (March 2009): 16-18. Used with permission.

Varghese, Romy. “General Electric Poised to Lose Its Top Credit Rating-- Cost of Staying in Triple-A Club is Growing Increasingly Burdensome; More Investment-Grade Firms Slide Down the Ladder.” Wall Street Journal (2/19/09): B.5B. Used with permission.

Weinstein, Bruce. “Are You a Good Leader?” Business Week Online (2/02/09): 13. Used with permission.

Hints for Success

  1. Homework Labeling: Clearly label EVERY PAGE of your homework with your name, the course number, section number, your instructor’s name, and the homework’s name as it appears in the syllabus. Preferably, this labeling will occur in the top right-hand corner of each page. Make and keep copies of all your submissions.

  2. Homework Feedback: On your homework, your instructor may circle or highlight words, phrases, or sections that could be improved or corrected. It is your job to think through the possible reasons for a change/correction, referring back to your text, course guide, dictionary, or other grammatical reference material. This feedback focuses on the technical aspect of your message. You are to learn how to edit by examining the circled item and attempting to determine how it could be improved.

  3. Rough Drafts: Some of the lesson’s assignments (part A) serve as rough drafts for that lesson’s assignment. Take careful note which assignments will need feedback before submitting the corresponding assignment (final draft).

  4. Feedback Schedule: Student homework and exams are routed to your instructor on a weekly basis. This completed work is also sent back to you with instructor feedback on a weekly basis.
Updated on 7/13/2020 as per Stephanie's request. Removed the links.

Originality of Work

Students are expected to submit work that is primarily original in nature. Failure to do so is a violation of the Academic Misconduct Policy. What does this mean?

  • Quoted Passages - If you quote work from a source, a maximum of 20% of the essay may be quoted. Quoted material should support your original work, not replace it. All quoted work must be surrounded by quotation marks, should end with an in-text citation that includes the page number(s), and correspond to a reference listed at the end of the essay.
  • Combined Quoted, Paraphrased and/or Summarized Passages - You can use paraphrased and summarized information for a portion of your essay provided you include a proper in-text citation(s) along with a reference list. All quoted, paraphrased, and /or summarized material must support your original work. Therefore, no more than 50% of a written assignment may be quoted, paraphrased, and/or summarized - even if properly cited, from the work of others. This would not constitute original work.
  • Plagiarism Detection - All essays submitted at Rio Salado College are compared with previously submitted work to ensure students are submitting original work. You may not submit work that another student has previously submitted in a course as this violates the Academic Misconduct Policy.
  • Assignment Sharing Web Sites - Posting or using content from Web sites where students share their assignments is considered plagiarism as it violates the Academic Misconduct Policy and will result in academic discipline.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools - Turning in content created by AI essay generators or other types of AI platforms violates academic misconduct and will result in academic discipline.
Tutoring - If you need assistance writing college-level essays, Rio Salado College provides free online and in-person tutoring. Please see the Tutoring Web Site for hours and locations.

Updated after Faculty approval. - Murray Inman  7/16/2020



Submitting Assignments

All assignments are listed under the "Assessing Your Learning" heading in each lesson.

Note to students: Keep a copy of everything that you submit. If your work is lost you can submit your copy for grading. If you don’t receive your graded assignment or quiz results within two or three weeks after submitting it, please contact your instructor.

The due date listed in your course calendar is the last date on which an assignment can be delivered to the Course Support Office, or postmarked.

Distance Learning Drop Box

Distance Learning students can now drop off class assignments (in an appropriately addressed envelope) and return library books, videotapes, and/or cassettes at the Distance Learning Drop Box.

The Drop Box is conveniently located along the curb in front of the Rio Salado building at 2323 W. 14th Street in Tempe.

Mailed Assignments

All mailed assignments must be properly addressed and mailed with adequate postage. Please remember all correspondence to Rio Salado College must have a return address, an addressee, and the correct postage. The U.S. Postal Service may refuse delivery if any of these three are missing. All items placed in the Rio drop box must have a return address and an addressee. Please keep a copy of all work turned in to your instructor. Assignments will not be accepted if postage is due. If you are unsure of the postage required, take the item to the post office and have it weighed.

Include the course section number and assignment identifier on the envelope below your name and return address. Envelopes that are labeled incorrectly can cause a delay in processing your work. Address your envelope as shown in this example:

From:

Your Name:  Jane Q. Doe
Your Address:   1234 Anywhere Street, Anytown, AZ
Course and Section Numbers:  GPH111, Section 12345
Assignment Identifier:   Essay 1

To:

The Course Support Office Rio Salado College
P. O. Box 63310
Phoenix, AZ 85082-3310
Attn: (Write your instructor’s name here)

Your section number can be found in your "Welcome Letter".

The Course Support staff cannot answer questions about the receipt of specific mail-in assignments. Only your instructor can do so.

Note to students: Please submit only one assignment in each envelope. The special envelopes provided to you by Rio Salado are only for computer answer sheets (Scantrons). Please mail all other assignments in separate envelopes.

Note to students: The U.S. Post Office no longer offers Sunday or holiday mail posting, and pick-up does not automatically mean that your envelope will be posted the same day. To be safe, allow extra time: mail early.

Faxed Assignments

Assignments may be faxed to (480) 377-4728 for print and mixed media courses. Your name, your instructor's name, and the course name and section numbers must appear at the top of every page. When the Course Support Office receives assignments, they are sent to your instructor for evaluation. Once your instructor has graded your assignment, they will return it to you.

Protect your hard work. Again, clearly label every page of your assignment with your name, the course and section numbers, your instructors name, and the name of the assignment as it appears in the syllabus.

Course Completion Policy

A student who registers for a Print or Multimedia course is assigned a start date and an end date. It is the student's responsibility to note due dates for assignments and to keep up with the course work.

Students may request an extension because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, if they have been doing acceptable work. The instructor will define the requirements and timelines to complete the course.

Please Note: It is the prerogative of the instructor to decide whether or not to grant the request.

Library Services

The Rio Salado Library is committed to student success and provides a variety of materials and services to enhance student learning. Utilizing Rio’s online library for your research is the best way to ensure that your sources are validated, authoritative, and appropriate for college-level coursework. Librarians are available to help you at all times via our Ask a Librarian live chat service. You can access all library services at https://learnatrio.com/31qeRec.

Academic Misconduct

Academic Misconduct includes cheating, conspiring to cheat, soliciting to cheat, attempting to cheat, plagiarism, fabrication on an assignment, or other forms of dishonest presentation.

Posting assessments on an unauthorized web site, soliciting assessment answers and the unauthorized acquisition of assessments, assessment answers, or other academic material is cheating. Turning in content created by essay generators or other types of artificial intelligence platforms is also academic misconduct.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling or sharing of term papers or other academic materials. Information gathered from the Internet and not properly identified is also considered plagiarism.

We expect every student to produce their own original, independent work. Any student whose work indicates a violation of the MCCCD Academic Misconduct Policy, including cheating and plagiarism, can expect sanctions as specified in the college catalog. This policy is located at https://district.maricopa.edu/regulations/admin-regs/section-2/2-3#11.

Rio Salado College uses software that uncovers plagiarism from student to student and other data sources on the Internet. If a student is found to have plagiarized content, grade consequences will be applied in accordance with departmental policies.

Civility Policy

The faculty of Rio Salado place a high value on the importance of general ethical standards of academic behavior and expect that communication between students and instructors or among students shall maintain the level of formality and mutual respect appropriate to any college teaching/learning situation.

Language or behavior that is rude, abusive, profane, disruptive, or threatening will not be tolerated. Activity of this type is defined as Academic Misconduct in the MCCCD Academic Misconduct Policy (AR 2.3.11). Students engaging in such behavior will be removed from the course with a failing grade. Additional sanctions may be applied pursuant to AR 2.3.11. This policy is located at https://district.maricopa.edu/regulations/admin-regs/section-2/2-3#11.

Requirement for Active Class Participation

Please note that students may be withdrawn from class for non-participation.

If you receive financial aid of any kind, it is your responsibility to protect your eligibility to receive financial aid by meeting the active participation requirements of this class.

Change of Address

Please notify Course Support at (480) 517-8243 or by email at course.support@riosalado.edu. Please include your name, student number, phone number, and new address including city, state, and zip code.

Classroom Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and its associated colleges are committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities to students with documented disabilities (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical). Each class/term/semester that a student is in need of academic adjustments/accommodations, the qualified student is required to work with the Disability Resources & Services Office (DRS) at their individual college(s). Contact with the DRS should be made as soon as possible to ensure academic needs are met in a reasonable time. New and returning students must request accommodations each semester through DRS Connect online services. To learn more about this easy process, please contact your local DRS office.

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations, you are welcome to contact DRS by using the information listed on the following webpage: https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/disability-resources/contacts. The DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions qualifying for accommodations/academic adjustments. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your faculty, and DRS; and only those academic adjustments/reasonable accommodations granted by the DRS are recognized by the college and District. It is the policy and practice of the MCCCD to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.

Retrieved from https://district.maricopa.edu/mandatory-drs-title-ix-syllabus-statements on 09/27/2019.

Rio Salado College Disability Resources & Services

Web: https://learnatrio.com/RL-disability_services

Phone: 480-517-8562

Email: disability.services@riosalado.edu

Religious Accommodations

Rio Salado College will reasonably accommodate the religious needs, observances, and practices of their students, when requested and the requests are made in accordance with the procedures set forth in ND-4. Any student may request a religious accommodation by making a written request for an accommodation to the appropriate faculty member using the Religious Accommodation Request form. To the extent possible, requests must be made at least two (2) weeks before the requested absence from class due to religious holiday or day of observance.

Title IX Statement

Addressing Incidents of Sexual Harassment/Assault, Dating/Domestic Violence, and Stalking

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, MCCCD prohibits unlawful sex discrimination against any participant in its education programs or activities. The District also prohibits sexual harassment—including sexual violence—committed by or against students, District employees, and visitors to campus. As outlined in District policy, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking are considered forms of "Sexual Misconduct" prohibited by District policy.

District policy requires all college and District employees in a teaching, managerial, or supervisory role to report all incidents of Sexual Misconduct that come to their attention in any way, including but not limited to face-to-face conversations, a written class assignment or paper, class discussion, email, text, or social media post. Incidents of Sexual Misconduct should be reported to the college Title IX Coordinator. MCCCD will provide on its Title IX Coordinators web page at https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/title-ix/title-ix-coordinators, a link to all the Title IX Coordinators in the district. Reports may also be reported at https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/reporting.

Retrieved from https://district.maricopa.edu/mandatory-drs-title-ix-syllabus-statements on 09/27/2019.

Rio Salado College Title IX Coordinator

O. Tafari Osayande

Rio Salado College
2323 W. 14th St.
Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: (480) 517-8196

Email: o.tafari.osayande@riosalado.edu

Disclaimer

Course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of this particular group.

Student Solution Center

Rio Salado College is dedicated to a quality learning experience and has provided the Student Solution Center webpage, https://learnatrio.com/3DGKHTz, as a resource for students to raise issues to our attention. We look forward to the opportunity to provide an equitable solution to all involved parties.

For grading or instructional issues, students should first contact their faculty member(s) in accordance with the Instructional Grievance Process at https://district.maricopa.edu/regulations/admin-regs/appendices/students/s-6, as published in the college catalog.

The Office of Institutional Integrity & Compliance responds to all non-instructional challenges and concerns a student may encounter while attending Rio Salado College. Call (480) 517-8505 or email studentcomplaints@riosalado.edu.

The Conduct and Community Standards Office is available to assist students in understanding their rights and responsibilities and administers the Student Code of Conduct policies and procedures. The Conduct and Community Standards Office also works with Academic Affairs to administer the Academic Code of Conduct. Call (480) 517-8196 or email communitystandards@riosalado.edu.

Students may also contact their state regulatory agency (see https://learnatrio.com/RL-state_authorization), the Arizona SARA Council at https://azsara.arizona.edu/content/complaint-process or the Higher Learning Commission at http://www.hlcommission.org/Student-Resources/complaints.html to escalate their concerns.

Contact Rio Salado College

Rio Salado College

Headquarters/Tempe Campus

2323 West 14th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281
In-State (AZ) 480-517-8000
Out-of-State 1-833-RIO-WAVE

Customer Service Feedback

Please give us feedback on your customer service experience.
https://learnatrio.com/3DGKHTz