COURSE INFORMATION:
Course Name: MGMT 13, Small Business Entrepreneurship
Course Section Number: 20154
Meeting Time: Asynchronous, no scheduled meetings
Meeting Location: Online, Canvas

This class starts on Monday, February 7, 2022 and ends with an online final exam on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. “Due to COVID-19 pandemic, this class will be conducted remotely and online with NO required virtual scheduled meetings”.

PROFESSOR:
Name: Lena Baltakian
Office Location: Virtual, via Zoom meetings
Office Hours: Mondays, 9 am- 3 pm (appointments recommended)
Email: baltaklm@laccd.edu

Spring 2022 office hours start on Monday, February 7. These are times when I am available via ZOOM to speak with you and address questions or concerns you may have. Your questions are important for me and if the Office Hours don’t work for you, I will accommodate your schedule, if possible.

COURSE MATERIAL: 
Required Textbook: “Small Business Management, Launching and Growing Entrepreneurial Ventures”, by Petty Logenecker, 18th Edition, Cengage/So. Western. ISBN: 9781305405745; ebook 9780357687369. You will not need any other resources from the publisher as all assignments are on Canvas. There is a copy of this book on reserve that you can use while at the Pierce college library. 

Canvas Access: Please select to access Canvas.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course students will analyze management, marketing, financing, and human resource functions of a small business as well as develop a business plan. This course presents a systematic approach to successful small business operations. Material covered includes personnel evaluation, pre-ownership evaluation, management and leadership in a small business environment, financing, location, taxation, record keeping, employee management, purchasing, advertising, sales, and credit. The course will emphasize the development of a business plan.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: These outcomes will be evaluated during the regular evaluation process. Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Research, compose, and write a comprehensive business plan.
2. Evaluate and compare starting a business versus buying an ongoing business.

 

COMMUNICATION AND FEEDBACK EXPECTATION: Canvas and LACCD email will be our primary methods of communication and will be used to publish messages, announcements, changes, and handouts. Such communication is automatically sent to your LACCD email. Check that email account regularly or ensure your preferred, personal email is set up for forwarding. It is your responsibility to log in to the course on Canvas regularly. You can set up the canvas app on your cellular phone (See Canvas Support page under class Modules).

Always use your LACCD email when you email me at baltaklm@laccd.edu . In general, I respond within 24-48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. To get faster responses, please identify yourself by including course name and your last name in the subject line.

Generally, assignments will be graded weekly after the due date and individual feedback is provided under comments section to help students improve their work. It is important to read the feedback to ensure mistakes are not repeated and work quality is improved. If you are viewing from your laptop, go to Grades and click on the box next to your grade to see comments. If you using a phone, go to Grades, click on the Grade Posted, then click on 'Submission and Rubric', and finally, click on 'Comments' to see the feedback.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Disobedient, disruptive or disorderly behavior exhibited by any student may result in disciplinary action in accordance with District policies and procedures. Action may include but is not limited to expulsion from class. Please select to see the student code of conduct.

Additionally, check the “Netiquette and Classroom Behavior” page of Canvas in Module “Getting Started”. In all Pierce College courses, we ask that you treat your peers, including the course instructors, with dignity, respect, and collegiality. When disrespectful conduct surfaces in interactions, it has detrimental effects on the development of our educational community. Each person, including me/us, will be held accountable to the rules of netiquette identified on our “Netiquette” page. If you encounter any concerning interactions in this course, bring them to my/our attention, so they can addressed by immediately.

EXCLUSION AND DROPS: 
The last day to drop classes without a grade of “W” is February 21.

The No Penalty Drop Date is now the day before census (end of 2nd week for full-term classes). You must drop by that date or you will be assigned a ‘W’ for the class. W’s count against your total attempts District wide!  You can only attempt a class three times. That includes withdrawals, incompletes and substandard grades. Use your attempts wisely!

Here is an excerpt from the current catalog (page 250) about course repetition policy: "Students may repeat courses in which substandard grades (“D”, “F” or “NC”, “NP”) were awarded provided they have not already attempted the same course three times….For the first and second repetitions of a course where a substandard grade was awarded, the highest grade earned shall be used when computing the student’s cumulative grade point average." 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT: The faculty and administration of Pierce College are committed to the belief that honesty and integrity are integral components of the academic process. The College expects students to be honest and ethical at all times in their pursuit of academic goals. Students who violate the code of academic conduct by which the College maintains its academic integrity will be dealt with in a manner reflecting the seriousness of these violations. Please select to view the Pierce College Student Academic Integrity Statement.

Read these policies thoroughly, including the related material on the Pierce College Library website. Assignments in this class will use Turnitin, which is a plagiarism detection software on Canvas. This program compares students’ assignments to a database of sources and will provide originality reports, which detail the specific parts of homework matching or similar to the identified sources. Be aware of plagiarism rules, including proper ways of quoting, paraphrasing and referencing material to avoid point deductions based on Turnitin plagiarism checker results (a score of 30% or more impacts grades).

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity impact student's grades, leading to an "F" or "0" on the submission. It requires reporting the student to administration for review, which may lead to additional serious consequences. Please ensure you understand the policies so you can abide by them.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA): Pierce College is fully committed to be in compliance with ADA. See Special Services in the Student Services Building and refer to the school catalog for details.

ASSIGNMENTS: Detailed instructions for each assignment are included on Canvas. See the “Assignments” page under “Getting Started Module for additional details. According to Pierce College guidelines, this course involves 3:10 hours per week, excluding reading and studying. It will be delivered entirely through Canvas, which is where all student work needs to be submitted. You will have access online to resources and assignments, with due dates to ensure deliverables are completed with the required time period.

The course content on Canvas is organized into modules. All weekly assignments are due by Sundays (11:59 pm). To ensure you have completed the assignments required for a particular week, click on 'Modules' (see the list to the left of your Canvas screen) and check the submissions due, organized under each module. Another way of ensuring you have completed all necessary work is to check the “To-Do List” under each module. If you have not logged in and completed ALL of the first week assignments by February 13 (11:59 pm), you may be dropped from the course. 

Assignments in this course include the following:
1- Weekly Discussions on a chapter topic and exchange of ideas with classmates.
2- Homework includes answering questions from chapter topics based on reading material or related TED Talks videos as assigned.
3- A business plan will be completed, with different sections of it assigned during related chapters.
4- Quizzes cover 1-2 chapters each.
5- Final Exam will be non-cumulative, covering the last few chapters. 

GRADING CRITERIA: Students need to submit assignments via Canvas prior to deadlines. Technical issues or connection problems are not considered acceptable excuses for deadline extensions.  

The point values student receives on assignments are an indicator of how closely aligned the submissions are to the assignment requirements and criteria. Any submission posted on Canvas is considered final work ready for grading. If planning to review or edit, save work locally and only post on Canvas if it is final submission. Additionally, assignments should not be edited, corrected, reposted or emailed after they have been graded. 

Turnitin plagiarism checker is used on assignments and students must remain below 30% to avoid point deductions.

 

GRADING Scale: A point system is used in this course, with 500 total possible points. Focusing on percentages listed on Canvas may be misleading as those reflect percentages earned based on work submitted and exclude missed assignments or quizzes. To pass this course, a student needs a minimum of 350 points which is a “C” grade. Here is a breakdown of the Grading Scale:

A= 450-500 points
B= 449-400 points
C= 399-350 points
D= 349-300 points
F=299-0 points

LATE or MAKE-UP POLICY: In general, late assignments are not accepted. However, with certain assignments, an extended period is provided to help students complete missed work and earn partial grades (points deducted for each day late). Check Canvas for assignment due dates and closing dates.

DROP POLICY: It is critical to start contributing and posting assignments at the start of the Semester. If a student does not post assignments at the end of the first week of class, and does not contact me during that time, they will be dropped from the course. Active status must be maintained throughout the Semester and not posting work for seven calendar days may lead to a drop.

If a student misses more than two assignments in a module and makes no contact with me explaining acceptable reasons why they missed them, that student may be dropped from the course.

Students can drop a course on their own but need to follow the important dates based on the calendar on our Pierce College website, under the Semester Schedule page. Students are responsible for dropping a course and post-census non-attendance does not automatically drop you from a course.

ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION: In distance education, lack of participation (inactive status) is considered an absence because attendance is confirmed by timely, consistent completion of assignments. You are expected to log in and contribute starting the first day of the Semester. If a student has not completed required modules at the end of the first week of the Semester, or within a week of adding the class, they will be dropped from the course with or without notice.

Your participation level will determine your active or inactive (absence) status. Active status and participation date is not reset when a single assignment is submitted, but when the majority of work due is completed by the due date.

Inactive status is demonstrated by not logging on or not submitting significant amount of work. This status is verified at least on a weekly basis. To remain in class, avoid being inactive (absent) for seven calendar days or longer. Low participation occurs when a student does not complete the majority of the assignments on a weekly basis. Logging on and completing a single assignment or two, may be considered inactive and lead to exclusions from this class. Students must maintain active participation throughout the Semester.

After Census date and the initial phase of class, it is the student’s responsibility to drop the class; otherwise, a student who stops participating in our online class after that date may receive an “F” in the course.

COURSE SCHEDULE: Each week a chapter will be assigned, along with related resources. Assignments for each chapter will be listed in that chapter’s module. Occasionally, more than one chapter or module may be assigned to accommodate the Semester’s schedule. See Canvas Modules for due dates.

 

Week	chapter	Topic
1	1	Getting Started Module and 'The Entrepreneurial Life'
2	2	Integrity, Ethics and, Social Entrepreneurship.
3	3	Starting a Small Business
3	4	Franchises and Buyouts
4	5	The Family Business
5	6	The Business Plan: Visualizing the Dream
6	7	The Marketing Plan
7	8	The Organizational Plan: Teams, Legal Structures, Alliances, and Directors
7	9	The Location Plan
8	14	Building Customer Relationships
		Spring Break
9	17	Promotional Planning
10	10	Understanding a Firm's Financial Statements
10	11	Forecasting Financial Requirements
11	12	A Firm's Sources of Financing
12	13	Planning for the Harvest
13	15	Product Development and  Supply Chain Management
13	21	Managing Small Business Operations
14	23	Managing Risk
15	16	Pricing and Credit Decisions
16		Final Exam (Chapter 15, 16, 21, 23)

 

CAMPUS SUPPORT AND SERVICES: Below you will find the various students’ services available at Pierce College. For a full list of such services available to you, please visit our website.

SPECIAL SERVICES:  Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact the office of Special Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Authorization, based on verification of disability, is required before any accommodation can be made. The office of Special Services is located in the Students Services Building, 1st floor. The phone number to reach Special Services office is 818-719-6430.

VETERANS OFFICE:  The mission of the Pierce College Veterans Office is to provide a supportive environment for veterans and to assist them with the services they need to receive VA benefits and to successfully complete their educational goal at Pierce College. The Veterans Office is designed as a liaison between you as a veteran and the Veterans Administration. Our Veterans staff will forward all documents required by the Veterans Administration directly to the Muskogee Regional Office. Our email contact is pierce-veteran@piercecollege.edu.

STUDENT HEALTH CENTER: The Pierce College Student Health Center is a health and wellness clinic committed to delivering expert medical and mental health care to our students at low or no cost, which support student health, well-being and success. Through a broad array of health care and education services, we advocate for, inform, and empower our students and help them achieve their academic and professional goals. Please select to visit the Student Health Care Website.

PIERCE ONLINE SUPPORT: Pierce Online is the eLearning platform powered by Canvas that is supported by Pierce College. Essentially, your Virtual Classroom accessed online. Pierce Online is used by many instructors to post assignments/activities, messages, and other course materials for your class. Pierce Online is used by many instructors to enhance traditional face-to-face classes, as well as for fully online and blended/hybrid classes. Please select to visit Pierce Online website.

During business days you may email onlinehelp@piercecollege.edu.  After hours or on weekends, use the Help icon in Canvas for immediate assistance. Technical issues or connection problems are not acceptable excuses for deadline extensions. If you are not familiar with Canvas, check the Canvas Support Page under Module - Student Technical Support.  

EMERGENCY: When on campus, call 818-710-4311 for immediate response from the Pierce Campus Sheriff. Do not call 911, as this may result in a delay. Please program the Emergency Sheriff’s number into your cell phone contacts.

COUNSELING CENTER: This service is available to help students determine their academic goals based on strengths and opportunity areas. Counselors will guide our students as they develop their academic and career plans. The Center is located on the first floor of the Student Services Building. https://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/counseling_center/index.asp

FINANCIAL AID: “Financial aid is made available by federal and state governments and private sources in the form of grants, scholarships, employment and loans”. The Financial Aid Office is located on the second floor of the Student Services Building. https://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/financial_aid/ 

TUTORING: Available to help students’ success. Workshops, online or in-person tutoring and assignment feedback are some of the services provided. https://www.piercecollege.edu/departments/academic_success/

Syllabus: This syllabus is provided to guide students and will be followed as closely as possible. The professor reserves the right to modify, supplement or change as needed. Every effort will be made to communicate such changes. It is the responsibility of the students to read announcements and Canvas to remain aware of any such changes.

IMPORTANT DATES: These dates may not apply to all classes. Use your portal to review your class deadlines: MyCollege.LACDD.edu.

Last day to register in classes online	Feb. 6
Last day to enroll in classes with permission number	Feb. 21
Last day to submit an Audit Card	Feb. 21
Last day to submit a Pass/No Pass petition	Feb. 21
Last day to drop online without "W" and penalty fees	Feb. 21
Census Date	Feb. 22
Spring Break	Apr. 2-8
Last Day to drop online with a "W"	May 8
Final Exam Week	Begins May 31
Grades Due	Jun. 13
Holidays
Presidents' Holiday	Feb. 18
Non-Instructional Days	Feb. 19-20
Presidents' Holiday	Feb. 21
Cesar Chavez Holiday	Mar. 31
Memorial Day	May 30