5 Pages Current Event Paper

Principles of Finance

Spring 2017 Syllabus

Instructor: Christopher Glaum Location: ATG 121

Text: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 11th Edition, Stephen A. Ross, Randolph W. Westerfield, and Bradford D. Jordan, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2016. ISBN for text: 9780077861704. There is an online edition (eBook) available for rent at a reduced price compared to the textbook.

Course Overview

This goal of this course is to introduce students to the key areas of financial management, including financial statement analysis, time value of money, stock and bond valuation, and analyzing capital projects. Throughout the semester, we will utilize concepts learned from the textbook and class discussions to understand the basics of financial management and apply those concepts to the current economic/business climate. The grade components and distribution are as follows:

For this course, students need to have a working knowledge of a word processing application such as Microsoft Word for the Current Event Paper and spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel for certain homework problems. Students may also be required to perform basic Internet searches to obtain financial and other information for the Current Event Paper.

After completing this course, students should be able to:

• Understand the differences and similarities among different forms of business organizations;

• Understand financial statements and calculate financial ratios;

• Calculate the present value and future value of single sum problems and annuities;

• Apply time value of money concepts to real world situations, including preparing amortization statements for different types of loans;

• Quantitatively value common stock and bonds; and

• Evaluate capital projects and analyze the financial criteria that would determine whether to embark on a major project.

The course schedule will serve as our guide for the semester. The course schedule can be found at the end of this syllabus, with any changes announced in class and/or posted on SAKAI. The schedule contains the dates for each class, the topics covered, the corresponding chapter in the text, and the assignments. The semester is broken down into three segments, as follows:

All class discussions are based on Microsoft PowerPoint presentations and supporting documents in Microsoft Word and PDF Format. All of these resources will be posted on SAKAI in advance of the class that the information is being taught. It is the student’s responsibility to have the documents available when the information is being discussed in class.

It is expected that students will attend class regularly, be on time, and stay for the entire duration. Students are also expected to come to class being familiar with the material, having at least attempted the homework problems, and willing to participate in class discussions. Students will be asked to volunteer to put their solutions to a homework problem on the board and discuss how they solved the problem, and this is a component of the class participation grade.

The text book and PowerPoint presentations provide the essential materials for the course. You are expected to:

• Read all text material assigned for each chapter

• Review the PowerPoint presentation and understand key concepts

• Participate in class discussions

• Complete assignments and Excel problems in a timely manner

• Start assignments early and get feedback from the instructor, if needed

• Continually review the course announcements for information and updates

• Consult/meet with the professor immediately when you need help

Connect is a web-based tool that students can utilize as a resource in conjunction with the course. You must have an access code to use Connect. It is included with the new textbook. You can also rent the ebook and get access to Connect. Go to the following web address and click the “register now” button.

http://connect.mheducation.com/class/c-glaum-principles-of-finance---spring-2017

Connect should be viewed by students as an additional resource and is not a required component of the course. Each assignment in Connect is designated as “Practice”, with no due dates. The questions align with the problems in the assignments (by chapter). The questions are set to algorithmic mode, which means that the questions will match those in the text book, but with different statistical data.

There will be three tests during the semester, none of which will be cumulative. The tests will consist of objective questions and problems and students will need a calculator. If you are unable to take a test for a university approved reason, you must provide notice in writing (or e-mail) so that other arrangements can be made. If an unforeseen emergency arises (hospitalization, death in the family, etc.), you must contact me as soon as possible after the missed test. The instructor reserves the right to request written documentation to support non-university approved absences and make-up tests are not guaranteed. All tests will take place in our regular classroom and the tentative dates are as follows:

Each student may submit a Current Event paper on any topic that we cover in class. The paper must be submitted by the last class (5/10). The paper should be a minimum of 5 pages in length (excluding tables, charts, and graphs) and must be word-processed, with tables prepared in a spreadsheet software package and charts/graphs utilized where pertinent. The report will be graded on content, communication, flow, and application to the financial topic covered in class. Assignments that contain gross proofreading errors or do not flow properly will be penalized at the instructor’s discretion. Rutgers has a useful website on paper writing that covers many basics:

http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/libs/robeson_lib/libres.html 
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/PlanResearchPaper.html#intro  

The Current Event Paper is optional. If a student decides that he/she will not submit a paper, then the three tests will comprise 85% of the final grade.

The class participation grade comprises 10% of your final grade and will be based on attendance (50%) and participation in class discussions (50%). Since this class only meets one night per week, your participation grade will be impacted if you miss more than one class. Students are expected to participate in class discussions, volunteer to put their solutions to a homework problem on the board, and discuss how they solved the problem.

The course schedule includes three homework assignments during the semester that must be submitted in Microsoft Excel. The excel assignments will be graded on effort and result. Each Excel solution must be posted to SAKAI prior to the beginning of class when the assignment is due in order to receive credit. Late assignments will not be accepted.

Policy found at http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/academic-integrity-at-rutgers

Students are responsible for understanding the principles of academic integrity and abiding by them in all aspects of their work at the University. Students are also encouraged to help educate fellow students about academic integrity and to bring all alleged violations of academic integrity they encounter to the attention of the appropriate authorities. Principles of academic integrity require that every Rutgers University student:

• properly acknowledge and cite all use of the ideas, results, or words of others

• properly acknowledge all contributors to a given piece of work

• make sure that all work submitted as his or her own in a course or other academic activity is produced without the aid of unsanctioned materials or unsanctioned collaboration

• obtain all data or results by ethical means and report them accurately without suppressing any results inconsistent with his or her interpretation or conclusions

• treat all other students in an ethical manner, respecting their integrity and right to pursue their educational goals without interference. This requires that a student neither facilitate academic dishonesty by others nor obstruct their academic progress

• uphold the canons of the ethical or professional code of the profession for which he or she is preparing.

Adherence to these principles is necessary in order to insure that:

• everyone is given proper credit for his or her ideas, words, results, and other scholarly accomplishments

• all student work is fairly evaluated and no student has an inappropriate advantage over others

• the academic and ethical development of all students is fostered

• the reputation of the University for integrity in its teaching, research, and scholarship is maintained and enhanced.

Failure to uphold these principles of academic integrity threatens both the reputation of the University and the value of the degrees awarded to its students. Every member of the University community therefore bears a responsibility for ensuring that the highest standards of academic integrity are upheld. If there are questions on how to comply, please contact me immediately.

As future business professionals, you are expected to conduct yourselves with professional courtesy to your classmates and to your instructor. Violations of the Student Code of Conduct are considered serious infractions of student behavior and subject to penalties relative to the level of the matter. Students may not disturb normal classroom procedures by distracting or disruptive behavior. Examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Repeatedly leaving and entering the classroom without authorization

• Answering cellular phone or allowing pager to beep

• Making loud or distracting noises

• Repeatedly speaking without being recognized, interrupting the instructor or other students, or otherwise acting in disregard of the instructor’s requests

• Resorting to physical threats or violence directed toward the instructor or other students. Physical threats or violence are a violation of the University’s Code of Student Conduct and incidents should be referred to the Dean of Students immediately.

Please consult “Standards of Classroom Behavior,” in The University Code of Student Conduct at http://studentconduct.rutgers.edu/files/documents/UCSCJuly2011.pdf and the University’s “Policy against Verbal Assault, Defamation and Harassment” at: http://studentconduct.rutgers.edu/files/documents/PolicyAgainstVerbalAssault.pdf for further information.

Disability Services

Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation:

https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines

If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the Office of Disability Services web site at:

https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/registration-form

Mr. Tim Pure

Rutgers-Camden Disability Services:

Rutgers-Camden Learning Center

Armitage Hall, Room 240

311 North Fifth Street, Camden, NJ 08102-1405

Web page: http://learn.camden.rutgers.edu/disability-services

Phone: 856.225.6442/ Fax: 856.225.6443

E-mail: [email protected]

• Dropping the Course: April 3, 2017 is the last day to drop the course with a “W” grade. For more information see the registrar’s website. http://registrar.camden.rutgers.edu/

• Student Responsibilities: It is your responsibility to check SAKAI on a regular basis for updates and announcements.

• Cell Phones: Students are required to have their cell phones in silent mode on lecture days and turned off during Tests. If you need to take a phone call for an emergency, please be respectful of other students and leave the classroom before answering the phone.

Principles of Finance