Proffessor 2013, are you going to write Assignment 1: Forming an Innovative Business

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BUS 313 – Student Notes

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course introduces the students to the key components of entrepreneurship. Topics covered include identifying new venture opportunities, getting started in a new venture, creating a business plan, financing and marketing ideas, and organizing and managing a small business.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Required Resources

Kaplan, J. M., & Warren, A. C. (2013). Patterns of entrepreneurship management (4th ed.). Danvers, MA: John Wiley & Sons.

Supplemental Resources

Fast Company. (2013). General format. Retrieved from www.fastcompany.com

Hess, E. D. (2012). Grow to greatness: Smart growth for entrepreneurial businesses. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Inc. Magazine. (2013).General format. Retrieved from www.inc.com

Schweikart, L. & Pierson, D. L. (2010). American entrepreneur: The fascinating stories of the people who

defined business in the United States. New York, NY: American Management Association.

Stanford Graduate School of Business. (2013). Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Retrieved from http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/ces/resources/links.html

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Examine entrepreneurship and different types of entrepreneurs.

2. Analyze the stages in the entrepreneurial process.

3. Examine the process of innovating and developing ideas and business opportunities.

4. Analyze different innovative business models to determine the best model for a specific venture.

5. Analyze the market, customers, and competition of entrepreneurs.

6. Examine the process of developing a business plan and setting up the company.

7. Analyze money sources for finding and managing funds.

8. Compare the different forms of intellectual property and how they differ.

9. Analyze the management of a successful innovative company.

10. Determine the most effective communication process to present the business to investors.

11. Analyze methods for exiting the venture.

12. Use technology and information resources to research issues in entrepreneurship.

13. Write clearly and concisely about entrepreneurship using proper writing mechanics.

WEEKLY COURSE SCHEDULE

The standard requirement for a 4.5 credit hour course is for students to spend 13.5 hours in weekly work. This includes preparation, activities, and evaluation regardless of delivery mode.

Week

Preparation, Activities, and Evaluation

Points

Preparation

· Reading(s)

· Chapter 1: Getting Started as an Entrepreneur

· Chapter 2: The Art of Innovation

Activities

· Introduction Discussion

· Discussions

Evaluation

· None

Preparation

· Reading(s)

· Chapter 3: Designing Business Models

· e-Activities

· Go to Minority Business Entrepreneur (MBE) Website and explore the organization’s offerings, located at http://www.mbemag.com/. Then, go to the MBE Business Resource Directory, located at http://www.mbemag.com/index.php/resources/mwbe-resource-directory, and consider two to three businesses that would be good partners for one another. Be prepared to discuss.

· Go to Forbes’ Website and read, “Are You an Innovative Entrepreneur”, located at http://www.forbes.com/sites/innovatorsdna/2012/06/04/are-you-an-innovative-entrepreneur/. Then, use the Internet to search for professional associations and other Websites that might help entrepreneurs to find and refine new business ideas. Be prepared to discuss.

Activities

· Discussions

Evaluation

· Quiz 1: Chapters 1 and 2

120

Preparation

· Reading(s)

· Chapter 4: Analyzing the Market, Customers, and the Competition

· Chapter 5: Writing the Winning Business Plan

· e-Activities

· Watch the video titled, “Market Analysis”, (5 m 26 s), located in the course shell (Week 3). Be prepared to discuss

· Go to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Website and read “Marketing & Sales”, located at http://www.sba.gov/content/marketing-sales-management. Be prepared to discuss.

Activities

· Discussions

Evaluation

· Quiz 2: Chapter 3

Preparation

· Reading(s)

· Chapter 6: Setting Up the Company

· Case Study: Starting a New Health Car Service Company (Chapter 6)

· e-Activities

· Go to Entrepreneur.com’s Website and read “When to Change Your Business Structure”, located at http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/38822 . Be prepared to discuss.

· Watch the video titled, “Business Model”, (5 m 16 s), located in the course shell (Week 4). Be prepared to discuss.

Activities

· Discussions

Evaluation

· Quiz 3: Chapters 4 and 5

· Assignment 1: Forming an Innovative Business

120

260

Preparation

· Reading(s)

· Chapter 7: Special Topic: Social Entrepreneurship

· e-Activity

· Watch the video titled, “Funding Options”, (3 m 3 s), located in the course shell (Week 5). Imagine you were about to start a new business and had decided to borrow money from your family and friends. Be prepared to discuss.

Activities

· Discussions

Evaluation

· Quiz 4: Chapter 6

Preparation

· Reading(s)

· Chapter 8: Technology Entrepreneurship

· e-Activities

· Use the Internet to research Facebook or another social networking company. Pay special attention to the types of technology the company uses to offer its services and / or products. Be prepared to discuss.

· Go to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Website and read “Avoiding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Problems” located at http://archive.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_homepage/serv_pubs_pi_pdf_pi2.pdf. This resource will help you understand the differences between patents, trademarks, and copyrights, and better recognize how each factor into intellectual property. Be prepared to discuss.

Activities

· Discussions

Evaluation

· Quiz 5: Chapter 7

Preparation

· Reading(s)

· Chapter 9: Early Stage Funding

· e-Activity

· Use the Internet to locate at least two resources that would help secure start-up capital for a new business. Be prepared to discuss.

Activities

· Discussions

Evaluation

· Quiz 6: Chapter 8

Preparation

· Reading(s)

· Chapter 10: Equity Financing

· e-Activity

· Go to Nevada Fight Fraud’s Website and read “Small Business Grant Scams”, located at http://fightfraud.nv.gov/GrantScams_new.htm. This is just one article describing ways that entrepreneurs might be taken advantage of. Use the Internet to locate similar articles to help better prepare yourself so that you are not fooled into making unwise funding choices.

Activities

· Discussions

Evaluation

· Quiz 7: Chapter 9

· Assignment 2: Successfully Funding Your Business Venture

280

Preparation

· Reading(s)

· Chapter 11: Managing Resources – Money and People

· Chapter 12: Communicating the Opportunity

· e-Activities

· Go to the Hershey’s Website and visit the page for its financial statements, located at http://www.thehersheycompany.com/investors/financial-reports.aspx. View one of the company’s quarterly or annual reports, paying special attention to the financial information presented in the document. Consider what information would be most important to you if you were a potential investor. Be prepared to discuss.

· Watch the video titled, “Elevator Pitch”, (2 m 14 s), located in your course shell (Week 9). Be prepared to discuss.

Activities

· Discussions

Evaluation

· Quiz 8: Chapter 10

Preparation

· Reading(s)

· Chapter 13: Exiting the Venture

· e-Activity

· Watch the video titled, “Exit Options”, (1 m 4 s), located in your course shell (Week 10). Be prepared to discuss.

Activities

· Discussions

Evaluation

· Quiz 9: Chapters 11 and 12

120

Preparation

· Reading(s): None

Activities

· Discussions

Evaluation

· Quiz 10: Chapter 13

GRADING SCALE – UNDERGRADUATE

Assignment	Total Points	% of Grade
Quizzes (open book with a 1-hour time limit per chapter) (13 chapters, 15 questions each, worth 4 points apiece)	780	50%
Assignment 1: Forming an Innovative Business	260	17%
Assignment 2: Successfully Funding Your Business Venture	280	18%
Participation (1 Introduction Discussion, worth 20 points) (22 discussions, worth 10 points apiece)	240	15%
Totals	1,560	100%

Points	Percentage	Grade
1,404 – 1,560	90% – 100%	A
1,248 – 1,403	80% – 89%	B
1,092 – 1,247	70% – 79%	C
936 – 1,091	60% – 69%	D
Below 936	Below 60%	F

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BUS 313 – Introduction to Entrepreneurship

© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

BUS 313 STUDENT GUIDE 1156 (05-14-2015) Page 15 of 15

Assignment 1: Forming an Innovative Business

Due Week 4 and worth 260 points

Go to the Wall Street Journal’s Website and read “And the Most Innovative Entrepreneur Is...”, located at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577013501641346794.html. After reading the article, conceive an innovative idea for a new product or service. Imagine that you are going to start a business that offers that product or service.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

1. Briefly describe your innovative idea.

2. Determine the business structure that would be the best choice for your venture. Support your decision.

3. Create an outline of the stages in the entrepreneurial process that you would need to follow when starting this business. Determine the resources and tools you would need to be successful at each stage.

4. Determine the market for your innovative idea. Include details on regarding your potential customers, the predicted size of the market, and the competitors that already exist in the marketplace.

5. Create an action plan that describes how you would overcome any foreseen barriers to your venture’s success.

6. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

· Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

· Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

· Analyze the stages in the entrepreneurial process.

· Examine the process of innovating and developing ideas and business opportunities.

· Analyze different innovative business models to determine the best model for a specific venture.

· Analyze the market, customers, and competition of entrepreneurs.

· Examine the process of developing a business plan and setting up the company.

· Use technology and information resources to research issues in entrepreneurship.

· Write clearly and concisely about entrepreneurship using proper writing mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Points: 260	Assignment 1: Forming an Innovative Business
Criteria	Unacceptable Below 60% F	Meets Minimum Expectations 60-69% D	Fair 70-79% C	Proficient 80-89% B	Exemplary 90-100% A
1. Briefly describe your innovative idea. Weight: 5%	Did not submit or incompletely briefly described your innovative idea.	Insufficiently briefly described your innovative idea.	Partially briefly described your innovative idea.	Satisfactorily briefly described your innovative idea.	Thoroughly briefly described your innovative idea.
2. Determine the business structure that would be the best choice for your venture. Support your decision. Weight: 15%	Did not submit or incompletely determined the business structure that would be the best choice for your venture. Did not submit or incompletely supported your decision.	Insufficiently determined the business structure that would be the best choice for your venture. Insufficiently supported your decision.	Partially determined the business structure that would be the best choice for your venture. Partially supported your decision.	Satisfactorily determined the business structure that would be the best choice for your venture. Satisfactorily supported your decision.	Thoroughly determined the business structure that would be the best choice for your venture. Thoroughly supported your decision.
3. Create an outline of the stages in the entrepreneurial process that you would need to follow when starting this business. Determine the resources and tools you would need to be successful at each stage. Weight: 20%	Did not submit or incompletely created an outline of the stages in the entrepreneurial process that you would need to follow when starting this business. Did not submit or incompletely determined the resources and tools you would need to be successful at each stage.	Insufficiently created an outline of the stages in the entrepreneurial process that you would need to follow when starting this business. Insufficiently determined the resources and tools you would need to be successful at each stage.	Partially created an outline of the stages in the entrepreneurial process that you would need to follow when starting this business. Partially determined the resources and tools you would need to be successful at each stage.	Satisfactorily created an outline of the stages in the entrepreneurial process that you would need to follow when starting this business. Satisfactorily determined the resources and tools you would need to be successful at each stage.	Thoroughly created an outline of the stages in the entrepreneurial process that you would need to follow when starting this business. Thoroughly determined the resources and tools you would need to be successful at each stage.
4. Determine the market for your innovative idea. Include details on regarding your potential customers, the predicted size of the market, and the competitors that already exist in the marketplace. Weight: 25%	Did not submit or incompletely determined the market for your innovative idea. Did not submit or incompletely included details on regarding your potential customers, the predicted size of the market, and the competitors that already exist in the marketplace.	Insufficiently determined the market for your innovative idea. Insufficiently included details on regarding your potential customers, the predicted size of the market, and the competitors that already exist in the marketplace.	Partially determined the market for your innovative idea. Partially included details on regarding your potential customers, the predicted size of the market, and the competitors that already exist in the marketplace.	Satisfactorily determined the market for your innovative idea. Satisfactorily included details on regarding your potential customers, the predicted size of the market, and the competitors that already exist in the marketplace.	Thoroughly determined the market for your innovative idea. Satisfactorily included details on regarding your potential customers, the predicted size of the market, and the competitors that already exist in the marketplace.
5. Create an action plan that describes how you would overcome any foreseen barriers to your venture’s success. Weight: 20%	Did not submit or incompletely created an action plan that describes how you would overcome any foreseen barriers to your venture’s success.	Insufficiently created an action plan that describes how you would overcome any foreseen barriers to your venture’s success.	Partially created an action plan that describes how you would overcome any foreseen barriers to your venture’s success.	Satisfactorily created an action plan that describes how you would overcome any foreseen barriers to your venture’s success.	Thoroughly created an action plan that describes how you would overcome any foreseen barriers to your venture’s success.
6. 3 references Weight: 5%	No references provided	Does not meet the required number of references; all references poor quality choices.	Does not meet the required number of references; some references poor quality choices.	Meets number of required references; all references high quality choices.	Exceeds number of required references; all references high quality choices.
7. Clarity, writing mechanics, and formatting requirements Weight: 10%	More than 8 errors present	7-8 errors present	5-6 errors present	3-4 errors present	0-2 errors present

Assignment 2: Successfully Funding Your Business Venture

Due Week 8 and worth 280 points

For Assignment 1, you imagined that you were going to start a company that offered an innovative product or service. In Assignment 1 you also determined the business structure you would use for that venture. For this assignment, you can use that same idea and structure or imagine different ones. Use the Internet and the Strayer Online Library to locate any additional information needed to complete this assignment.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

1. Determine the steps you would need to take to officially establish your company with the business structure that you feel is most appropriate. For each of those steps, be sure to include specifics that are relevant to your market and geographic area.

2. Examine at least three (3) funding sources that might be appropriate for your business. Describe what those sources of capital are, and explain the pros and cons of each.

3. Select the funding source that you believe to be the best fit for your business and explain why.

4. Determine the form(s) of intellectual property that you will have to protect when starting your business. Develop a plan to protect these intellectual properties.

5. Choose one (1) of the following approaches: Assume you decide to revamp your product or service so that it is completely virtual / online and concentrates on fulfilling a social need. Propose two (2) ways that you would need to alter your preferred funding sources and explain why. Determine whether you would or would not have additional forms of intellectual property to protect. Support your decision. Or If your initial business product or service was already completely online and geared toward social entrepreneurship, determine ways that you might need to revise your funding and protection of intellectual property had your company not been rooted in social entrepreneurship and had a physical location.

6. Imagine that you established your initial idea for a company and have been successfully operating for five years (5). Describe how your hypothetical need for capital changed over the years. Determine which sources of funding would be the most appropriate if you wanted to raise capital to expand your hypothetical business. Examine how, if at all, those funding sources might have differed from those needed in early stage funding.

7. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

· Examine the process of developing a business plan and setting up the company.

· Analyze money sources for finding and managing funds.

· Compare the different forms of intellectual property and how they differ.

· Use technology and information resources to research issues in entrepreneurship.

· Write clearly and concisely about entrepreneurship using proper writing mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Points: 280	Assignment 2: Successfully Funding Your Business Venture
Criteria	Unacceptable Below 60% F	Meets Minimum Expectations 60-69% D	Fair 70-79% C	Proficient 80-89% B	Exemplary 90-100% A
1. Determine the steps you would need to take to officially establish your company with the business structure that you feel is most appropriate. For each of those steps, be sure to include specifics that are relevant to your market and geographic area. Weight: 15%	Did not submit or incompletely determined the steps you would need to take to officially establish your company with the business structure that you feel is most appropriate. Did not submit or incompletely included specifics that are relevant to your market and geographic area.	Insufficiently determined the steps you would need to take to officially establish your company with the business structure that you feel is most appropriate. Insufficiently included specifics that are relevant to your market and geographic area.	Partially determined the steps you would need to take to officially establish your company with the business structure that you feel is most appropriate. Partially included specifics that are relevant to your market and geographic area.	Satisfactorily determined the steps you would need to take to officially establish your company with the business structure that you feel is most appropriate. Satisfactorily included specifics that are relevant to your market and geographic area.	Thoroughly determined the steps you would need to take to officially establish your company with the business structure that you feel is most appropriate. Thoroughly included specifics that are relevant to your market and geographic area.
2. Examine at least three (3) funding sources that might be appropriate for your business. Describe what those sources of capital are, and explain the pros and cons of each. Weight: 10%	Did not submit or incompletely examined at least three (3) funding sources that might be appropriate for your business. Did not submit or incompletely described what those sources of capital are, and did not submit or incompletely explained the pros and cons of each.	Insufficiently examined at least three (3) funding sources that might be appropriate for your business. Insufficiently described what those sources of capital are, and insufficiently explained the pros and cons of each.	Partially examined at least three (3) funding sources that might be appropriate for your business. Partially described what those sources of capital are, and partially explained the pros and cons of each.	Satisfactorily examined at least three (3) funding sources that might be appropriate for your business. Satisfactorily described what those sources of capital are, and satisfactorily explained the pros and cons of each.	Thoroughly examined at least three (3) funding sources that might be appropriate for your business. Thoroughly described what those sources of capital are, and thoroughly explained the pros and cons of each.
3. Select the funding source that you believe to be the best fit for your business and explain why. Weight: 10%	Did not submit or incompletely selected the funding source that you believe to be the best fit for your business and did not submit or incompletely explained why.	Insufficiently selected the funding source that you believe to be the best fit for your business and insufficiently explained why.	Partially selected the funding source that you believe to be the best fit for your business and partially explained why.	Satisfactorily selected the funding source that you believe to be the best fit for your business and satisfactorily explained why.	Thoroughly selected the funding source that you believe to be the best fit for your business and thoroughly explained why.
4. Determine the form(s) of intellectual property that you will have to protect when starting your business. Develop a plan to protect these intellectual properties. Weight: 20%	Did not submit or incompletely determined the form(s) of intellectual property that you will have to protect when starting your business. Did not submit or incompletely developed a plan to protect these intellectual properties.	Insufficiently determined the form(s) of intellectual property that you will have to protect when starting your business. Insufficiently developed a plan to protect these intellectual properties.	Partially determined the form(s) of intellectual property that you will have to protect when starting your business. Partially developed a plan to protect these intellectual properties.	Satisfactorily determined the form(s) of intellectual property that you will have to protect when starting your business. Satisfactorily developed a plan to protect these intellectual properties.	Thoroughly determined the form(s) of intellectual property that you will have to protect when starting your business. Thoroughly developed a plan to protect these intellectual properties.
5. Choose one (1) of the following approaches: Assume you decide to revamp your product or service so that it is completely virtual/online and concentrates on fulfilling a social need. Propose two (2) ways that you would need to alter your preferred funding sources and explain why. Determine whether you would or would not have additional forms of intellectual property to protect. Support your decision. Or If your initial business product or service was already completely online and geared toward social entrepreneurship, determine ways that you might need to revise your funding and protection of intellectual property had your company not been rooted in social entrepreneurship and had a physical location. Weight:15%	Did not submit or incompletely chose one (1) of the approaches. Did not submit or incompletely proposed two (2) ways that you would need to alter your preferred funding sources and did not submit or incompletely explained why. Did not submit or incompletely determined whether you would or would not have additional forms of intellectual property to protect and did not submit or incompletely supported your decision. Or did not submit or incompletely determined ways that you might need to revise your funding and protection of intellectual property had your company not been rooted in social entrepreneurship and had a physical location.	Insufficiently chose one (1) of the approaches: Insufficiently proposed two (2) ways that you would need to alter your preferred funding sources and insufficiently explained why. Insufficiently determined whether you would or would not have additional forms of intellectual property to protect and insufficiently supported your decision. Or insufficiently determined ways that you might need to revise your funding and protection of intellectual property had your company not been rooted in social entrepreneurship and had a physical location.	Partially chose one (1) of the approaches: Partially proposed two (2) ways that you would need to alter your preferred funding sources and partially explained why. Partially determined whether you would or would not have additional forms of intellectual property to protect and partially supported your decision. Or, partially determined ways that you might need to revise your funding and protection of intellectual property had your company not been rooted in social entrepreneurship and had a physical location.	Satisfactorily chose one (1) of the approaches: Satisfactorily proposed two (2) ways that you would need to alter your preferred funding sources and satisfactorily explained why. Satisfactorily determined whether you would or would not have additional forms of intellectual property to protect and satisfactorily supported your decision. Or satisfactorily determined ways that you might need to revise your funding and protection of intellectual property had your company not been rooted in social entrepreneurship and had a physical location.	Thoroughly chose one (1) of the approaches: Assume you Thoroughly proposed two (2) ways that you would need to alter your preferred funding sources and thoroughly explained why. Thoroughly determined whether you would or would not have additional forms of intellectual property to protect and thoroughly supported your decision. Or thoroughly determined ways that you might need to revise your funding and protection of intellectual property had your company not been rooted in social entrepreneurship and had a physical location.
6. Imagine that you established your initial idea for a company and have been successfully operating for five (5) years. Describe how your hypothetical need for capital changed over the years. Determine which sources of funding would be the most appropriate if you wanted to raise capital to expand your hypothetical business. Examine how, if at all, those funding sources might have differed from those needed in early stage funding. Weight: 15%	Did not submit or incompletely imagined that you established your initial idea for a company and have been successfully operating for five (5) years. Did not submit or incompletely described how your hypothetical need for capital changed over the years. Did not submit or incompletely examined how, if at all, those funding sources might have differed from those needed in early stage funding.	Insufficiently imagined that you established your initial idea for a company and have been successfully operating for five (5) years. Insufficiently described how your hypothetical need for capital changed over the years. Insufficiently examined how, if at all, those funding sources might have differed from those needed in early stage funding.	Partially imagined that you established your initial idea for a company and have been successfully operating for five (5) years. Partially described how your hypothetical need for capital changed over the years. Partially examined how, if at all, those funding sources might have differed from those needed in early stage funding.	Satisfactorily imagined that you established your initial idea for a company and have been successfully operating for five (5) years. Satisfactorily described how your hypothetical need for capital changed over the years. Satisfactorily examined how, if at all, those funding sources might have differed from those needed in early stage funding.	Thoroughly imagined that you established your initial idea for a company and have been successfully operating for five (5) years. Thoroughly described how your hypothetical need for capital changed over the years. Thoroughly examined how, if at all, those funding sources might have differed from those needed in early stage funding.
7. 3 references Weight: 5%	No references provided	Does not meet the required number of references; all references poor quality choices.	Does not meet the required number of references; some references poor quality choices.	Meets number of required references; all references high quality choices.	Exceeds number of required references; all references high quality choices.
8. Clarity, writing mechanics, and formatting requirements Weight: 10%	More than 8 errors present	7-8 errors present	5-6 errors present	3-4 errors present	0-2 errors present

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BUS 313 – Assignments and Rubrics

Weekly Course Schedule

The purpose of the course schedule is to give you, at a glance, the required preparation, activities, and evaluation components of your course. For more information about your course, whether on-ground or online, access your online course shell.

The expectations for a 4.5 credit hour course are for students to spend 13.5 hours in weekly work. This time estimate includes preparation, activities, and evaluation regardless of the delivery mode.

Instructional Materials

In order to be fully prepared, obtain a copy of the required textbooks and other instructional materials prior to the first day of class. When available, Strayer University provides a link to the first three (3) chapters of your textbook(s) in eBook format. Check your online course shell for availability.

Review the online course shell or check with your professor to determine whether Internet-based assignments and activities are used in this course.

Strayer students are encouraged to purchase their course materials through our designated Strayer Bookstore. http://www.strayerbookstore.com If a lab is required for the course, the Strayer Bookstore is the only vendor that sells the correct registration code so that Strayer students may access labs successfully.

Discussions

To earn full credit in an online threaded discussion, students must have one original post and a minimum of one other post per discussion thread.

Please note: Material in the online class will be made available on the previous Thursday. As it is always possible that students could lose their work due to unforeseen circumstances, it is a best practice to routinely save a working draft in a separate file before posting in the course discussion area. Professors hold discussions during class time for on-ground students. Check with your professor if any additional discussion participation is required in the online course shell outside of class hours.

Tests

Tests (quizzes, midterm and final exams, essay exams, lab tests, etc.) are available for student access and completion through the online course shell. Check the online course shell to determine how you are expected to take the tests.

· Online students are to complete the test by Monday 9:00 a.m. Details regarding due dates are posted in the Blackboard Calendar tool.

· On-ground students are to complete the tests after the material is covered and before the next class session.

Assignments

A standardized performance grading rubric is a tool your professor will use to evaluate your written assignments. Review the rubric before submitting assignments that have grading rubrics associated with them to ensure you have met the performance criteria stated on the rubric.

Grades are based on individual effort. There is no group grading; however, working in groups in the online or on-ground classroom is acceptable.

Assignments for online students are always submitted through the online course shell. On-ground professors will inform students on how to submit assignments, whether in paper format or through the online course shell.

Resources

The Resource Center navigation button in the online course shell contains helpful links. Strayer University Library Resources are available here as well as other important information. You should review this area to find resources and answers to common questions.

Technical support is available for the following:

· For technical questions, please contact Strayer Online Technical Support by logging in to your iCampus account at https://icampus.strayer.edu/login and submitting a case under “Student Center,” then “Submit Help Ticket.” If you are unable to log in to your iCampus account, please contact Technical Support via phone at (877) 642-2999.

· For concerns with your class, please access the Solution Center by logging in to your iCampus account at https://icampus.strayer.edu/login and submitting a case under “Student Center,” then “Submit Help Ticket.” If you are unable to log in to your iCampus account, please contact the IT Help Desk at (866) 610-8123 or at mailto:[email protected].

TurnItIn.com is an optional online tool to assess the originality of student written work. Check with your professor for access and use instructions.

The Strayer Policies link on the navigation bar in the online course shell contains academic policies. It is important that students be aware of these policies.