Page 1 of 7 Edinboro University Course Syllabus Fall, 2010 Course Name: Principles of Accounting I

Course Number: ACCT 215-001

Time: MW 2:00-3:15p.m.

Room: Hendricks 226

Prerequisites: None Teacher: You

Learning Facilitator: Dr. Scott E. Miller, CPA, J.D., DBA

Office: 240 Hendricks Hall Edinboro University Edinboro, PA 16444

Office Hours: Main Campus: MW 1:00-2:00; W 3:15-4:15 Th 4:30-6:00p.m. Porreco Center: W 5:30-6:00p.m. Other times by appointment

Telephone: 732-1530 E-mail: [email protected] Please feel free to call or e-mail me at any time for any reason – I have access to my e-mail at all times while off campus, therefore, e-mail would be the preferred method of leaving me a message if I am not available (see page 4 for more details). Your Success IS my Business!! Textbook:

Libby, Libby, Phillips, & Whitecotton (2009) Principles of Financial Accounting, 1st Edition, McGraw-Hill (Loose-leaf with Connect Plus) (ISBN13: 9780078080647)

Course Website:

D2L through http://my.edinboro.edu – see page 4 for more details

Course Description: Emphasis is placed on the main aspects of the accounting structure. The fundamental accounting principle is presented in the form of the balance sheet equation. This is followed by the logical development of the subject debits and credits, the special journals, specific account classifications, and control mechanisms of various types. Expanded Course Description: Accounting I is the first in a two course, comprehensive sequence in for undergraduate students with no previous training in accounting or business. Accounting is called “the language of business” because it is an information system that measures business activities, processes it into financial reports, and communicates the results to decision-makers. Therefore, accounting is information. This communication is vital to the business organization and any department therein making business decisions. However, accounting is not limited to business. Many personal aspects of our lives are based on accounting. Personal financial planning, education expenses, loans, income taxes, and investments are just a few such aspects. You will learn how to think more effectively about business transactions. You will be able to record basic transactions, determine the results of those transactions, analyze the impact of those results, and report/communicate the results and analysis to decision-makers. This first course is will introduce you, to income, financial position and cash flows through financial statements, their relevance, and how accounting events affect them. Specifically, you will learn how to explain how a given business event will affect the income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flows. This thought process will help you learn how your decisions as a manager will affect the business organization and allow you to communicate more effectively with other business people.

© 2010 - Scott E. Miller – all rights reserved

Rev. 07/14/2010

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Course Requirements and Evaluation Policies and Procedures: 1. Students are expected to attend all classes in accordance with the University Policy to successfully complete the course with the knowledge you have paid to acquire (please let me know before class if you are unable to attend class; it is your responsibility to arrange to obtain the materials you missed with a classmate to supplement D2L). Missing more than 25% (7 course sessions) of the course for unexcused absences will result in failure of the course. 2. Students must be prepared for classroom discussion on the reading assignments, homework assignments, and case studies. 3. All homework assignments must be completed on time and may be checked or collected at the Professor’s discretion. • I will not go over all homework assignments, as the answers will be provided either through posting on D2L or provided through Connect (McGraw-Hill’s online assessment manager – see page 4). HOWEVER, I will begin each class asking for questions. I will be happy to cover questions you have on homework assignments in class if you illustrate that you made an effort on the homework (in other words, I will not go over the homework if you have not tried it). • You will receive up to 5 points per chapter for online homework and you will be given unlimited attempts to get the correct answer. HOWEVER, homework completed AFTER the due date posted on D2L will not be given any credit. 4. All graded problem assessments, inventories of newly acquired skills and the final exam must be submitted by or taken at the scheduled time through the course website. These will be timed assessments and, once started, must be completed in the time allotted for completion. To allow for internet connection problems, etc., the lowest grade will be dropped in determining your final grade. There will be no make-ups as generous windows will be given during which you can complete the exam. a. There will be 13 Graded Assessments and 13 Online Inventories of Newly Acquired Skills. The lowest score of each of these will be dropped in determining your final grade to allow for internet connection problems, etc. as this will NOT be an excuse for failure to complete the assessment in the required period of time. b. Graded Problem Assessments will be similar to problems and exercises performed for homework and may include some short answer components. c. Online inventories of Newly Acquired Skills will include objective questions (multiple choice, matching, etc.) and may include some short answer questions. • These assessments will be performed in an online environment and you will, therefore, be expected to have access to a solid broadband connection or computer lab to complete these assessments. • Given that there will be a generous window of time to work on these assessments, missing the completion time will not be accepted (you may, however, use such a situation for your lowest score). If you feel you have an extreme circumstance, written notification must be given to the instructor within 24 hours of the missed deadline). d. The mid-term and final exam will be given with at least one (1) week’s notice. These exams will be objective questions (multiple choice, matching, etc.) and exercises similar to those done in class. These assessments must be taken at the scheduled time (no exceptions!). e. The final exam will consist of comprehensive (i.e. cumulative) objective questions (multiple choice, matching, etc.) covering all material covered during the semester and will include. Missing the final exam will not tolerated except in extreme circumstances as determined by the instructor’s sole discretion. If you feel you have an extreme circumstance, written notification must be given to the instructor within 24 hours of the missed exam. f. I understand that there are situations where two or more answers may appear correct on an exam. Any challenge to answers on exams must be submitted to the instructor, by e-mail, within one (1) week of return of the assessment. Otherwise, no challenges will be honored.

© 2010 - Scott E. Miller – all rights reserved

Rev. 08/11/2010

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Method of Instruction: The primary methods of instruction will be lecture and team learning through class discussion. Lecture and computer aided presentation will be used to present examples and sample exercises. I feel interactive learning is the best way to acquire knowledge and learn how to apply it. Therefore much time will be spent on group discussion of sample and homework problems and how the concepts you are learning are applied to business in everyday life. Basis of Evaluation: Online Graded Problem Assessments (11 at 10 points each drop lowest) Online Inventories of Newly Acquired Skills (11 at 10 points each drop lowest) Mid-Term Exam (in class) Cumulative Final Exam (in class) Total Points available Final grade (based upon total points of assessment given during the term): ≥ 90% ≥ 87% ≥ 80% ≥ 77%

A B+ B C+

100 100 100 100 400 points

≥ 70% ≥ 67% ≥ 60% < 60%

C D+ D F

Course Outcomes: Course outcomes are attained by reading assignments, homework and case studies and are measured by quizzes, case studies and examinations. This course will equip you with the tools necessary to: 1. Students will understand the role of accounting in a business organization and how an accounting system collects financial data. 2. Students will produce business reports of professional quality. 3. Students will interpret the meaning of three of the four basic financial statements including the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of owner’s equity for a sole proprietorship. Assessments and Course Objectives: The following table indicates how each of the course objectives listed above will be assessed. The bold “X” indicates the primary assessment technique used for the given objective. Course Objective 1 2 3

Graded Problems

Chapter Quizzes X

X

© 2010 - Scott E. Miller – all rights reserved

X

Final X X X

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Using the Course Website and Online Campus (D2L – Desire2Learn): Enter the Portal at http://my.edinboro.edu and log in using your Network ID and password (used for your email). If you lose your password, I cannot access your password as it is linked to your Network ID and password. You will need to contact the Technology Help Center at 814.732.2111 (or through the Edinboro website) for assistance. Note that I use D2L to source all of my mass communications with the class, so it is VERY important that you check your Edinboro e-mail frequently. If you use an off-campus e-mail address I strongly urge you to forward your e-mail through Webmail, as explained below. PLEASE NOTE that D2L has an Online Grade Book, under “Grades”, where you can access your grade. This is the official and only grade book for the course. Therefore, you are expected to check the grade book frequently to be sure your grades are recorded properly. Your final grade will be determined by using the total in the Online Grade Book and the table on page 3 of your syllabus. Assignment: Before the end of the first week of class (by 5:00p.m., September 3, 2010), please go to “Content” → “Assignments” → “Syllabus Feedback Form” in the course website and download the Syllabus Feedback Form. You can download from the website by right clicking on the link and clicking on “Save File As” or “Save Target As”. Fill out the form on your computer, save it and submit it under “Content” → “Syllabus Feedback Form.” Using CONNECT: With your textbook, you purchased McGraw-Hill’s interactive learning management system, Connect. This system will allow you to work problems similar to those at the end of the chapter and take quizzes related to the material covered in class. The purpose of this system is to provide you with more practice in applying the accounting concepts and provide you with feedback on your understanding and progress. For this course, you will navigate to the following website: http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/s_miller_fall_2010_mw_215 This link and instructions for accessing Connect will also be provided on the course website on D2L. When you get to this course, you will click “Register Now” and then enter your e-mail address to create a new account (if you have used Connect for another class, it will not require you to create a new account). You will then be asked to enter the registration code that was provided with your textbook. If you did not purchase a textbook with Connect, you will be given the opportunity to purchase access to Connect for this textbook. Given that a majority of the assessment for this course will be performed in Connect, this is required for this course. ASSESSMENTS: Inventories of Newly Acquired Skills and Problems will be performed on Connect in a timed fashion. Once you begin the assessment, it must be completed in one sitting during the time allotted. Additionally, each assessment must be started in time to complete them by the due date/time posted on D2L. Due dates and times will be posted on D2L. E-MAIL: If you prefer to use a non-Edinboro e-mail address, you must forward your Webmail. The instructor uses email as the primary means of communication to clarify class discussion, indicate changes in course requirements, assignments, and announce course information. Therefore, it is important that you check your Edinboro e-mail frequently or have your Edinboro e-mail forwarded to the appropriate e-mail for communication. If the instructor is e-mailing you individually, he will use the e-mail that is in the Edinboro e-mail system, so forwarding your e-mail is very important. E-mail etiquette – as this is a business school, we will follow standard business etiquette and protocol related to e-mail communications. Therefore, I will make every effort to return any e-mail within one (1) business day. You may use delivery and return receipts if desired to confirm my receipt of an e-mail and I will always send a return receipt when it is requested.

© 2010 - Scott E. Miller – all rights reserved

Rev. 08/11/2010

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Academic Integrity: Please read the University Statement of Academic Integrity located in your Student Handbook and Catalog. I believe it to be VERY important ... and so should you! In order to create an environment conducive to the legitimate pursuit of knowledge and to promote the highest level of academic excellence, the faculty of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania hold all students accountable for maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity. Students who participate in any form of academic dishonesty will be considered to be in violation of Edinboro University's academic integrity statement and will be subject to sanctions, up to and including dismissal from the University. Academic dishonesty is defined as follows: Cheating. Behaviors including, but not limited to, use of unauthorized notes or reference materials during examinations; copying answers from another student's paper during an examination; the unauthorized possession of academic materials, including exams; the unauthorized exchange of course assessment materials, including exams; the unauthorized exchange of information or collaboration regarding tests, or other course assignments; aiding another to engage in cheating; and/or all other acts of academic dishonesty that any member of this academic community would reasonably understand to be a breach of this academic integrity statement will be considered cheating and an act of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism. Plagiarism may be defined as the act of taking the ideas and/or expression of ideas of another person and representing them as one's own. This includes, but is not limited to, using ideas or passages from a work without properly attributing the source, paraphrasing the work of another without giving proper credit, and/or the sale, purchase, or exchange of papers or research. It is the student's responsibility to know what plagiarism is and to properly cite the work of others. If a student is in doubt, it is their responsibility to resolve any ambiguity prior to submitting the work. Plagiarism is nothing less than an act of theft, and, as such, is subject to University disciplinary action. Students are expected to represent their personal work honestly in that the work students submit for evaluation in a course is their own. Honesty is expected in all facets of students' academic lives and in their interactions with faculty regarding all aspects of their courses. Students involved in acts of cheating or plagiarism fail to meet the mission of the University and thus are subject to disciplinary action. Students who are in violation of the University's academic integrity statement will be held accountable for their actions by the faculty member and the academic department and be subject to the imposition of discipline. Such violations can result in the student receiving a lower grade or a failing grade for the assignment and/or the course, and/or other academic sanctions as deemed to be appropriate by the faculty member. Students engaged in dishonest academic behavior can also be held accountable for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Allegations by a faculty member of a student's academic dishonesty can result in formal judicial charges being filed with the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and a hearing before the Committee of Fact. Students who are found to be responsible for a violation of the University's Statement of Academic Integrity will be subject to disciplinary sanctions, up to and including, University suspension or expulsion.

© 2010 - Scott E. Miller – all rights reserved

Rev. 08/11/2010

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Classroom/Class Policies: 1. Syllabus changes. The instructor reserves the right to amend or alter the syllabus as deemed necessary to facilitate learning. If the syllabus is changed, a revised syllabus will be posted to D2L and an e-mail sent through the D2L system to notify you of the change. 2. Cellular phones and electronic devises. All cellular phones and other electronic devises must be turned OFF during class. Therefore, students should not be answering calls, texting, listening to music, or otherwise using one of these devises during class. Should an emergency require such a device, please consult the instructor about turning it on the vibrate setting. • Students violating this policy will be asked to leave the class session or have their phone removed from them (at the instructor’s discretion) for the duration of the class session. 3. Laptop computers. Students may use a laptop computer in class to take notes under the following circumstances: a. Students may NOT use a power cord as this creates a safety hazard and there may not be sufficient power sockets for all students. b. All computer sound must be turned to mute. c. Students may not surf the web, check e-mail, instant message, or play games during class as this is disruptive to the students around you. In other words, the computer must be used for class purposes only. • Violation of this policy is grounds to be barred from brining a laptop to class for the remainder of the semester. 4. Calculators. Calculators may be used for the Mid-Term and the Final Exams. Students MAY NOT use a cell phone, laptop, or other electronic device for this purpose. Calculators will not be provided for the assessments; therefore, you will be expected to bring one with you to the assessment. 5. Tardiness. Students are expected to attend class on time. Should you be late for any reason, please enter the classroom quietly taking the seat closest to the door. If a student is late for class more than three (3) times, the instructor may terminate the student’s privileges to enter the classroom late for the remainder of the semester. 6. Etiquette. As this is a business school, courtesy that would be extended to others in a business meeting is expected of students in class. Additionally, PLAN, PLAN, PLAN….It will not be looked upon favorably if you ask a question of first impression the evening before an exam. I am more than willing to help you clarify issues, however, asking for an entire theory to be explained right before an exam would not be professional (e.g. you would not want a mechanic to call and ask you how to overhaul an engine the day before you are to pick up your vehicle after several weeks in the shop; however, it would not be so bad if he or she called to request you clarify the noise you heard so he or she could make sure the problem is resolved). 7. Assistance outside class. Any student requiring clarification of anything in this syllabus or related to class or in need of additional help should contact the instructor as soon as possible. The sooner you can head off difficulty, the less work it will be for you to catch up and succeed. My goal is to help you, however, like a physician; I cannot help you unless I know where it hurts. 8. Special Needs. If you have special needs in the course, please advise the instructor during the first week of class so accommodations can be made as necessary in accordance with University Policies. 9. Enjoy the course. Be Prepared, Have a good Attitude, and Have Fun!!

© 2010 - Scott E. Miller – all rights reserved

Rev. 08/11/2010

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Tentative Course Schedule Fall 2010 (Note: the Professor reserves the right to make changes to the schedule in his sole discretion as necessary to effectuate learning. Please watch D2L for updates.) Read the Chapter and watch the narrated Powerpoint® slides BEFORE the class that the lecture is given. This will allow you to better understand the lectures. Week of

Read Chapter*

Assessments Due**

August 30

1

September 6

2

Chapter 1 Multiple Choice and Problems

September 13

3

Chapter 2 Multiple Choice and Problems

September 20

4

Chapter 3 Multiple Choice and Problems

September 27

5

Chapter 4 Multiple Choice and Problems

October 4

6

Chapter 5 Multiple Choice and Problems

October 11

Mid-Term Exam on Chapters 1-5

October 18

6

October 25

7

November 1

7&8

Chapter 6 Multiple Choice and Problems

November 8

8&9

Chapter 7 Multiple Choice and Problems

November 15

9

Chapter 8 Multiple Choice and Problems

November 22

9 & 10

Chapter 9 Multiple Choice and Problems

November 29

10 & 11

Chapter 10 Multiple Choice and Problems

11

Chapter 11 Multiple Choice and Problems

December 6 December 13

Final Exam on Chapters 1-11 (25% on Chapters 1-5 and 75% on Chapters 6-11)

*Assignments will be posted on D2L. Students are encouraged to review and work on ALL questions, exercises, and problems at the end of each chapter – solutions will be posted on D2L for your convenience.

** All Assessments (Except Mid-Term and Final) will be conducted on Connect. Please see page 4 for details on using Connect.

© 2010 - Scott E. Miller – all rights reserved

Rev. 08/11/2010