SYLLABUS

LEARNING GOALS

At the end of this course, students will be able:

• To enter and process transactions to the appropriate funds utilized in state / local government accounting under GASB 34 and produce appropriate financial reports.
• To discuss the fund structure and financial reporting requirements for the U.S. federal government.
• To identify the special principles and characteristics of accounting for colleges and universities.
• To distinguish the special principles and characteristics of accounting for health care entities.
• To recognize the special principles and characteristics of accounting for other nonprofit organizations.
• To distinguish types of audits needed by governments and non-profits and the issues associated with each type of audit

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION

Classroom lecture and discussions. Powerpoint slides and Word handouts on Blackboard. Individual continuous project on local government accounting and reporting.

GENERAL CONDUCT

Students are encouraged to ask questions and participate in class discussions.
Habitual tardiness, personal conversations during class time, the reading of
newspapers or books during class time, listening to music, and sleeping during class will not be tolerated as it is disruptive to your fellow students. Additionally, please turn off all cell phones and pagers during class or you will be asked to leave the class and an absence recorded. No cell phones may be used during tests for any purpose.

Students may tape record the class.

A.  ATTENDANCE
Students are required to attend this class.  Students in a day class (1 hour and 15 minutes) are allowed two (2) undocumented absences.  This means you can miss the class two times without bringing some form of documentation for your absence. NOTE:  Students in a night class are also allowed two (2) undocumented absences but one night class (2 hours  40 minutes) is considered the equivalent of two classes.  Therefore a night student may miss one entire night class without documentation or miss one-half of two night classes without documentation.  Documentation includes doctor's notes, notes from employers on their letterhead, police reports, jury summons, and the like. Documentation of an absence must be presented within one week of the absence (or your return to class) or the absence will be considered undocumented.  If you are sick or in the hospital and will be absent for an extended period of time, you should have someone contact me so I will know you are still in the class.

The third instance of an undocumented absence will result in a reduction of your total points for grading by 100 points. The fourth instance of cutting will result in another 100 point reduction which will make your grade an F.

Students are required to sign-in on the day's sign-in sheet as documentation of their attendance. For a night class, students will have to re-sign-in after the break mid-way through the class. If you leave the class as soon as you sign in or leave within 30 minutes of signing-in, this will be considered an undocumented absence unless you have prior permission from the faculty member to leave. I will check the signature for authenticity, so do not have a friend sign-in for you. It is your responsibility to remember to sign-in, not the faculty member's responsibility to remind you. You could possibly lose points if you forget to sign-in.

Attendance is mandatory for the class having the graduate student presentations at the end of the semester. If you do not attend this class session or stay the entire time, you will lose 10 points from your total point score.

B.    BEGINNING AND END OF CLASS

I come to class early to turn on media equipment. DO NOT "attack" me with questions as soon as I walk in the door. First it is rude, and second, it often causes me to miss a step in the media setup process which means I have to log out and go through the process again. Let me get the equipment working before you ask your questions; I come early enough that you will have time before class to have your problem addressed.

At the end of class, let me close down the systems properly before you ask your questions. Again there is an order to the procedures to turn off the equipment properly. Please be aware that other classes may need to have the room following our class so be prepared to discuss your problem in the hall. Students cannot remain in the room following class without a faculty member present because of the potential for theft of or damage to the media equipment.

C.   ETHICAL BEHAVIOR

The professor will follow the sanctions in the Code of Student Conduct as published in the current catalog of Old Dominion University. This information is also available at www.odu.edu, select Current Students, in the section labeled Campus Life select Student Handbook, select the pdf format, and finally select Honor System. Or you may go to studentservices.odu.edu/osja/ and select Student Disciplinary Policies and Procedures. Plagiarism and academic cheating will not be tolerated and will result in an F for the course

D.   DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

The professor will follow the sanctions of the ODU Disruptive Students Policy included within the Code of Student Conduct as published in the current catalog of Old Dominion University. This information is also available at www.odu.edu, select Current Students, in the section labeled Campus Life select Student Handbook, select the pdf format, and finally select Honor System. Or you may go to studentservices.odu.edu/osja/ and select Student Disciplinary Policies and Procedures. I become particularly irritated when I announce class is starting and students continue to carry on their personal business. Such incidents will be referred to the Vice President for Student Services for disciplinary action after a single warning.

E.   E-MAIL ETIQUETTE

When you send an e-mail to faculty, please put a description on the subject line that says what course you are enrolled in and what your question is about.  The University has problems with viruses being sent by e-mail and I erase any e-mail without reading it that does not have an entry in the subject line or simply says hello.  Further, sign your entire name to the e-mail. You are not the only John or Jane that I teach in the course of the semester!  When you send e-mail from a personal account it is often impossible to identify who it is from without a student's name.  Additionally, do not "text message" faculty members.  Consider a faculty member to be a potential employer and you want to impress them with your ability to write logically and with good grammar.

HOMEWORK, EXTRA CREDIT AND TESTS

A.         SEMESTER HOMEWORK - City of Smithville CASE B Comprehensive Project

Smithville is a continuous accounting project covering Chapters 2 through 11 (state and local government reporting and auditing).  When it is completed, you will have successfully established the major funds for the City of Smithville, completed the annual report, and issued and audit opinion on your statements. See the directions for this project later in the syllabus.  You will check the solutions manual as you work! 

Warning:  Chapters 2 through 4 take a great deal of time so do not be demoralized as you work on this material.  Subsequent chapters take less time except for the Chapter 9 where you complete the financial statements for the year!  You are advised to work on the problem as the material is covered rather than waiting until the problem is due as the entire project takes approximately 50 hours (or more if you are a slow worker.)  See the separate section in this syllabus for the rules for completing the project and help aids by chapter.

READ THIS NEXT SECTION CLOSELY

B.         TESTS

Tests must be taken as scheduled.  No make-up tests will be offered. If a student has to miss a test because of illness, work or some extenuating situation, Dr. Henry must be contacted in advance and some form of documentation should be presented for the absence within one week of the student returns to class.  In the event of an emergency on test day (car accident, family), Dr. Henry may be contacted as soon as possible after the test and documentation of the absence should be presented upon the student's return to class. 

If I do not hear from a student missing a test within 48 hours of an test date, there is no way to receive any score other than a zero. Being tired or not having studied enough is not a sufficient excuse for missing a test and the student will receive a 0 (zero) for the missed test. If a student has a documented reason for missing a test, the point value will be increased on the next test (Example: You miss test 1, so Test 2 will be worth 200 points instead of 100 points).   Students are allowed to miss one test only with documentation and receive the points on the next test.  Students missing more than one test or missing a test without documentation will receive a 0 (zero) on the missed tests.

This does not mean that if you take a test and do badly on it that I drop the low score.  You must complete 400 points worth of tests.  STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE FINAL TEST.

In some instances of weather cancellations or because of extensive student questions slowing course coverage, I may not be able to complete a lecture on material that will be on an test.  That does not mean the material will not be on the test.  You are a junior, senior or graduate student and, as such, you should be capable of reading the class notes in the course pack and reading the chapters included on the test.  Consider this training for the world of work when your employer gives you an assignment and no guidance on how to complete it.

C.         EXTRA CREDIT POINTS ON THE SECOND TEST

Students may receive five (5) extra credit points to be added to their total score on the second test.  The project is relatively simple and involves searching the GASB website.   

D.         GRADUATE PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

In addition to the normal coursework required for 405 students, graduate students are required to complete a written academic research paper, and present it to the class on the final day of classes.

See the separate section in Blackboard that describes expectations for graduate papers.

STUDENTS PURSUING HONORS UPGRADES

Students who are enrolled in the Departmental Honors Program through the Honors College may have an upgrade on this course by approaching Dr. Henry within the first two weeks of class.  Students will complete a written academic research paper and present it to the class on the final day of classes.