THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY Smeal College of Business Administration Department of Accounting ACCOUNTING 211 Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making Fall Semester 2006 INSTRUCTOR: OFFICE TELEPHONE/EMAIL OFFICE HOURSKen Pasch 326 Business Building 814 863-3838 [email protected] T & R 11:00 - 12:30 pmCOORDINATOR: OFFICE TELEPHONE/EMAIL OFFICE HOURSGeno Carragee 319A Business Building 814 863-2255 [email protected] TBD TEACHING ASSISTANT OFFICE HOURS to be posted on the Web as soon as available. http://cms.psu.edu/ and log on E-MAIL POLICY: We will be more than happy to address issues you deem necessary over e-mail. However, if we have provided the information in class, on the web site or in the syllabus, student e-mails requesting this same information will be disregarded. Include your student ID number and section number on all correspondence. Otherwise, we will not be able to find information on your specific issue and will not be able to respond to your email. Note: the material in the course does NOT lend itself to being explained well over email - see us in office hours for help with course material. REQUIRED: Text: • Financial Accounting: A Business Process Approach, Reimers (customized version) • Course Packet containing chapters from Financial and Managerial Accounting, Needles, Powers, Mills and Anderson, 5th Edition (1999) - available ONLY at the Student Book Store Calculator (i.e. helpful for exams but not necessary; the "required" part of this is the calculator type - ONLY allowed to use a basic 4-function - add, subtract, multiply, & divide - calculator): • Either the Sharp EL-243SB or the Sharp EC-233 (either may be purchased in the bookstores for under $5.00) LEARNING PACKET - WEB: ACCTG 211 Learning Packet includes the syllabus and other important information and material. It is available via http://cms.psu.edu and will be updated throughout the semester. STUDY GUIDE: While not required, one is available in the bookstores with new versions of the Reimers text and past experience suggests that students derive significant benefit from independent exploration of such study guides. STUDENT RESOURCE CD-ROM: Packaged with new versions of the Reimers text and study guide. OFFICE HOURS FOR T.A.s: you may see the instructor or any of the TAs associated with this course in office hours.EXAMS: The first exam will consist of questions relating to financial accounting only. The second exam will be a mix of financial and managerial accounting. The last exam will concentrate on managerial accounting, but will also be cumulative. We will expect you to be able to deal with ALL course material on the final exam but will emphasize the more important aspects of the material we cover and will help you target your studying to those topics for the cumulative final exam. Exams are objective and partial credit is not given. Only answers on your score sheets (scantrons) count. Bring only a picture ID (PSU ID card preferred but PA Drivers License can be substituted), basic calculator (with fresh batteries), and #2 pencil(s) with you to the exam. Failure to show up for an exam will result in a grade of zero. Conflict and make-up exams will ONLY be given to those with official absences. You must give advance notice, provide documentation, and receive permission from the TA Coordinator prior to being offered a conflict/make-up exam. In those rare instances where an emergency arises immediately prior to the exam, you must contact the instructor as soon as possible, explain the circumstances, and provide legitimate documentation. The instructor will make a reasonable judgement in these cases but will most often side with the 99% of students who are able to make the exam at the regularly scheduled time. The request must include your student ID number, email address, phone number and section number. Conflict exams will usually be given on the exam day during the regularly scheduled class time. Contact the ACCTG 211 TA Coordinator to schedule a conflict exam. Scores for the three exams will be e-mailed to you within 2-3 days of the exam. Grading:Exam 1 20% Block 1 material Exam 2 20% Block 2 material Final Exam 32% Block 3 material (20%); Cumulative material (12%) Weekly Chapter Quizzes 10% We will offer 12 quizzes worth 1% each; we will use the 10 best scores to calculate your grade. Weekly Lab Quizzes 8% In lab, student groups will be required to solve a problem displayed by the TA during the last few minutes of class. The solution will be placed into an Excel spreadsheet and loaded into the appropriate Angel drop box. We will offer 10 quizzes worth 1% each; we will use the 8 best scores to calculate your grade. This is a combined attendance, participation, & comprehension assessment tool. Case Study 10% Each student must complete the Case Study transactions via the listed instructions and then complete the 2 Case Study quizzes: Part 1 (3 points) & Part 2 (7 points). The purpose of the Case Study is twofold: 1) provide a "big picture" view of the information we will study; 2) serve as review for the cumulative portion of the final exam. Total 100% Each of these assessment items should be used by the student to determine their relative progress in the course. If you find you are performing below your expectations, you must contact the Instructor &/or the TAs for assistance geared towards helping you improve your relative comprehension of the material. Example: I would expect most students using our "formula for success" (see below and come to class on the first day to receive this) would receive no less than a 90% on each quiz. If you continuously score less than a 90% on the quizzes, make sure you come see us in office hours where we will do our best to help you improve.Grade Determination: Grades will be determined on the bases of those items as indicated above. “Extra credit” assignments (to improve a grade) are "built-in" to the course via the Chapter Quizzes, Weekly Lab Quizzes and the Case Study. Grading Scale: (and yes, I use standard rounding: e.g. you have an 89.5 overall = A- for the course): A 94% -100% A- 90% - 93% B+ 87% - 89% B 83% - 86% B- 80% - 82% C+ 75% - 79% C 70% - 74% D 60% - 69% DO NOT COUNT ON A CURVE. The last time a course curve was adopted, the grade for a C was lowered 1% point to 69%. Chances are there will NOT be a course curve and if there is one, it will be of minimal help to you. A