Page |0

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

School of Business

Government and Not-For-Profit

Accounting
Acct 3310-001

Course Syllabus
Spring 2015

0|Page

Page |1

COURSE

AND

FACULTY INFORMATION

Government and Not-For-Profit Accounting

ACCT: 3310-001
CRN 20732
Course Attribute - N/A
Pre-requisite ACCT 3110 with a grade of C or better. Open
only to Juniors and Seniors
Classroom and Meeting Time:
This course meets Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 11:20 AM to 12:35 AM in the
Main Complex, Room F-205 (electronic classroom). Please bring appropriate materials
to each class including the textbook, pens, pencils, paper, calculator and handouts.
There is no class on Preceptorial Advising day, Wednesday, April 1, 2015.

Professor - John F. Boyle, CPA, MBA

Communication:
Office Telephone 609-652-4684
Cell Phone - (609) 841-4458
E-mail john.boyle@stockton.edu
Office Location: K-130
Office Hours Mondays 10:00 AM 11:00 AM; 12:45 PM 1:45 PM, and 3:45 PM
5:00 PM
PM 5:00 PM

appointments

Wednesdays 10:00 AM 11:00 AM; 12:45 PM 1:45 PM, and 3:45

Fridays 10:00 AM 11:00 AM; 12:45 PM 3:30 PM
Office hours may be pre-empted by meetings or required

During office hours, students may discuss any aspect of the course or other related
matters. Please take advantage of this resource. If these hours conflict with
your schedule, arrange to meet at a time that is more convenient.

COURSE MATERIAL
Textbook
Granof, Micheal H., Khumawala, Sahela B. Government and Not-for-Profit
Accounting Concepts and Practices. John A. Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013
ISBN13: 978-1118155974

Other
In addition to the above, other supplementary materials such as chapter highlights,
power point slides, and cases will be distributed during the semester through
Blackboard.

1|Page

Page |2

Course Description
The study of accounting principles and procedures used by governmental and not-forprofit entities. This course also provides an overview of auditing, budgeting, and
financial planning for government and not-for-profit operations.

Student Learning Objectives for Financial Accounting

Business Learning Goals AACSB Accreditation
The Richard Stockton College of NJ School of Business is currently in the process of
pursuing AACSB accreditation. This is an extended process taking as long as 5 years
to complete. It includes parameters for the teaching/research/publication
qualifications of professors, course curriculums and many other factors.
Included in this process are the establishment of a formal Mission Statement and the
development of Learning Goals that must be tied to the curriculum, syllabus and
other technical areas.
The following are some of the Learning Goals that were approved by the Business
Faculty, and have a specific criticality in the Government and Not-For-Profit
Accounting course. Primary Course Goals permeate the course and provide the
overall basis for learning and assessment in the course. Secondary Course Goals are
elements of the course and fill an important aspect(s) of the course, and may be
essential in the training and education of business students.
This course focuses on the following BSNS Program Learning Goals:

Communication Skills Learning Goal:

Written communication: Graduates will know how to create informational,

analytical, and technical documents which are organized, precise, and
relevant.
Assessment: Project/Paper

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Learning Goal:

Graduates will be able to logically interpret, analyze, and summarize the results of
information examined, and will be able to apply appropriate analytic, problem-solving,
and decision making skills in business situations.
Course Learning Outcomes
Prepare entries and financial statements utilizing fund accounting
Analyze financial statements prepared for governmental and not-for-profit
entities.
Assessment: Quizzes, Project/Paper, and Exams

Management-Specific Learning Goal:

Graduates will understand business transactions and how they are organized,
recorded, and reported.
Course Learning Outcomes
Explain the differences between accounting for governmental, not-forprofit, and business entities.

2|Page

Page |3

Explain the components of a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

(CAFR) for a governmental entity.
Identify the unique accounting issues for Government and Not-For-Profit
Entities
Assessment: Quizzes, Project/Paper, and Exams

Overall Objectives addressed in this course:

Gaining factual knowledge

Gain an understanding of terminology, concepts, procedures,
relationships, trends, circumstances, and the nature of accounting
principles and procedures.
Learning fundamental principles, generalizations, and theories.
Learn to apply course material to improve thinking, problem solving, and
decisions.

Overall objectives will be assessed through IDEAs, quizzes,

project/paper, and exams.

Professional Attitude and Conduct:

Students in Government and Not-For-Profit Accounting will learn the importance of
responsibility, courtesy, and leadership skills.
Assessment; Class attendance, class preparation (including all assignments)
and communication skills.

Grading and Evaluation

Grading Scale
Plus/minus grading is applied at the professors discretion as a means of rewarding
extra effort. A grade of C or better is required for the course to count toward
graduation with a BSNS degree.

93.100 A
F
90-92 A-

87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B-

77-79 C+
73-76 C
70-72 C-

67-69 D+

<60

63-66 D
60-62 D-

Grading and Evaluation Methodology

Exams 80% of Final Grade
There will be 4 Exams administered during the semester and will count as 80% of the
students final grade, and will be equally weighted. They will be a combination of
Multiple Choice questions, Problem Questions, and short essay questions. Exam dates
on the syllabus are tentative and actual dates will be announced in class at least one
class in advance of the examination date. Test material will be based on required
reading, case studies and material covered in class.
All 4 Exams are mandatory. Students who do not complete all 4 Exams will result in
an F grade for the course. Make-up exams will be only considered only if there are
strong and compelling circumstances, and will be administered at the Professors
convenience. No makeup will be given for the final exam; please schedule yourself
accordingly.
Students must achieve an average grade of 73 or better on the Exams in
order to receive a passing grade of C for the course, regardless of points
earned on other work. Remember that Exams are a measure of individual

3|Page

Page |4
progress, which requires individual effort and precludes group
collaboration.
Quiz Assignments - 10% of Final Grade
Quizzes and Homework Assignments will be administered at the professors
discretion. Late submission of Quizzes and Homework Assignments will result in letter
grade penalties. Failure to submit any Assignment will result in a zero grade. Make up
quizzes will be administered by the Professor. All assignments must be submitted in a
manner and a form that is would be acceptable if you were to report to a
Manager/Supervisor of a business.
Projects and Other Assignments - 10% of Final Grade
Students will be divided into groups and will be assigned a project pertaining to
topics in Government and Non-For-Profit Accounting. The project will entail a written
report to be completed by the end of the semester.

Class Attendance
A great emphasis on the successful completion of this class is a function of your
attendance and your active participation in class discussions. The class will be
conducted as if you are working for a business and the success/failure of the business
depends upon your presence and participation. If the student is absent, it is their
responsibility for course material covered in class and any missed assignments. It is
in the best interest of the student to communicate to the professor that they will not
or could not attend class, as is required in a real life business setting.
Policy
Students who are absent more than 6 classes will lose 3 full points on the final
grade average
Students who are absent more than 12 classes will lose 5 full points on the
final grade average
Students who are absent 2 classes or less will add 2 points to the final grade
Students arriving 30 minutes late or leaving 30 minutes early will be counted as
being absent for of a full class.
Classroom Participation and Academic Freedom:
Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class. In classroom situations that
include discussion and critical thinking, there will inevitably be differing viewpoints. These
differences enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where
students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On certain topics,
students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but also with the
instructor. It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others
when expressed in classroom discussions.
ALL ASSIGNMENTS WHEN APPLICABLE WILL BE SUBMITTED USING WORD OR
EXCEL
Homework Assignments for class coverage
There will be text book related homework assignments, primarily exercises and
problems at the end of the chapters that will be covered during class. These
assignments are critical to understanding of the course concepts, mastering the
course objectives and for exam preparation. We will cover these in class as a normal
function of the course.

Assignment Schedule

4|Page

Page |5
The schedule on the last page of this syllabus is a general guideline as to the
chapters and assignments due on various dates. This is subject to change depending
on many factors, but is a model of the course elements, their sequence, and
approximate time parameters of the assignments. The dates listed are not absolute,
and will be modified to meet the needs and time constraints of the instructor and
class.
Incomplete Grade
A grade of incomplete will be considered only in cases of verifiable hardship and only
when the requesting student has a passing grade at the time of request. If in doubt
about your ability to pass the course, consider the options available under the very
liberal course withdrawal policy of RSC. A failing grade is not a justification for a
grade of incomplete.

Course Policies
Classroom Etiquette Electronic Devices
Cell phones that interrupt class time are discourteous to other students and the
professor. Please turn off the ringers before you come to class. There will be no text
messaging during class time. Tape recorders may not be used, except by special
arrangement with the professor. Use of all other electronic devices that emit sounds
or require repetitive actions are prohibited during class meetings. All electronic
devices will be turned off during class time, unless permission is granted by the
Professor.

Academic Honesty
Overview
You will be expected to complete your work on your own unless otherwise indicated
as a group/team activity, and in accordance to the most stringent standards of
academic honesty. Cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated. The first offense will
result in a zero for the assignment, with no opportunity to redo or make up the work.
The second offense will result in failure of the course.
Academic integrity, which is essential to the mission of The Richard Stockton College,
consists in responsibility and honesty in the fulfillment of academic duties and is vital
to The Richard Stockton community of scholars. Academic integrity promotes trust,
mutual respect, cooperation, and the advancement of learning.
Cheating
The following acts are example of cheating, though the list is not exhaustive:
Using materials not specifically allowed by the instructor during the taking of
an examination, test or quiz, such as: material written by another student
during the taking of an examination, test or quiz, either with or without his or
her knowledge; crib notes; texts and /or supplementary marginal notations in

5|Page

Page |6
texts; notes written on any object in the room in which examination is being
taken; unauthorized calculators or any other unauthorized aids;
Collaborating during an in-class examination, test or quiz, either in the
giving or receiving of information or improper collaboration on a take-home
examination, test or quiz, or laboratory report.
Stealing, using or transmitting verbally or otherwise, actual examinations,
tests, quizzes or portions thereof, or other likewise confidential information
before or during the time of the exam. Once an exam has been given it
becomes part of the public domain.
Submitting for a grade in one class any material previously or
simultaneously submitted for a grade in another class without documented
authorization from both instructors;
Taking an examination by proxy;
Falsifying laboratory or research data or results; or falsifying or inventing
bibliographical entries for research papers.
Withholding knowledge of an incident of cheating or plagiarism from the
individual instructor to whom the work is submitted;
Knowingly participating in another students act of cheating or plagiarism.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the submission of work (written work, art work, musical
composition, oral presentation, software program, experimental design, etc.) that
incorporates ideas from another individual (student, teacher, author, etc.) and
presents these ideas as ones own without adequate acknowledgement of the source.
The following acts will be deemed acts of plagiarism, though the list is not
exhaustive:
Presenting published or unpublished work prepared by others, or dictated by
others, as your own, including papers purchased or borrowed from any person
or organization;
Presenting, as your own, reports or exercises copied from or dictated by
others;
Incorporating formal lecture notes or information from textbooks into your
own work without acknowledgement and thus presenting them as your own.
Presenting, as your own, a computer solution developed by someone else;
Copying the ideas, and/or speculations, and/or language of any other person
or persons, without acknowledgement, and presenting this as ones own
original work. If an instructor suspects that a student may have cheated or
plagiarized, the instructor will discuss the issue with the student and identify
methods and materials that the student may supply to determine the facts. It
is the prerogative of the instructor to ascertain whether the evidence
submitted by the student is satisfactory. For minor incidents apparently due to
misunderstanding, the instructor will determine the consequences for the
student. In cases of suspected cheating or plagiarism, the instructor will
submit the Report of Violation to the Dean of School of Business Program. If
this student has been reported to the Dean previously for suspected cheating
or plagiarism, the Dean will notify the instructor. The Dean and the instructor
will then decide whether this incident will be considered an infraction of
academic integrity. The Dean of the School of Business will be notified of
cases of confirmed plagiarism or cheating. This notification must include the
students name and a brief description of the incident. Penalties such as
failure of the course and/or dismissal from the College are enacted by the

6|Page

Page |7
Dean in consultation with the instructor in cases of confirmed plagiarism or
when a student has multiple infractions. Even a first offense, if severe, may
incur the penalties.

Communication and Contact Information

Communication is an important aspect of success in the business community as well
as the in the academic environment. Information concerning exams, quizzes,
homework assignments, class cancellations, reminders about special events,
internship and/or job opportunities are frequently announced in the classroom and
broadcast via e-mail by the professor. Students are responsible for knowledge of any
class assignments and should routinely check their e-mail. Failure to check e-mail
will not be accepted as an excuse for failure to complete any assignment. I will use email addresses to communicate with you as necessary. It is imperative to check
frequently for assignments and other announcements. Please be certain that your
Stockton accounts are current and any forwarding of emails is established in your
individual profiles. The use of email is an industry standard that all students should
have and be familiar with. Communication and dissemination of information and files
will greatly enhance the class. In addition, if you need immediate assistance and
help, please contact me on my cell phone.
Disabilities:
The Richard Stockton College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and
the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with documented disabilities who seek
accommodations should make their request by contacting the Learning Access
Program located in J204 or by calling 609-652-4988. In order to make sure that there
is enough time to arrange accommodations, you should provide the necessary
paperwork by the end of the second week of the semester or as early as possible to
arrange services in this class. Retroactive accommodations will not be granted.
Concerned that you have a disability that will affect your learning in this class, but
don't know where to start? Please contact the Learning Access Program (J204; 609652-4988) to learn about your options and the available resources for having your
disability assessed. Additional information on the program may be obtained from
Stockton website:
http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=61&pageID=5

Disclaimer:
The professor reserves the right to modify, change, add or exclude material and
projects throughout the term.

Student's Responsibility
Students are expected to do the following during the semester:
Read and highlight the chapter assigned for the week prior to the first class of
the week
Attempt all homework problems, preferably complete them
Understand the theories and the methodologies in each chapter
Make lists of concepts or methods which are not understood, work for
clarification with either the instructor, course tutor, or group members
Ask questions in class relative to the lists above or other issues; actively
participate
Maintain an organized binder of all homework assignments and solutions
Contact the instructor on any issues, assignments, or major problems not
understood
Participate actively in collaborative learning exercises in class

7|Page

Page |8

Obtain solutions and handouts for any classes missed

Continually assess if you are in accord with learning objectives for the
chapters

The instructor strongly recommends that students form study groups to assist in
mastering the course materials. These groups can meet in person, via email, instant
messaging capabilities, or phone conferences. Groups should be formed with an
element of convenience to all parties and self-governed. Group study has shown to
be a positive factor for improved earned grades. Consultation and group efforts
should not be misconstrued as license to copy or plagiarize the work of others.
Students should be prepared to defend their submitted work orally if called upon to
do so, and should be able to fully explain their logic in reaching their case solutions.
GROUP WORK IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED FOR EXAMS, whether in class or take-home.
Moreover, commitments to other students should be honored when joining study
groups. This means attending group sessions at the appointed times and dates
agreed upon, completing work agreed upon with other group members, and giving
full efforts to the group assignments as one would to their individual course
requirements.
Students should attempt to get any help they need from tutors, etc. at the earliest
point of problems. Absolutely do not wait to get help. Every accounting concept
builds on prior concepts learned. You cannot get behind; it is nearly impossible to
catch up. You cannot effectively cram for exams. You must do all work on an
organized basis throughout the course.

8|Page

Page |9

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

OF COURSE
AND EXAMS

PREPARATION, REVIEW

SPRING SEMESTER 2015

Week 1:
January 21 & 23
Review Syllabus
Chapter 1 Government and Not-for-Profit Environment
Week 2:
January 26, 28 & 30
Review Chapter 1;
Chapter 2 Fund Accounting
Quiz #1 Chapter 1
CAFR Project & Teams Assigned
Week 3:
February 2, 4 & 6
Chapter 3 Issues of Budgeting & Control
Quiz #2 Chapter 2
Quiz #3 Chapter 3
Week 4:
February 9, 11 & 13
Review Chapter 3
Chapter 4 Recognizing Revenues in Governmental Funds
Exam 1- Chapters 1, 2 & 3
Week 5:
February 16, 18 & 20
Review Chapter 4
Chapter 5 Recognizing Expenditures in Governmental Funds
Quiz #4 Chapter 4
Week 6:
February 23, 25 & 27
Review Chapter 5
Chapter 6 Accounting for Capital Projects and Debt Service
Quiz #5 Chapter 5
Week 7:
March 2, 4 & 6
Review Chapter 6 Expenditure Accounting Governmental Funds
Quiz #6 Chapter 6
Exam 2- Chapters 4, 5 & 6
Week 8:
March 9, 11 & 13 No Classes Spring Break
Week 9:
March 16, 18 & 20
Chapter 7 - Capital Assets and Investments in Marketable Securities
Quiz #7 Chapter 7

9|Page

P a g e | 10
Week 10:
March 23, 25 & 27
Chapter 8 Long Term Obligations
Quiz #8 Chapter 8
Week 11:
March 30, & April 3 (No Class April 1 Preceptorial Advising )
Review Chapter 8
Chapter 9 Business Type Activities
Quiz #9 Chapter 9
Week 12:
April 6, 8 & 10
Review Chapter 9
Chapter 10 Fiduciary Funds & Permanent Funds
Exam 3- Chapters 7, 8 & 9
Week 13:
April 13, 15 & 17
Review Chapter 10
Chapter 12 Not-for-Profit Organizations
Quiz #10 Chapter 10
Week 14:
April 20, 22, 24
Review Chapter 12
Quiz #11 Chapter 12
Final Project Due (April 22)
Week 15:
April 27, 29 & May 1
Chapter 12 Not-for-Profit Organizations
Exam 4 Comprehensive Exam Chapters 1-10, and Chapter 12

10 | P a g e