FIN 380 - Section 751 (5:00 p.m.

) – Fall 2012
Professor: Dr. James Simmerman, EdD, CFE Office: 311 Glass Hall E-mail: Jamessimmerman@missouristate.edu
Office Phone: 836-4713
Office Hours: Tues./Thur. 7:00-8:00 a.m. and 9:30- 11:00 a.m. otherwise by appointment.

Grader/Assistant: Collin Geringer E-mail: Collin888@live.missouristate.edu

Contact Collin with any grade-related issues, and he will help us resolve them.

Objectives: 1. To provide a thorough understanding of key financial management topics

2. To provide an understanding of why financial management is important within other disciplines
3. To provide familiarity with the basic tools and terminology of business finance, including the financial
calculator

Required resources:
 Textbook: (Selected Materials from) Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 10th edition, by Ross, Westerfield, and
Jordan, McGraw-Hill/Irwin
 Course Notes written by Dr. Ragan, which are available only at the Missouri State Bookstore.
 Connect Finance subscription
 The TI BAII Plus (or Professional) financial calculator is required for successful completion of this course.
 iTunes U

Disability Accommodation Policy:

To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of the Disability Resource Center, Plaster Student
Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required to provide
documentation of disability to the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations. The Disability Resource
Center refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing
for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic,
(417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.

Nondiscrimination Policy:
Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to
any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns
about possible discrimination to the Office for Institutional Equity and Compliance, Park Central Office Building, 117 Park
Central Square, Suite 111, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed
directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head. Please visit their
website at www.missouristate.edu/equity/.

Academic Integrity Policy:

Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to
practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code,
Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at
www.missouristate.edu/assets/policy/AcademicIntegrityPolicyRev-1-08.pdf and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer
Library. Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.
Academic dishonesty in this course includes using unauthorized materials during an exam, removing unauthorized materials
following an exam, communicating with students in other sections regarding material given on exams and quizzes, offering a
false excuse when seeking quiz/exam rescheduling or credit for attendance, and turning in work completed by another person as
being their own work, including exam answers. I will go to great lengths to punish offenders to the fullest extent, including
denying credit on an exam or assignment, lowering a course grade, and assigning an XF for the course.

Electronic Communication Devices:

As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of the
community. When cell phones or pagers ring and students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the
class. Therefore, the Office of the Provost prohibits the use by students of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or similar communication
devices during scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent (vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not
be taken out during class. Given the fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the University’s
emergency notification system, an exception to this policy would occur when numerous devices activate simultaneously. When
this occurs, students may consult their devices to determine if a university emergency exists. If that is not the case, the devices
should be immediately returned to silent mode and put away. Other exceptions to this policy may be granted at the discretion of
the instructor.
Dropping a Class:
Non-attendance will NOT result in your being dropped from the class. It is your responsibility to understand the
University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class (do not take exams, etc.) but do not follow proper
procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. You
should verify that a course you have attempted to drop electronically has been immediately removed from your schedule
(otherwise, the class has not been dropped). If the drop is not reflected on your class schedule, then you should immediately
notify the instructor and seek assistance from the Office of the Registrar to see if the class can be dropped. You should also
retain verification of the drop once it has been reflected on your class schedule. “W” grades will NOT be assigned if a class is
not properly dropped by the last date to drop a class, which for the fall 2012 semester is November 9, 2012.

Emergency Response:
Students who require assistance during an emergency evacuation must discuss their needs with their professors and Disability
Resource Center. If you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the
building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. For additional information students should
contact the Disability Resource Center, 836-4192 (PSU 405), or Larry Combs, Interim Assistant Director of Public Safety and
Transportation at 836-6576. For further information on Missouri State University’s Emergency Response Plan, please refer to
the following website: http://www.missouristate.edu/safetran/erp.htm

Attendance Policy: See specific policies for missed exams/quizzes/etc. Students are strongly encouraged to attend the Tuesday
class meetings to review solutions to the Connect assignments, and for Q and A.

Electronic Devices: Audio and video recording of lectures is strictly prohibited without my express written consent. Laptops are not
permitted in class. Translators and calculators with alphanumeric characters are not permitted during quizzes or exams; only the TI
BAII Plus or Professional calculators and select other models with prior approval will be permitted during quizzes and exams. Do not
read or reply to text messages, etc. during this class.

Communication: I use the Blackboard website (blackboard.missouristate.edu) to maintain your grade, post announcements, and
communicate with you outside of class. You are responsible for all Blackboard-generated e-mails and announcements as well as e-
mails sent to your Missouri State Live/Bearmail account, and messages posted to or generated by Connect (the McGraw-Hill
homework system).

Grading: Point values and weights will be applied to course components as follows:
Three exams (Exams I and II @ 175 each, Exam III at 150) 500
Final Exam (comprehensive “departmental” final exam) 300
Accounting Prerequisite Review (ACC REV) quiz* 50
Connect Assignments** 150
Total Points Possible 1,000

Students should take exams when scheduled. If a student misses one of exams I, II, or III, then a make-up
exam will be given at 8:00 a.m. on Study Day – December 7, 2012. NO EXCUSE IS REQUIRED, HOWEVER,
I DO NOT ENCOURAGE YOU TO MISS AN EXAM. If you are not ready for an exam, then you might consider
dropping the course, as you may never get caught up; however, for an unanticipated emergency, this policy allows a
possibility to make up a missed exam. That exam will NOT be multiple choice, and might be considered to be more
difficult than the exam given during the scheduled class. If a student misses two or more exams, then they will
receive a zero on all missed exams, and should drop the course. Do not miss exams in this course, and do not
arrive late on exam days.

Exams and the ACC REV quiz must be completed during the allotted time. Tardy students may not have
sufficient time to complete the exam or quiz, so please be on time. Tardy students will not be allowed to start
an exam or ACC REV if another student has already left the classroom.

*ACC REV must be completed when scheduled – no make-ups are permitted. See Connect for a review assignment
to help you prepare for the accounting prerequisite review quiz – solutions are available on I-Tunes U.

**Regardless of how many problems are assigned on Connect throughout the semester, the assignments are worth
150 total points possible at the end of the semester. The percentage score accumulated on all Connect assignments
will be multiplied by 150 points possible at the end of the semester and posted to Blackboard at that time out of 150
points possible. They are due by 7:45 a.m. on their respective due date – no exceptions for weather, system going
down, etc., because they will be available for several days (if not an entire week) prior to the due date/time. Early
submissions of Connect assignments is encouraged.
Attendance/Professionalism Policy: Students are expected to watch lectures and complete
practice assignments outside of class every week. Online homework assignments are due
during weeks when no exam or ACC REV is scheduled. Please notify me in case of an
emergency situation that might require an extended absence. Please arrive on time and do
not come and go during scheduled class sessions.

Grade Disputes: If you believe that an assignment was incorrectly graded by Connect, you must
declare this during the class period when that assignment is reviewed (which will be on the date
when the assignment was due). If you believe that an exam was incorrectly graded or posted to
Blackboard, then you must declare that during the exam review period for that exam (submit the
“Request to Review Exam Form” and come review your exam when scheduled). You then may
be asked to make a written request for reconsideration of the grade.

Letter Grades: A : 910 points +

A- : 900 – 909.99 points
B+ : 870 – 899.99 points
B : 830 – 869.99 points
B- : 800 – 829.99 points
C+ : 770 – 799.99 points
C : 730 – 769.99 points
C- : 700 – 729.99 points
D+ : 690 – 699.99 points
D : 600 – 689.99 points
F : Below 600 points
(no rounding!)

A grade of B- or better is required in FIN 380 in order to enroll in FIN 386, 390, 484, 485,
582/682, or 780.

 XF grades are assigned to reflect academic dishonesty.

 Incomplete grades are given only in extremely unusual circumstances
when most course requirements were completed. They are given only
at the instructor’s discretion, and are very rare.
 A grade of “W” will be assigned if a student drops the class by the
NOV. 9 deadline. Students cannot drop after that posted deadline,
and will receive the grade earned.

RESCHEDULING OF FINAL EXAM BY INSTRUCTOR NOT AUTHORIZED

I am not authorized to administer your final exam at any time other than the published final exam time (students with
accommodations recommended by the Learning Diagnostic Clinic excepted). The University's Undergraduate
Catalog states: "If students must reschedule final examinations because of extenuating circumstances, or if they have
more than three finals on the same day, they must obtain written approval of the academic Dean of their major and
then of the instructor of the course in advance of the scheduled exam time."
 FIN 380 – Fall 2012 – Tentative Class Schedule (Changes posted to Blackboard)
Section 751 (5:00-6:15 p.m.) – Glass 101

Exams and the Accounting Review Quiz are given during the Monday class session indicated in bold below.
Additionally, students are encouraged to attend all Monday Class Sessions, including those on which no exam or
quiz is scheduled. Those classes will consist of going over solutions to Connect assignments, etc. and then Q&A

You need to immediately register for access to Connect, McGraw-Hill’s online homework system.
See the following page for Connect registration information.

Aug. 20 Introduction (Section 751: Glass 101, 5:00 p.m.)

Aug. 27 Connect #1 (Chs. 1 and 5) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Sep. 3 NO Class- Labor Day Holiday
Sep. 10 Connect #2 (Chs. 5 and 6) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Connect #3 (Ch. 7) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Sep. 17 Connect #4 (Chs. 8 and 14) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Sep. 24 Exam I - (Chs. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14) - Official Photo ID Required* - Seats assigned
on Blackboard

Sep. 27 (Thur.) “Request to Review Exam I Form” due by noon. See form on Blackboard for
specifics.
Oct. 1 Connect #5 (Chs. 12 and 13) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Exam I Review – Only if “Request to Review Exam I Form” was submitted by
noon on Sept. 27
Oct. 8 Accounting Prerequisite Review Quiz– Official Photo ID Required* - Seats
assigned on Blackboard
Connect #6 (Chs.17 and 2) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
following quiz.
Oct. 15 Connect #7 (Ch. 3) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Oct. 22 Connect #8 (Ch. 4) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Oct. 29 Exam II (Chs. 12, 13, 17, 2, 3, 4) – Official Photo ID Required* - Seats
assigned on Blackboard

Nov. 1 (Thur.) “Exam II Review Request Form” due by noon. See form on Blackboard for
specifics.
Nov. 5 Connect #9 (Ch. 9) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Exam II Review – Only if “Request to Review Exam II Form” was submitted by
noon on Nov.1
Nov. 9 (Fri.) Drop Deadline – “W” grade assigned only if the course is dropped by this deadline
Nov. 12 Connect #10 (Ch. 10) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Nov. 19 Connect #11 (Chs. 11 and 18) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Nov. 26 Connect #12 (Chs. 20 and 21) due by 7:45 a.m. – Solutions and Q & A in class
Dec. 3 Exam III (Chs. 9, 10, 11, 18, 20, notes from 21) – Official Photo ID Required* - Seats
assigned on Blackboard

Dec. 6 (Thurs.) “Request to Review Exam III Form” due by noon. See form on Blackboard for
specifics.
Dec. 7 (Fri.) Exam III Review - only if “Request to Review Exam III Form” was submitted
by May 10 at noon
Note: Dec. 7 (Study Day) is also the date for make-up exams if ONE of Exams I, II, or III was
missed.

Comprehensive Final Exam: Saturday, Dec. 8, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., Location TBA
*Official Photo ID Required (University ID, U.S. Driver’s License, or a Passport)