Syllabus for

Semester: Fall 2009

  Course name and number: BUS 220

Section code (CRN):  13911

Class Meeting Days/Times:  Mon & Wed  1440-1555

Class Location:  Building A A110

Instructor:  Philip Grant

Office hours/availability:  By Appointment

Phone/voicemail:  520.401.9832

Email address:  phg@PhilGrant.com

Class website:  PhilGrant.com

First day of class:  August 26, 2009

Add date:  Sept. 1

Drop/Refund date:  Sep 8

Withdrawal deadline:  Nov 12

Final exam date:  Dec. 14

Last day of class:  Dec. 9

Campus phone number: 

Course Description

Legal, ethical, and international environment of business. Includes an introduction to law, ethics and corporate responsibility, judicial system and litigation, alternative dispute resolution, administrative agencies, crimes and torts, contract law, product liability, international business law, agency law, and legal forms of business enterprises.

Course Objectives

Performance Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1.   Explain the principal sources of law.

2.   Discuss ethical issues when they arise in business situations.

3.   Describe generally the court system and litigation procedure.

4.   Distinguish among the alternative dispute resolution procedures, including arbitration, mediation, conciliation  and negotiation.

5.   Discuss the regulation of business by administrative agencies.

6.   Identify the principal crimes and torts and discuss their elements.

7.   Discuss the elements of a contract, including offer and acceptance, mutual assent, capacity, consideration, legality, form, and methods of discharge.

8.   Describe the laws of warranties and product liability.

9.   Discuss the sources of international business law, and discuss unfair trade practices.

10. Compare the principal-agency and employer-independent contractor relationships

11. Distinguish among the various types of business organization.

Course Outline

Course Outline:

I.              Introduction to Law

A.      Sources of law

B.      United States Constitution

II.             Ethics and Corporate Responsibility

A.      Ethical conduct and legal conduct

B.      Stakeholders

C.      Whistleblowers

III.            Judicial System and Litigation

A.      Jurisdiction

B.      United States court system

C.      Steps in a civil trial

IV.           Alternative Dispute Resolution

A.      Arbitration vs. litigation

B.      Mediation, conciliation, and negotiation

V.            Administrative Agencies

A.      Nature and creation of agencies

B.      Powers of administrative agencies

VI.           Crimes and Torts

A.      Classification of crimes

B.      Elements of crimes

C.      Crimes affecting business

D.      Intentional torts

E.      Negligence

F.      Strict liability

VII.          Contract Law

A.      Contract formation

B.      Contract defenses and remedies

VIII.         Product Liability

A.      Strict liability vs. negligence in product liability cases

B.      Warranties and disclaimers

IX.           International Business Law

A.      Sources of international law

B.      General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and World Trade Organization (WTO)

C.      Unfair trade practices

X.            Agency Law

A.      Formation of agency relationships

B.      Duties of agents and principals

C.      Liabilities of principals and agents to third parties

XI.           Legal Forms of Business Enterprises

A.      Sole proprietorships, partnerships and limited liability companies

B.     Corporation law

Required Text Book(s)

Bohlman & Dundas, The Legal, Ethical and International Environment of Business (Sixth Edition), West Publishing 2005.  The book is available at the Campus Bookstore.

Required Materials

Students are required to have internet access and an email address.

Optional Materials

Extra credit assignments will require the use of online resources. 

ADA Compliance Statement

Pima Community College in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act offers reasonable accommodations, including material in alternative formats, to qualified students with appropriate disability documentation. To obtain a reasonable accommodation, students must be registered with a campus Disabled Student Resource Office (DSR) who will verify, identify, and authorize implementation.  Accommodations cannot be made without verification of the need.  Students are responsible for making all accommodation requests in a timely manner.

Class Preparation and Policies

Read the text and any other assignments prior to the class session on each topic.  Lecture and discussion material will not necessarily duplicate the text.  You are responsible for reading all assignments.  Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in class.  Any student who disrupts the class will be asked to leave the class and be marked absent for that session.  A second incident will result in the student being dropped from the class.  Class participation is welcomed but the instructor reserves the right to limit discussion to relevant issue of general interest.

Class Attendance

Attendance is expected.  The subject matter can be difficult and is not always amenable to understanding by relying upon the text.  The fifth absence from class will result in the reduction of the semester grade by one full letter grade. Each absence thereafter will result in additional reduction of one letter grade.  Extra credit or supplemental work may be available if approved by the instructor. No make-up examinations will be permitted.  If the student has three absences prior to withdrawal deadline that student will be withdrawn from the class.

Assignments

These three homework assignments each count 50 points towards the student’s final grade.   The student is expected to provide a written analysis of the questions presented and provide the necessary forms and copies of relevant documents.  All assignments are to be completed by word processing and submitted either by electronic mail or in class.  Each project will be reduced by one letter grade if not turned in prior to the end of the class session on the due date.  There will be an additional reduction of one letter grade for each class session passing after the scheduled completion date.

PHIL’S PHULL PHEATURE PHACIAL AND TANNING EMPORIUM

                Phil wants to start a facial and tanning spa.  He has knows little about this business but thinks he can make a decent living by opening a shop on the north side of Tucson.  His business plan involves hiring an assistant and borrowing whatever money he can to buy equipment that will cost about $25,000.  He would consider getting some funding from friends and family but wants to keep as much control as possible over the business.

            Phil consults with you since he knows that you have taken a business law class from an esteemed attorney and he has a series of questions for you.

ASSIGNMENT ONE

            What can he do to register his business name and how does he do it?

            When he talks to the banks about borrowing money they keep mentioning security and he wants to know what that means and how it will affect the business.

            He wants to rent about 10,000 square feet and is concerned about how you enter into a lease and what terms he might expect.  Can he rely upon a landlord to make certain that he has complied with various codes and regulations?

            Can he run this business in a residential area? What zoning issues arise and what licenses are necessary to operate the business in Tucson?  Please provide completed applications.

ASSIGNMENT TWO

            He wants to keep control of the business but needs funding so he wants to know what he can do to get money from sources other than a bank.

            He has heard that corporations and limited liability companies are good things but he wants to keep his business simple and cheap so he asks you what type of entity he should have.  Please prepare the initial documents for any entity that you recommend.

ASSIGNMENT THREE

            Since he wants to save money he decides to hire immigrant laborers to work for him.  What potential problems will he face?  What documentation is necessary when an employee is hired?  Please provide the necessary documents.

SEMESTER PROJECT

A semester project including an oral presentation will also be required. The oral presentation will be evaluated with regard to such items as visual aids, organization, clarity of presentation, eye contact and avoidance of reading directly from a script.  The semester project should be a team effort.  Students will pick their own teammates and be responsible for sharing the duties of the research and presentation.  The project will involve the selection and initial organization of a new business with an examination of relevant governmental regulation and appropriate licensing and selection of business organizational structure.  Financing, location of the premises and insurance issues should be addressed.  The written project is due in final fashion on October 28, 2009.  The oral presentation of each group should last approximately twenty minutes.  The written portion of the project will be graded either individually for each student or for the entire team.  Each team may select the manner in which the written portion of the project will be graded.

Extra Credit Assignments

You may receive extra credit by researching on line a current topic of interest in the area of Business Law.  A three page written review must be prepared which must include a review of the student’s perception of the credibility of the article and an evaluation of the importance of the issue.  The student must present this paper in class with a five minute oral presentation which may take place any time during the semester but no later than the date assigned in the syllabus.  Each report may allow the student to receive an additional 25 points towards the final grade.  Each student has a maximum of two reports.  Extra credit may also be earned by participating in the Facebook group for the class.

 FORMTEXT      

Grading Procedures and Policy

Test One:                                                                                              50

Test Two:                                                                                              50

Test Three:                                                                                            50

Test Four:                                                                                             50

Homework Assignments:                                                                            150

Semester Project:                                                                                    100

Class Participation                                                                         50   

Total Points Available:                                          500

FINAL GRADE 

A.....90% of all possible points                                                           450

B.....80% of all possible points                                                                 400

C.....70% of all possible points                                                                 350

D.....60% of all possible points                                                                 300

F.....Less than 300 points

All tests are multiple choice and the answers are to be submitted on a single answer sheet.  The questions are not to be returned, The answers are to be typed or computer generated.  Each test grade will be reduced by one grade for each class day it is delayed after the due date.  The answer sheet may be submitted by electronic mail or in class.  The student should seek confirmation of receipt of electronic mail.  The electronic mail should be posted at a time prior to the commencement of the class meeting during which the test is due.  There are no make-up tests.

Students may withdraw from class without instructor permission and without incurring any grade penalty until November 7.This grade may be requested by the student only during the first two-thirds of any session and may be given by the instructor on or before the official census reporting date to students who have ceased attending class before that date.  Students who stop attending class after this date may receive a grade of “F.”

You may request a grade of "I" only if all of the following conditions are met: you have earned at least 70% of the available points at the time of your request, your request is made in writing to the instructor and is received by the instructor on or before Nov 14, and the instructor' gives permission to do so.

Auditing a PCC class means that you enroll, attend and do work for the class but do not expect to receive credit or a grade. To audit the class, you need the instructor’s permission and signature on an audit request form from any campus admissions office. This form and appropriate payment must be returned to the admissions office for admission. An audit registration cannot be completed until the first day of class. You must complete your audit registration by the end of the add period for the class you wish to audit. The instructor is not required to grade assignments submitted by students who are auditing the class.

MyPima

In this course the instructor will use some of the features of MyPima.  The use of the MyPima portal for every student enrolled in this course, is specifically limited to the functions that are related to the course content and appropriate communications prescribed by the instructor.  Inappropriate uses of MyPima may be subject to the Pima Community College Student Code of Conduct.

Incomplete “I” Grades

You may request a grade of "I" only if all of the following conditions are met: you have earned at least 70% of the available points at the time of your request, your request is made in writing to the instructor and is received by the instructor on or before Nov 14, and the instructor' gives permission to do so.

“AU” Audit Grades

Auditing a PCC class means that you enroll, attend and do work for the class but do not expect to receive credit or a grade. To audit the class, you need the instructor’s permission and signature on an audit request form from any campus admissions office. This form and appropriate payment must be returned to the admissions office for admission. An audit registration cannot be completed until the first day of class. You must complete your audit registration by the end of the add period for the class you wish to audit. The instructor is not required to grade assignments submitted by students who are auditing the class.

Final Grades

For privacy and security reasons, instructors are advised NOT to give grades over the telephone or via email unless the student signs the exception box on the acknowledgment page of this syllabus.  Students who wish to check grades may call MAX 2000 at 206-4880 or may access grades online.

Class Calendar

AUGUST 26: Introduction to the course.

AUGUST 31: Chapter 1, Sources of the law.

SEPTEMBER 2: Chapter 2, Ethics and Social Responsibility.

SEPTEMBER 9: Chapter 3, The Judicial System.

SEPTEMBER 14: Chapter 4, Alternative Dispute Resolution.

SEPTEMBER 16:  Chapter 5, the Constitution. 

SEPTEMBER 21: Chapter 6, Regulation of Business.

SEPTEMBER 23: Chapter 7 Crimes and Business.  Turn

in Test One covering Chapters 1-6

SEPTEMBER 28: Chapter 8, Torts. 

SEPTEMBER 30:  Chapter 9, Contract formation.

OCTOBER 5: Chapter 10, Contract Defenses. Turn in Assignment One.

OCTOBER 7:  Chapter 11, Sales and Products Liability Law.

OCTOBER 12:  Chapter 12, Negotiable Instruments. Make up any missing classes.

OCTOBER 14: Chapter 13, International Business Law. Turn in

Test Two covering Chapters 6-12.

OCTOBER 19:  Chapter 14, Rights of Consumers, Debtors and Creditors.

OCTOBER 21:  Chapter 15, Consumer Protection. Turn in Assignment Two.

OCTOBER 26:  Chapter 16, Property Law, Intellectual Property

Law and Computer Law.  Turn in written semester projects.

OCTOBER 28:  Chapter 17, Agency Law and Private Employment

Law.

NOVEMBER 2:  Chapter 18 Business Enterprises.

NOVEMBER 4:  Chapter 19, Corporations and Franchising.

NOVEMBER 9:  Chapter 20, Securities Law.  Turn in Test Three

covering Chapters 13-19.

NOVEMBER 16: Class Presentations on the Semester Projects.

Any student missing this class or any class with student presentations will lose one letter grade.

NOVEMBER 18: Class Presentations on the Semester Project.

NOVEMBER 23: Class Presentations on the Semester Project.  Turn in Assignment Three

NOVEMBER 25: Chapter 21, Antitrust Law

NOVEMBER 30: Chapter 22, Legislative control of Labor.

DECEMBER 2: Chapter 23, Employment Law and Equal Opportunity..

DECEMBER 7:  Chapter 24, Environmental Law

DECEMBER 9:  Turn in Test Four covering Chapters 20-24.  Extra Credit Presentations.

DECEMBER 14:  Final Examination. 

Should a class be canceled or the schedule proves too rigorous, the professor reserves the right to adjust the schedule accordingly.

Additional Information

Caveats

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the syllabus and will notify students of those changes in class.  Students have the responsibility for all information provided during any class without regard to whether or not they were present for the presentation.

Due Dates   All work is due on the date assigned.  If it is not turned in prior to the end of the class meeting any grade will be reduced by one letter grade for each successive class.  For example, Test Four is due on November 28.  If that test is not received by 2015 on that date the grade will be reduced by one full letter grade.  If it is not received prior to the close of the next class on December 3 at 2015 there will be an additional letter grade reduction.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

By enrolling at Pima Community College, a student assumes the obligation to be a responsible member of the College community.  All students are responsible to:

1.  Contribute to a climate of academic integrity; rational, critical, and creative inquiry; freedom of individual thought and expression consistent with the rights of others; and commitment to the well-being of society as a whole.

2.  Adhere to course requirements as specified by instructor(s) in the course syllabus, and follow all written and/or verbal instructions given by instructors or designated College representatives.

3.  Obey all duly established College, local, state, and federal policies, regulations, and laws.

4.  Refrain from actions that deny other members of the College community their rights as described herein.

5.  Refrain from acts of violence, intimidation, or degradation toward any person.

6.  Cooperate with College administrators, faculty, and staff in the performance of their authorized duties.

7.  Give and maintain accurate and complete information for all official records required by the College.

8.   Meet all financial obligations to the College.

9.  Carry personal picture identification at all times while on College property or at College functions.

10.  Attend all judicial proceedings when issued notice to do so.               

11.   Maintain the highest ethical standards in academic achievement.

Students admitted to both PCC and UA through the Program for Joint Admissions and Enrollment will be subject to codes of academic integrity and codes of conduct at both institutions.

Scholastic Ethics Code

The purpose of the Scholastics Ethics Code is to:

·         encourage and promote positive learning and ethical scholarly behavior,

·         define behavior violating scholastic ethics,

·         specify procedures for the determination of the facts of the alleged violations, and to define penalties.

Guidelines for Scholastic Ethics

Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the coursework they submit.  The following is a guide to assist students in observing positive behavior in scholastic ethics:

1.       Students must do their own work and submit only their own work on essays, examinations, reports, and projects, unless otherwise permitted by the instructor.

2.       Students can benefit from working in groups.  They may collaborate or cooperate with other students during take-home examinations or projects only if specifically authorized by the instructor in the class syllabus or at the time of the examination.

CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: VIOLATIONS

Students enrolled in the College assume the obligation of conducting themselves in accordance with the highest scholarly ethics.  Actions constituting violations of academic integrity will be considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and include, but are not limited to the following:

1.  Cheating

Intentional deceit during the pursuit of academic coursework, tests, class assignments,  activities in any testing area, learning center, clinical setting, tutoring session, or in the gathering of research materials is considered cheating.  “Cheating” includes, but is not limited to, the following:

a)       Copying from another student’s test paper or knowingly allowing your test to be copied.

b)       Using materials during a test that were not clearly authorized by the person giving the test.

c)       Collaborating with another student during a test without permission.

d)       Knowingly using, buying, selling, offering, transporting, or soliciting any of the contents of a test.

e)       Taking a test for another student or permitting another student to take a test for you.

f)        Bribing or attempting to bribe another person to obtain a passing grade or a better grade on a test or for a course.

g)       Intentional misconstruing of facts or incidents relating to an evaluated exercise or assignment that would change the grade given.

2.  Plagiarism

The representing of the work of other persons as one’s own, including the use of term papers written by others and information downloaded from the Internet, is plagiarism. The use of another person’s words, ideas, or information without proper acknowledgement is also plagiarism.  The student should seek guidance from the instructor about acceptable methods to be used to acknowledge the work and ideas of others.

3.  Collusion

Obtaining from or giving to another student unauthorized assistance on material in any course work is collusion.

4.  Compromising Instructional and Test

       Materials

Unauthorized acquisition of instructional and/or testing materials from desks, cabinets, work rooms, classrooms, laboratories, instructors’ offices, tutoring labs, testing areas, assessment areas, secretarial offices, college offices, and/or other areas is compromising test materials.

5.  Misrepresentation/Fraud

Using false records, false identification papers, unauthorized I.D. cards, or computer access to official college documents or to services such as testing areas, placement assessments, tutoring services, and/or tests or test banks of any type constitutes misrepresentation/fraud.

Acknowledgment of Receipt of Syllabus