Family Economic IssuesFCS 3450

Instructor: Jerry L. Basford

Office Hours

By appointmentAdministrative Assistant, Cathy Baird 801-585-

8484Park 206 jbasford@sa.utah.edu

Welcome!

This is the most important class you will ever take in college.

This class will teach you the skills you will need in order to make the most of your resources, which include your money, your property, and yourself.

Introduction

In this course you will gain an understanding of how an economic perspective can be used to learn more about how families make resource allocation decisions.

Question?

To get there you aren’t going to win a game or the lotteryEveryone would like to become rich quick, but

that is not how it normally happens. The average millionaire has invested the resources they have into furthering their education, buying a home, or investing in their own small business or through the stock market.

One common trait found among average millionaires is avoiding consumer debt, especially credit cards. This often means being more frugal and doing without newer cars and expensive clothing.

Course Objective

My personal goal is to give you the tools necessary to have a positive impact on our local, state, and national economies by making sound economic decisions, including becoming a millionaire by retirement.

On to the syllabus…

This syllabus is a binding agreement. By taking this course you agree to all of the terms of the syllabus.

I agree to follow the syllabus as well. If changes are made we will discuss them in class first.

Required Reading Packet

There is a reading packet instead of a text book for this course

It is required reading. You must have access to a reading packet. I go too quickly for you to write notes free-

hand….Assignments, exam reviews, etc.

Course Requirements

HomeworkQuizzesExamsClass ProjectReaction Papers (4)

Exams

Four exams will be offeredThe final will be not be cumulativeEach test will consist of true/false and

multiple choice problems.Come prepared to all tests with pencils

and your calculator.

Class Projects

Four Class Project options are available; you must complete 1.The project must be typed and paper copies

are due at the beginning of class.

Class Projects

All projects can be submitted electronically. Instructions are in the reading packet.This is mandatory

I do not need a hard copy of your projects.

Class Projects

Class Projects are worth a large portion of your grade, so a lot of work is required.

I believe an ‘A’ to be an excellent grade. Your work must be excellent in order to get an ‘A’ on any assignment.

Detailed instructions are given on each project; please follow them carefully. Failure to follow all of the instructions will result in a lower grade on the project.

Reaction Papers

Write a 2-3 page paper in response to a reading

5 sections of the course = 4 reaction papersDetailed instructions available in your

reading packetElectronically turn in your paper.

No hard copy needs to be turned in

Extra Credit

Do not ask if you can do all of the assignments in order to get extra credit. I do not believe in extra credit.

Academic Misconduct Academic misconduct in any form in this class will not be

tolerated. This includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarizing,

misrepresenting one’s work and/or inappropriately collaborating. Make sure you cite any sources used in your papers and projects.

Any student who engages in academic misconduct will receive a failing grade for the course, no exceptions. This is a very serious issue and I will not tolerate it in my classroom.

If you are aware of any misconduct, please inform me immediately.

If you have any questions regarding academic misconduct, please see the student handbook at www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/8/8-10.html

Things to Note

You may take an incomplete in this course only if you can justify to the instructor that you cannot finish the course because of circumstances beyond your control (e.g., a major illness) AND if the majority of coursework (e.g. 80%) is already completed. The prospect of earning a low final grade does not justify the granting of an incomplete.

You may drop the course without penalty until 9/2. You may withdraw from the course by 10/23 without my permission. It is your responsibility to determine the tuition and W ramifications. Also, remember to pay your tuition by the deadline, or your classes will be deleted and they cannot be reinstated.

Students who need special accommodations due to learning disabilities should contact the instructor during the first week of the semester. The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.

Things to Note

Although I will not take attendance, it is expected that you be in class every period. There are some things that you will get only in the lecture that are not in the notes.

However, if you miss a class, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what material was covered and to get the notes from a fellow student.

Please bring a calculator to class every day.

A cell phone is permitted for use in place of a calculator.

I will post homework to my website located at www.sa.utah.edu/familyfinance.

You will receive your grades each week after an assignment/quiz, or test has been given.

Please show respect for me and the other students by arriving on time to class and not leaving early.

If you do come in late or leave early, please be discreet.

Be polite. Don’t talk while I am and listen to others thoughts on subjects. Take turns answering questions. Turn off your cell phones. Texting and surfing are inappropriate during class. Please refrain from these activities so that you do not distract the students around you.

You are all adults, and I know you will act like it.

Check your grades throughout the semester.

If there is a mistake, let me know as soon as possible.

It is your responsibility to track your grade.

Keep your email address current within the University system. I send out email updates and announcements occasionally. For instructions on how to forward your umail account to your primary e-mail account go to unid.utah.edu.

You are responsible for all of the information sent.

I assume that you know all of the info that is sent

Grading Scale

The grading scale is posted in your syllabus and on my website.

I round grades to the closes whole number.

Course Topics – on to the schedule

Section 1 = Economic PrinciplesSection 2 = Financial CapitalSection 3 = Physical CapitalSection 4 = Human CapitalSection 5 = Risk ManagementImportant Dates…

As for me…

Raised in a small town in Colorado Graduated with Bachelors from Mesa State

College Graduated with Masters from the University of

Colorado Graduated with Doctorate from Walden

University Came to the U in 1998-Senior Financial

Analyst moved to Student Affairs in 2003.