Syllabus for Web Based BUS 2370

Legal Environment of Business

Instructor Picture

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. G. Howard Doty, Professor

Business Management Department 615-353-3400; Office 615-353-3416

OFFICE HOURS: Posted on Door

VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS: I usually check Email twice a day

OFFICE NUMBER: Clement C-232-E E-mail: howard.doty@nscc.edu

OFFICE PHONE: 615-353-3416

Credit Hours: 3 Lecture: 3

Prerequisites: Level 2 placement in Reading and Writing

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS - Web Based - BUS 2370-W01

Announcement concerning the textbook - The Nashville State Bookstore has the correct textbook. Option #3 - The hard copy (most expensive option #3) is Legal Environment; Sixth Edition By Jeffrey F. Beatty and Susan S. Samuelson, ISBN- 978-1-305-50748-7. At publisher's Web site it costs about $300. Some students have been successful in using a previous edition of this textbook. The 5th edition is very similar to the current 6th Edition with the publishers changing Chapter numbers mainly. That is why the earlier edition often works.

Finding the best textbook for you.

You have several options for purchasing the book. In this course we will be using Beatty/Samuelson Legal Environment 6^th edition which is delivered in 3 options. The third and most expensive is to purchase the new or used hardcover edition I just listed above. The least expensive options are as follows.

Announcement concerning the textbook - The Nashville State Bookstore has the correct textbook but you have already paid for the Textbook in E-Textbook format when you paid for this course during registration.

ISBN# 13: 978-1-305-97249-0. (There is an Ebook through the Nashville State's Bookstore. There is also a “Bundle” option from the publisher, Cengage ISBN# 978-133-7744-508. See below different options.

CONGRATULATIONS, Your textbook has already been purchased. To ensure the lowest cost for students, this course includes a materials fee. This means that some or all of the required textbooks and materials for this course are available through your NS Online course shell and you have already paid for the E Textbook in this course.. When you register for this course, the charge will appear on your account. If you decide you do not want to purchase the course materials embedded in NS Online, you can opt out of the program until September 7, 2019. If you opt out, you will be responsible for obtaining the required course materials on your own. For more information about digital course materials at NSCC, All you need to do is log into the content and follow the steps below.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Allow pop-ups before you begin. If you do not know how to turn off your "Pop-up" blocker, call Help Desk or ask a friend since many students know how to deactivate it.

2. Open the course “Content” tab then click on MindTap and your E Textbook access.

3. You will see "Access to E Textbook and MindTap in BUSN 2300 - A01/E01/N01 - Fall 2019". Click on this.

4. A page will open where you will be given 2 options:

a. Log in as an existing user. If you have ever used Cengage materials, then you have an account already such as if you have another Cengage textbook this semester.

b. OR, select “Create an Account” for a one-time process . Since you have already paid for the E Textbook in this course, you will have immediate access to the E Textbook once you "Create an Account" with Cengage, the publisher. Your name is your Nashville State D2L email (and not your AOL, AT&T, Yahoo, Comcast, Gmail, or any other other outside email address that you may use..You must then also create a pass code which is whatever you want to use. However, several students forget their pass codes so write it down somewhere. The access to your E Textbook will then open and simply click on the icon of a textbook on the right side of the screne.

5. Even though your materials for this course are already available, you have also been given an option to out of the program until September 7, 2019. If you opt out, you will be responsible for obtaining the required course materials on your own.

For tech support issues, please see the information below:

Cengage (Publisher's) Tech Support:

· Please visit support.cengage.com to file a support ticket with our tech support team

· Please call 1.800.423-0563 24/7 to speak with a representative

· Techcheck - Visit this site any time to view current information on system status and performance information for Cengage products, updated every 5 minutes.

There are three other options for obtaining this Textbook and each are listed below. *I do not allow late submissions of Quizzes, Tests, Cases or Assignments and your first quiz over Chapter 1 is due very quickly at the end of the first week or beginning of the second week of class. I am sorry that your textbook you purchases online at an online bookstore has not arrived yet but we must move on and I do not allow late submissions.

Option 2: Check with your NSCC bookstore if you wish to purchase the loose-leaf edition for not much more money ($20).

Option 3: Mindtap Digital code only: Includes the Mindtap platform with eBook and Mindtap mobile app (no physical book)

Option #4; is Legal Environment; Sixth Edition By Jeffrey F. Beatty and Susan S. Samuelson, ISBN-78-1-305-50748-7. At publisher's Web site it costs about $300. Some students have been successful in using a previous edition of this textbook. The 5th edition is very similar to the current 6th Edition with the publishers changing Chapter numbers mainly. That is why the earlier edition often works.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the legal rights and liabilities of businesses. Topics include the legal environment of business; development and nature of the legal system; ownership, torts and contracts; crimes, torts and product liability, agency and labor laws, consumer protection statutes, regulatory powers, and legislative, judicial, and administrative controls.

COURSE OUTCOMES:

Course outcomes will be pursued through a combination of lecture, class discussion, student presentations of selected cases or topics, and written assignments. Students will participate in activities designed to enhance their abilities in communication, critical thinking, and problem solving.

After completing BUSN 2370, students should be able to:

1. Explain the differences between law, order and justice.

2. Identify and explain the elements of negligence and the defenses to torts.

3. Describe and define the legal concepts of contracts.

4. Analyze the types of business including proprietorship, partnership and corporation.

Competency

The following are detailed course competencies intended to support the course outcomes:

1. Describe the relationship between law, order, and justice.

2. List and explain the sources the law.

3. Demonstrate the ability to conduct legal research.

4. Differentiate and describe the elements of the various types of business torts.

5. Identify and explain the elements of negligence.

6. State and explain the essential elements of a contract.

7. Explain how third parties may acquire rights to contracts.

8. Describe the methods of discharging contracts.

9. Determine what types of contracts fall within the Statute of Frauds.

10. Differentiate between and explain the types of express and implied warranties.

11. Provide explanation of the legal concepts of Cyber Law and Intellectual Property Law.

12. Classify and distinguish the legal differences between a proprietorship, partnership and a corporation.

13. Identify and explain the various laws that protect consumers.

Students: Below are the sample semester Schedule with the readings, quizzes and the four (4) Unit Tests. Click "Schedule" on the Left Bar within the course to see this semester's actual schedule with correct dates.

Begin Reading and Quiz Due Dates	Study Guide	Textbook Chapter
Week 1, Begin Ch 1	Ch. 1	Ch. 1 Intro. to Law
Week 2, Quiz Ch 1 due & begin Ch 4	Ch. 4	Ch. 4 Common Law, Stat. Law and Admin. Law
Week 3 Quiz Ch 4 due & begin Ch 6	Ch. 6	Ch. 6 Torts
Week 4 Quiz Ch 6 due & begin Ch 9	Ch. 6	- Continue Ch. 6 -
***** Test #1 (Chapter 1, 4, & 6) & Cases Due! No late cases. * ***

Week 5 Quiz Ch 10 & Ch 11 & begin Ch 11	Ch. 10 & 11	Ch. 10 Introduction to Contracts, Legality, Consent, Writing
Week 6 Quiz Ch 12 due & begin Ch 14	Ch. 11	Ch. 11 Conclusion to contracts
Week 7 Quiz Ch 14 due & begin Ch 17	Ch. 12	Ch. 12 & 14 UCC: Sales, Secured Transactions
* Test #2 (Chapter 10, 11, 12 & 14) and Cases Due! No late cases.*

Week 8 Quiz Ch 17 due & begin Ch 20	Ch. 17	Ch. 17 Agency
Week 10 Quiz Ch 20 due & begin Ch 21	Ch. 20	Ch. 20 Starting a Business
Week 11 Quiz Ch 21 due & begin Ch 26	Ch. 21	Ch. 21 Corporations
* Test #3 (Chapter 17, 20 & 21) and Cases Due! No late cases.*

Week 12 Quiz Ch 26 due & begin Ch 25	Ch. 26	Ch. 26 Consumer Law
Week 13 Quiz Ch 7 due & begin Ch 24	Ch. 7	Ch. 7 Cyberlaw & Privacy
Week 14 Quiz Ch 24 due	Ch. 24	Ch. 24 Intellectual Prop.
* Test #4 (Chapter 26, 7, & 24) and Cases Due! No late cases.*

*** Outcome Overview Test (Over the Chapters we have covered)

EXAMINATIONS AND GRADING

A. Your grade in this course comes from three sources: Quizzes, Case Analysis, and 4 unit Tests.

There are 12 Quizzes that are at the end of the chapters this semester. They are self-graded quizzes that you take on your "home" computer. There are 10 questions in each quiz and each question counts 1 point. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped at the end of the semester. The "due date" for each quiz is set in "Schedule." Quizzes account for 11% of your final grade. Since these Quizzes are taken on your home computer, they are open booked but they are timed. These Quizzes are timed so do not open them until you are ready to take each Quiz.
There are four (4) Unit Tests that are required, including the final test. Each test consists of about 50 multiple choice and true/false questions which account for 200 points each and adding all four test together these Unit Test account for 800 points or 77% of your final average and grade. These 4 Unit Tests must be taken in the Testing Centers throughout Tennessee and are proctored. There are no aids allowed such as notes, the textbook, other browsers or electronic devices on these 4 Unit Tests.
If your course is delivered through Videoconferencing, the four "big" Tests will be taken in the various Testing Centers. THE MULTIPLE CHOICE PORTIONS OF TEST 1, 2, 3, & 4 MUST BE COMPLETED IN THE Testing Centers ABSOLUTELY NO LATER THAN THE TEST DUE DATE! The multiple choice portion is NOT an open book test. For the tests taken in the Testing Center, you are allowed NO aids whatsoever; no notes, no textbook, no other browsers opened, and no electronic devices including no cell phones.
For the Web based course, there are four (4) different Case Analysis- Case Studies which are due the same date as the four (4) Unit Tests. There are three required case problems on each of these Case Analysis that can be found on the menu bar to the left under "Quizzes/Tests/Cases". Each case counts 10 points for a total of 30 points per test and these cases account for 12% of your final grade. You must submit them through the Quizzes/Test/Cases menu by clicking on Submit after you have typed in your response to each case. You may open and close these "Cases" at any time since there is no time limit even though each set of cases have a final due date.
Outcome Overview Test - Each required course in the Business curriculum, including this course, now require an Outcome Overview Test. It is made up of 50 multiple choice, true/false questions and is taken along with the final Test #4 at the end of the semester.

B. Preparation of the Cases. The cases required for each test are available under "Quizzes/Tests/Case" about a week before due. You may use any source to assist you in preparing written responses to each case including any law library. You can even use a practicing attorney (Watch out, they charge per hour!). However, I want YOUR responses and YOUR legal analysis based on your analytical and critical thinking ability as to each case and not someone else's.

THE RESPONSES TO THE CASES MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE THROUGH THIS COURSE ONLY AND NOT THROUGH REGULAR EMAIL. ALL CASE SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED ABSOLUTELY NO LATER THAN THE TEST DUE DATE!! Immediately following the DUE DATE, I will begin grading the “Cases” portion of the test. I will then post the grades along with basic “Solutions” as to the cases. Therefore, no cases will be accepted after the DUE DATE since I will be sending out the correct solutions!

C. THE MULTIPLE CHOICE PORTIONS OF TEST 1, 2, 3, & 4 and the Outcome Overview Test MUST BE COMPLETED IN THE TESTING CENTERS ABSOLUTELY NO LATER THAN THE TEST DUE DATE! The multiple choice portion is NOT an open book test, even though the cases are open book. The cases are due the same date as each of the four Tests. For the tests taken in the Testing Center, you are allowed NO aids whatsoever; no notes, no textbook, no other browsers opened, and no electronic devices including no cell phones.

However, the four Case Studies for each test are prepared on your "home" computer and submitted from there. Again, you may use any source in preparing the cases portion of your test as long as your submission is in your own words and involves your own legal analysis.

D. The Multiple Choice portion is self-grading and you will be able to see your grade upon completion of the Tests in the Testing Center. I will "hand-grade" the responses to the Case Studies and therefore, these are NOT self grading.

E. The Testing Center hours on the Main Campus are: Monday-Thursday, 8:00a.m.–7:30 p.m. Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Testing Center hours at the distance sites are not the same as the Main Campus Testing Center. You may want to check first before you come especially for the distance sites of NSCC and especially during Summer sessions.

F. GRADING SCALE:

Cases= 10%

Quizzes = 10%

Course Overview Test = 5%

4 Unit Test = 75%

A = 945 - 1050 points - which is 90% - 100%
B = 840 - 944 points - which is 80% - 89%
C = 739 - 839 points - which is 70% - 79%
D = 630 - 738 - which is 60% - 69%
F = 629 and below - which is below 60%

FA - According to NSCC policy, an FA is awarded to students who do not officially withdraw from a course and do not attend after the cut-off date provided in the academic calendar. Please refer to the current academic calendar available on Nashville State web site, looking for the date that indicates it is the “Last Day to Earn F for Attendance (FA).” Students who stop attending on or before this date receive an FA; students who stop attending after this date receive an F.

For online courses, attendance is defined by submission of assignments. Students who fail a course and whose last assignment is submitted on or before the FA date (will earn an FA for the course. Students who fail a course and whose last assignment is submitted after the FA date will earn an F for the course.

For the fall 2019 semester, the cut-off dates for students who have not officially withdrawn are through the links below.:

Links to academic calendar:

Full 15-Week Term - https://www.nscc.edu/current-students/academic-calendar#Fall_2019_Full_15-Week_Term

Students who stop attending on or before this date receive an FA; students who stop attending after this date receive an F.

First 7-Week Term - https://www.nscc.edu/current-students/academic-calendar#Fall_2019_Full_15-Week_Term

Students who stop attending on or before this date receive an FA; students who stop attending after this date receive an F.

Second 7-Week Term - https://www.nscc.edu/current-students/academic-calendar#Fall_2019_Full_15-Week_Term

Students who stop attending on or before this date receive an FA; students who stop attending after this date receive an F.

An FN is assigned to students who do not submit any assignments.

Six absences equal 20% of the course. What would an employer allow you to continue to be employed if you were to miss 20% of the workdays?

Academic Early Warning System

Nashville State Community College has implemented an Early Warning System to notify students via e-mail about academic problems such as poor classroom attendance, poor performance on assignments/tests, poor communication skills, late/missing assignments, and/or lack of classroom participation. Please note that Early Warning Alerts do not affect a student’s academic standing.

Student Communication Channels

It is the student’s responsibility to check D2L and MyNSCC email on a regular basis. These are the official communication channels between the college and students. Students are responsible for the information communicated through those channels. D2L contains specific course information and MyNSCC contains information important for other purposes.

Technology Statement

Nashville State's classes are considered to be web-enhanced. Faculty have an expectation that students will use a computer and the Internet to complete assignments, engage in online discussions, and access various course materials through Desire2Learn (D2L) course shells. Computers are available for student use at each campus during campus open hours.

ADA Compliance Statement

Nashville State complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you wish to request any special accommodations for any courses in which you are enrolled, contact the Access Center at 615.353.3741 or 615.353.3721.

Classroom Misconduct

Nashville State Community College has a zero tolerance policy for disruptive conduct in the classroom. Students whose behavior disrupts the classroom will be subject to disciplinary sanctions. Please consult your Student Handbook for more specific details.

The instructor has primary responsibility for control over classroom behavior and maintenance of academic integrity. He/she can order temporary removal or exclusion from the classroom of any student engaged in disruptive conduct or in conduct which violates the general rules and regulations of the College.

Disruptive behavior in the classroom may be defined as, but is not limited to, behavior that obstructs or disrupts the learning environment (e.g., offensive language, harassment of students and professors, repeated outbursts from a student which disrupt the flow of instruction or prevent concentration on the subject taught, failure to cooperate in maintaining classroom decorum, etc.), the continued use of any electronic or other noise or light emitting device which disturbs others (e.g., disturbing noises from beepers, cell phones, palm pilots, lap-top computers, games, etc.).

Please be aware that children are not allowed in class or unattended on campus.

Academic Dishonesty (Honor Code)

Any form of academic dishonesty, cheating, plagiarizing, or other academic misconduct is prohibited. “Plagiarism may result from: (1) failing to cite quotations and borrowed ideas, (2) failing to enclose borrowed language in quotation marks, and (3) failing to put summaries and paraphrases in your own words (A Writer’s Reference 331). Academic dishonesty may be defined as, but is not limited to, intentionally trying to deceive by claiming credit for the work of another person, using information from a web page or source without citing the reference, fraudulently using someone else’s work on an exam, paper, or assignment, recycling your own work from another course, purchasing papers or materials from another source and presenting them as your own, attempting to obtain exams/materials/assignments in advance of the date of administration by the instructor, impersonating someone else in a testing situation, providing confidential test information to someone else, submitting the same assignment in two different classes without requesting both instructor’s permission, allowing someone else to copy or use your work, using someone else’s work to complete your own, altering documents, transcripts or grades, and forging a faculty/staff member’s signature.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed through regular college procedures as a result of academic dishonesty the instructor has the authority to assign an “F” or a “Zero” for the exercise, paper, or examination or to assign an “F” for the course. Students may appeal through the appropriate college grade appeal procedures.

RAVE Emergency Alert System

Emergency events can happen at any time and Nashville State Community College wants to be able notify students if and when they occur. For this reason, all students have been enrolled in the free RAVE alert system. If you have not already done so, please log in at https://getrave.com/login/nscc to confirm and update your contact information and notification preferences. It is critical that your information be correct so that you will receive any emergency notifications. Your RAVE Username is your NSCC email address. If you've never received an email from RAVE with your password, or if you need to reset your password, select “Forgot your password?” and a new password will be emailed to you. Should the RAVE system indicate “user not found”, select Register and create your own RAVE account.

Inclement Weather Policy

In the event of an inclement weather event, check the Nashville State web site home page at www.nscc.edu for announcements on campus closures. Campus closures will also be announced on local television stations (channels 2, 4, 5, and 17).

When classes are cancelled, an online assignment will be posted in NS Online. Check your NS Online email for a message from your instructor regarding your online assignment requirements. Even though classes may be cancelled, some areas, i.e. Testing Center, may be open. However, you should check before commuting to campus.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Director of Security are responsible for cancellation decisions during an inclement weather event for the Nashville State main campus and the Southeast campus. Cookeville, Waverly, and Dickson Campus Directors will make class cancellation decisions based on conditions in their respective areas. Decisions about class cancellations are based on actual conditions, not forecasts. The perspective used for making decisions is that of the college as an employer, not as a K-12 institution. Students should use their own best judgment in determining whether to report to campus during inclement weather when classes are not cancelled.

Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly, through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to their instructors. Based on their professional judgment, instructors have the authority to impose the following academic sanctions: (a) require the student to repeat the assignment for full or partial credit; (b) assign a zero, an F, or any other grade appropriate for the assignment or examination; (c) assign an F for the course. In addition, disciplinary sanctions may be imposed through the regular institutional procedures.

Academic dishonesty may be defined as, but is not limited to, intentionally trying to deceive by claiming credit for the work of another person, using information from a web page or source without citing the reference, fraudulently using someone else’s work on an exam, paper, or assignment, recycling your own work from another course, purchasing papers or materials from another source and presenting them as your own, attempting to obtain exams/materials/assignments in advance of the date of administration by the instructor, impersonating someone else in a testing situation, providing confidential test information to someone else, submitting the same assignment in two different classes without requesting both instructor’s permission, allowing someone else to copy or use your work, using someone else’s work to complete your own, altering documents, transcripts or grades, and forging a faculty/staff member’s signature.

If a student believes that he/she has been erroneously accused of academic dishonesty and if his/her final grade has been lowered as a result, the student may appeal the case through the appropriate college grade appeal procedures.

J. D2L SERVER GOING DOWN: I will reset due dates of all work, quizzes and tests assigned during extended periods of time if the Nashville State Web Sever goes down. This does not apply to the student's computer or server since the student may use anyone's computer and web access to access this course at anytime and anywhere. This includes the computers in the Nashville State Computer Labs and in the Nashville State Library.

K. PARTICIPATI0N AND ATTENDANCE:

Not participating in the online assignments, failure to take a scheduled exam, or failure to contact the instructor for two consecutive weeks will result in a grade reduction. Please contact me if you have extenuating circumstances that are preventing you from working in the course. Nashville State also maintains a "Early Warning" system. The Admissions Office may contact a student that is not participating or doing the required work.
Withdrawing From Course/College. As a student, only you can officially withdraw from the course/college. The teacher may not withdraw the student. Please refer to the most recent NSCC catalog for information on withdrawing.

*** NOTE *** THE SOLUTIONS TO THE CASE PROBLEMS WILL POSTED ON THE WEB IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TEST/SUBMISSION DUE DATE; THEREFORE, RESPONSES SUBMITTED AFTER THE DUE DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

L. DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING RESPONSES TO THE CASES

You must submit a response for each of the three (3) cases for each test. Your responses must be submitted in the appropriate box immediately after each case. You then submit each set of cases by clicking on the "Submit" button at the bottom of each case.
Each case response must contain (a) your answer to the questions, (b) the applicable point of law, and (c) the legal reasoning which you applied to arrive at a conclusion (explain how/where the elements of a law apply to the facts in the case). Be certain to address each question and issue raised in the case. Avoid allowing personal opinions, values, and emotions to influence your reasoning and decision. Your responses must be based solely on the correct applicable point of law. Most cases include legal terms that are found within the chapters for this test. It is often a good idea to define the terms that apply to your legal reasoning and how this applies to this case. I am looking for your analytical and critical thinking ability. Responses to each case must be based only on the information given. Don't make up or assume new facts.
I will grade all cases and test at the same time and I will not grade test submitted early until the due date, when I grade everyone else.
ALL RESPONSES TO THE CASES MUST BE SUBMITTED ABSOLUTELY NO LATER THAN THE TEST DUE DATE!

Revised 8/20/2019