Welcome to Cuesta College and Introduction to Business. My name is Amy Stapp and I will be your instructor for this course. I teach this class entirely online. This letter is to inform you of some of the important details prior to the start of these Fall 2024 classes.
***********************************IMPORTANT NOTE***********************************
CRN 71870 is a 16 week online course (8/12 - 11/27).
CRN 73455 is a 16 week online course (8/12 - 11/27).
Instructor: Amy Stapp
Phone: 805.704.4728 (cell)
Email: amy_stapp@cuesta.edu
Welcome to BUS 245 Introduction to Business. In this course you will be exposed to key business disciplines including Economics, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Human Resources, International Business and Ethics. You will become familiar with concepts and current thinking in each area, and will have the opportunity to analyze and apply these ideas to the business world. This is a course where you will bring your own work experience to our virtual classroom to create a robust learning environment. Expect your business acumen to grow through group discussions, and thought-provoking case study analysis.
Please be prepared to spend 6-9 hours per week on coursework for this class.
Are you wondering how successful you may be at a distance education course? Take the Self-Assessment Survey at http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/survey.htmlLinks to an external site..
This course is taught using Canvas and Connect. These are Web-based tools used to facilitate teaching an online class. These platforms provides the framework for the BUS 245 class including PowerPoint presentations, student data files, the tools to receive and send course materials, and a grade book. Using Canvas you can communicate with other students, and you can share materials and ideas with other course participants via the discussion forum.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Understand and apply the various styles of leadership
- Identify the major components of an Income Statement and Balance Sheet for the purpose of evaluating the financial performance of a business
- Describe and analyze the elements of the marketing mix
- Recognize, evaluate, and propose solutions to problems in personnel, ethics, and communication
Class Requirements:
The online sections of this class are entirely online with no in-person class sessions or required Zoom sessions. The in-person section of this class is entirely in-person on the SLO campus.
Canvas (https://cuesta.instructure.com) is the online learning platform used by Cuesta College and this will be the central location for all course activity. You can find all you need to know about our course through Canvas. You will find the course syllabus, weekly assignments, announcements, and your updated grades. Please go to Canvas (link above) on the first day of class (Monday 8/12), use your my.cuesta.edu login and password, and familiarize yourself with our course. You will be able to access our Canvas class on the first day of class once the semester officially begins but not before. Once you locate the site, please bookmark it or add it to your favorites for future reference.
In Canvas for the online sections, Discussions are weekly assignments where you will do an initial post and then respond to your fellow classmates after that. The purpose of these posts is to create dialogue within our class and stimulate thinking. The class will be broken into smaller groups after the first couple of weeks of class when enrollment has stabilized. I look forward to reading your thoughts and being part of your discussions. These discussions are a key part of our class.
Canvas Quick Reference for Students:
Course materials will be delivered digitally via Canvas through the Cuesta Inclusive Access program. Students will access the course materials through the Canvas website on the first day of class to make sure there are no issues in the delivery. Students will automatically have access to the course materials on Day One. After the Cuesta add drop date, the student's bursar account will be billed at a discounted rate (approximately $60) for the required course materials representing significant savings for students.
Understanding Business, 13th Edition, Nickels, McHugh, McHugh, McGraw-Hill, Paperback, Copyright 2021.
Computer Requirements:
The browser requirements and minimum qualifications required for this class are detailed in the following link: https://www.cuesta.edu/academics/distance/faqs_technical.html Links to an external site.
First Assignment and Accessing Canvas:
Your first assignment is to log into the class through Canvas (cuesta.instructure.com)
- Your login ID is the same as your my.Cuesta login. It is: firstname_lastname.
- Your password is the same as your Cuesta password.
You will NOT be able to access Canvas until 8/12. Once you locate the site, please bookmark it or add it to your favorites for future reference.
Canvas Quick Reference: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/documents/distance_ed_students/Canvas_Quick_Reference_Students.pdfLinks to an external site.
Technical Support: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/technical_support.htmlLinks to an external site.
College Policies and Assistance:
Each student is required to follow all school guidelines and comply with all school deadlines including personal responsibility for adding and/or dropping this class. Drop dates are available on the academic calendar http://academic.cuesta.edu/admrreg/infodate.htmLinks to an external site.. Each student is responsible for obtaining updates or changes to the syllabus and/or assignments for the course.
Academic Honesty:
Students are responsible for being aware of and complying with the Academic Honesty Policy (refer to Cuesta College Schedule or Cuesta College Catalog). At the discretion of the instructor, students being academically dishonest (submitting another student’s work as your own, e.g. copying a computer file that contains another student’s work) will be dropped from the course. If the drop deadline has passed, students will receive a failing grade in the course. In addition, a “Student Incident Report” will be filed with the Vice President of Academic Affairs office.
Student Resources:
- Please feel free to use the student help hours for additional instruction (or just to introduce yourself.) I’m here to help!
- Student Academic Services provides tutoring at no charge to students. Check that out here:
https://www.cuesta.edu/student/resources/ssc/index.htmlLinks to an external site.
- Library services are available here:
https://www.cuesta.edu/library/index.htmlLinks to an external site.
- Some students may experience learning disabilities or challenges that affect their academic performance. If you have any special concerns or disabilities that could affect your learning, please see me or contact DSPS at 546–3148 as soon as possible. DSPS requests that testing forms be submitted at least 7 days prior to the test. Exams and quizzes taken with accommodations must be taken with DSPS and must start or end during a regular class period. Please schedule your classes and other obligations such that accommodated exams and quizzes can occur concurrently with the class.
https://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/dsps/index.htmlLinks to an external site.
- If you are a veteran, please contact Karen Andrews, Cuesta College's VA Certifying Official at 546-3142.
https://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/veterans/index.htmlLinks to an external site.
- The college experience can compound other issues in one's life. If you feel you need to talk to someone or need help to maintain balance in your personal life, please contact the Counseling Center at (805) 546-3171.
I look forward to getting to know you!
Amy Stapp
icons at the top right corner of the subsection.