Governance





              

 

Department of Business Entrepreneurship
Certificate Proposal

                                                               PSF 26 06/07                                                         

                                                                                                                                           

1. Introduction

The School of Business & Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside proposes to develop and deliver a certificate program in Entrepreneurship.  The program would be available for undergraduate Business and non-Business majors and also for non-degree seeking students. This document describes the details of the program.

Entrepreneurship and with it, entrepreneurship education has gained importance during the last few decades. With an ever-increasing focus on small business ownership and strategy, professors recognize that many of their students will not follow the traditional path toward employment in a Fortune 500 company. With half of all Americans employed by a small business, it is equally likely that a student’s ultimate destination will be either working for or becoming an entrepreneur. In fact, many business students start their careers in large firms only to pursue self-employment later. Therefore, intertwining the curriculum with lessons geared toward small business can be beneficial for both an appreciation of the entrepreneurial sector and the practical lessons that such coverage will instill for those who pursue small firm ownership. SBA. The Small Business Advocate. September 2006

With sufficient resources and promotional support, we estimate at least ten students enrolled in the certificate program during the first year and twenty during the third year. We propose to publish this concentration in the next (2007-2009) course catalog. 

2. Eligibility Requirements

For a student to be enrolled in the Entrepreneurship Certificate program, he/she must meet at least one of the following requirements. 

We anticipate that students from all areas of the university will enroll in this certificate program. Associate degree holders, if they enroll in this certificate program, will be able to use many of the courses towards degree completion at UW-Parkside or other UW institutions.  In addition, we may attract potential entrepreneurs from the local community who have been downsized, right-sized, or have received early retirement packages. 

3. Courses

The certificate program includes four required courses. Each course is 3 credits for a total of 12 credits. A student may complete the program in 2 years by taking just one required course per semester. Students must receive a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.

The course titles and proposed offering semesters are listed below.

Detailed syllabi for these courses are included in the Appendix of this proposal. For each course, a brief (catalog copy) description is included below.

ENTR 250 Introduction to Entrepreneurship – This course covers the principles and key concepts of Entrepreneurship, focusing on self-assessment, opportunity recognition, innovation & creativity, and the various functions involved in starting a venture.  Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of instructor. Co-requisite: BUS 100 or other business course.

ENTR 350 Entrepreneurial Leadership – This course covers the theory and application of leadership principles to entrepreneurship, integrating a community-based service-learning project, guest speakers (successful local entrepreneurs), and on-site visits to new ventures and resource centers such as CAT-I and SBDC.  Prerequisites: Sophomore standing, BUS 100 or other business course.  Co-requisite: ENT 250.

ENTR 400 Entrepreneurial Strategy – This is a “capstone course” that features creating a business plan.  The course will be functionally integrative, using case studies that incorporate the many functions involved in new ventures.  The course will also cover new venture formation.  Students will have an opportunity to work on a business plan for CAT-I technology if there is a match between interests, skills, and available opportunities. Prerequisites:  ENT 250.

ENTR 450   Entrepreneurial Projects – Hands-on project work (working with owners and managers of small businesses and non-profit organizations) performed with faculty supervision in SEG Center.   The projects will specifically involve the use of the “lab” for an entrepreneurial project. All projects will employ the project management protocols developed in SEG.  Prerequisites:  ENT 250 and ENT 350.

4. Resources to Support the Program

Currently we have one AACSB academically-qualified tenure-track faculty member specializing in Entrepreneurship who is also responsible for teaching the BUS 495 and MBA 796 strategy courses.  In addition, a faculty member in Marketing has expertise in new products and new ventures. This faculty members could teach in this program. Finally, we have potential adjuncts in the Directors of CAT-I and the SBDC.  At this time, we have the resources needed to support the Entrepreneurship Certificate.

 

 

Appendix: Syllabi and Course Outlines of the Proposed Entrepreneurship Certificate Courses

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

School of Business & Technology

Introduction to Entrepreneurship

ENTR 250

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Entrepreneurial Small Business. 2007c,  by J.Katz & R. Green. McGraw-Hill Irwin.

Co-requisite: BUS 100 or other business course.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course covers the principles and key concepts of Entrepreneurship, focusing on self-assessment, opportunity recognition, innovation & creativity, and the various functions involved in starting a venture. 

Course Objectives

Students will be able to:

These objectives will be assessed through exams, an entrepreneurial self-assessment, a feasibility study, and discussions and cases in class.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

The student will be expected to respect the need for confidentiality.  It is imperative that information shared about student business concepts, and sensitive information shared by guest speakers, remain in the classroom. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Class Participation

Your class participation will be based on your participation in class as well as any homework assigned.  Participation and attendance are a critical part of your grade. A successful learning experience depends on the expression of ideas, experiences and insights.  You are expected to carefully prepare for class and actively participate. Readings will be used to explore opportunities and problems entrepreneurs encounter.  Learning comes from the sharing of ideas and experiences among participants.  The quality of your participation in the discussion will be evaluated. Criteria for evaluating participation will be based on attendance; preparation; and quality of responses.

At least once during the semester, each student will bring in an article from the business press (newspapers, Wall Street Journal, the Economist, Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, etc.) that relates to the topic under discussion.   The student will present his/her article to the class and generate discussion about it.  It is recommended that students do this early in the semester.    Simply notify the professor at the beginning of class on the day you have brought in an article.

Also students are required to meet with the professor sometime in the first 4 weeks of class to discuss their business ideas and ideas for the feasibility project. Students may come in during office hours or make an appointment.

                  Students will also choose one of the experiential exercises from the end of each chapter – do it and present their findings to the class. Exercises that get students meeting with entrepreneurs or out in the community are preferred.

                  Students will also write a brief paper reflecting on their learning from each of the following: guest speakers, field trips, movies.  What did you learn?  How does it relate to course concepts?

Summary of Homework Assignments

                  Entrepreneurship Article Presentation

                  Experiential Exercise

                  Movie Reflection

                  Guest Speaker/Field Trip Reflection Papers

 

Personal Assessment/Reflection Paper

Each student will complete a Personal Entrepreneurial Assessment. Students will assess their strengths and weaknesses, competencies (see pg. 59), finances, ethics and values, ideas and opportunities in light of an entrepreneurial career.   The key challenge for you will be to demonstrate what you learned about yourself and venturing and synthesize it.  This is a critical skill for successful entrepreneurs. Due Sept. 26th.

Feasibility Study/Class Project

                  Students will conduct a feasibility study for a business start-up. In this you will need to answer three basic questions: 1) Is there a market for this business?, 2) Can this business make money?, and 3) Is this business consistent with your personal aspirations?   Students will submit a written feasibility assessment as well as a presentation to the class. Students may work in teams of 2 or 3. See pages 91-93 for an outline guide.

 

GRADING POLICY/EXPECTATIONS FOR COURSE COMPLETION:

Exams (4)- drop lowest score                                               300          

Feasibility Assessment/ Class Project                                   150

Personal Assessment/Reflection Paper                                   75

Class Participation & Homework                                             75

                  Total Points Possible                                          600

 

Exams cover all material including text, lectures, readings, exercises, etc. since the last exam.  Exams may include multiple choice, True/False, or short answer.  NO make-up exams will be given.  The lowest of the 4 exam scores will be dropped.

Academic honesty is expected from all parties. Any act of academic dishonesty is grounds for failing the course.

 

COURSE TOPICS

Week

Topics

1

Opportunities & Rewards

2

Entrepreneurs’ Characteristics

3

Ethics & Success

4

Ideas: Creativity, Opportunity & Feasibility

5

Steps to Entry

6

Business Plans

7

Promotion, Marketing, & Marketing Plans

8

Distribution & Location

9

Accounting  & Cash

10

Finance

11

Risk Management

12

Operations Management

13

HR Management

14

Legal Issues

15

Feasibility Study Presentations

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

School of Business & Technology

Entrepreneurial Leadership

ENTR 350

 

Professor:           TBA

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

True to Yourself: Leading a Values-Based Business by Mark Albion, 2006.

Values-Driven Business: How to Change the World, Make Money, and Have Fun by Ben Cohen & Mal Warwick, 2006.

If at First You Don’t Succeed…the eight patterns of highly effective entrepreneurs by Brent Bowers, 2006

Reference Books:  Leadership Theory & Practice, 3rd Ed. By Peter Northhouse, Sage, 2004.   Leadership: enhancing the lessons of experience, 5th ed., by Hughes, Ginnett, & Curphy, 2006,  McGraw-Hill.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course covers the theory and application of leadership principles to entrepreneurship, integrating a community-based service-learning project, guest speakers (successful local entrepreneurs), and on-site visits to new ventures and resource centers such as CAT-I and SBDC.  Prerequisites: BUS 100, or other business course.  Co-requisite: ENT 250

Course Objectives

Students will be able to:

These objectives will be assessed through exams, an entrepreneurial leadership self-assessment, a community-based service-learning project, and discussions in class. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Class Participation

Your class participation will be based on your participation in class as well as any homework assigned.  Participation and attendance are a critical part of your grade. A successful learning experience depends on the expression of ideas, experiences and insights.  You are expected to carefully prepare for class and actively participate. Readings will be used to explore opportunities and problems entrepreneurs encounter.  Learning comes from the sharing of ideas and experiences among participants.  The quality of your participation in the discussion will be evaluated. Criteria for evaluating participation will be based on attendance; preparation; and quality of responses.

At least once during the semester, each student will bring in an article from the business press (newspapers, Wall Street Journal, the Economist, Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, etc.) that relates to the topic under discussion.   The student will present his/her article to the class and generate discussion about it. 

                  Students will also write a brief paper reflecting on their learning from each of the following: guest speakers, field trips, movies.  What did you learn?  How does it relate to course concepts?

 

Personal Assessment/Reflection Paper

Each student will complete a Personal Entrepreneurial Leadership Assessment. Students will assess their strengths and weaknesses, competencies, ethics and values, in light of an entrepreneurial career.

 

Community Based Service-Learning Projects

                  Students will have an opportunity to get involved in their community through a service-learning project.  Nonprofits that work with entrepreneurs and other organizations with missions that fit the social entrepreneurship profile or value-based business may be included.  Students will work on a project for the organization or for the entrepreneurs that they work with.  Students will be evaluated on the project itself as well as their reflection of their learning from the project.

 

GRADING POLICY/EXPECTATIONS FOR COURSE COMPLETION:

Quizzes                                                                                 100          

Service-Learning Project                                                       200

Personal Leadership Assessment                                         100

Class Participation & Homework                                           100

                  Total Points Possible                                           500

 

Academic honesty is expected from all parties. Any act of academic dishonesty is grounds for failing the course.

 

COURSE TOPICS

Week

Topic

1

Leaders for a New Economy

2

The Ethics of Entrepreneurship

3

Focus on the Leader: Influence, Intelligence, Personality, Values

4

Leading a Value- Based Business

5

Focus on the Leader: Behavior, Skills, Transformational Leadership

6

Defining Values and Building a Culture         

7

Focus on the followers: Groups, Teams, & Motivation

8

Values Driven Business: Changing the World

9

Focus on the Situation

10

Social Entrepreneurship

11

Contexts and Conditions of Leadership

12

Civic Entrepreneurship

13

Women Entrepreneurial Leaders

14

Micro-enterprise development

15

 

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

School of Business & Technology

Entrepreneurial Projects

ENTR 450  (old catalog BUS 448)

 

Professor:           TBA

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Strategic Tools for Social Entrepreneurship: Enhancing the Performance of Your Enterprising Nonprofit by Dees, Emerson & Economy, 2002, John Wiley & Sons.

Enterprising Nonprofits: A Toolkit for Social Entrepreneurs by Dees, Emerson, & Economy, 2001, John Wiley & Sons.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Hands-on project work (working with owners and managers of small businesses and non-profit organizations) performed with faculty supervision in SEG Center.  The projects will specifically involve the use of the “lab” for an entrepreneurial project. All projects will employ the project management protocols developed in SEG.  Prerequisites:  ENT 250 and ENT 350

Course Objectives

The student will be able to apply fundamental principles from Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Human Resource Management, Management Information Systems, Entrepreneurship, Project management and other business areas to a field project associated with an organization.

LEARNING ASSESSMENT:

Project will be the main mechanism used to assess the achievement of the above objectives.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

The student will be expected to respect the need for confidentiality.  It is imperative that information shared about student business concepts, and sensitive information shared by guest speakers, remain in the classroom. 

 

Academic honesty is expected from all parties. Any act of academic dishonesty is grounds for failing the course.

 

COURSE TOPICS

 

Week

Topic

1

Introduction to Project Management

2

Project Management (Continued)

3

Creating Value and Assessing Performance

4

Developing a Strategic Service Vision

5

Developing an Entrepreneurial Competitive Strategy

6

Project plan creation and creation of preliminary models for the project

7

Cooperative Strategy: Building Networks, Partnerships, Alliances

8

Leading, Retaining and Rewarding People Entrepreneurially

9

Managing your Board Entrepreneurially

10

Treating Your Donors as Investors

11

 Working with Community

12

Managing Organizational Change

13

Growing with An Entrepreneurial Mind-Set

14

 

15

Completion of the project and presentation of the project

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

School of Business & Technology

Entrepreneurial Strategy

ENTR 400

 

Professor:           TBA

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Hurdle: The book on Business Planning by Tim Berry, 2004, Palo Alto Software Inc.

Cases in Entrepreneurship: The Venture Creation Process  By Eric A. Morse &
Ronald K. Mitchell, 2005, Sage.

Reference Book:

Entrepreneurship Strategy:  Changing Patterns in New Venture Creation, Growth, and Reinvention  by Lisa K. Gundry &  Jill R. Kickul, 2006, Sage.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is a “capstone course” that features creating a business plan.  The course will be functionally integrative, using case studies that incorporate the many functions involved in new ventures.  The course will also cover new venture formation.  Students will have an opportunity to work on a business plan for CAT-I technology if there is a match between interests, skills, and available opportunities. Prerequisites:  ENT 250

Course Objectives

Students will be able to:

These objectives will be assessed through exams, case studies, a written business plan, and discussions in class.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

The student will be expected to respect the need for confidentiality.  It is imperative that information shared about student business concepts, and sensitive information shared by guest speakers, remain in the classroom. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Personal Strategic Plan: 

Building upon the self-assessment you did for ENTR 250, you will create a personal strategic plan incorporating your vision, a SWOT analysis, short and long term goals, and a plan to achieve your goals. Components of this plan should be used when you create your business plan.  For example, your management section of your business plan may incorporate information about you including your strengths; also the financial goals of the business should be sufficient to satisfy your personal financial goals.

Business Plan:

The major class project will be the development of a Business Plan. Students will be required to identify an actual venture project that they wish to implement and write a business plan for it.  This venture can be: 1) an internal venture for a company the student is presently working for, 2) a planned new independent venture, and 3) an early stage company for which the student is to help develop the business plan (must have permission from both instructor and entrepreneur for this option and may require a meeting between all parties).

Not every student will have a venture in mind upon starting this class.  The exercise of writing a business plan on a real venture is much more meaningful than working on an artificially conceived project.  The project can be a business you hope to launch in the future.  Those students who do not have actual business ideas will be teamed with the students that do.

GRADING POLICY/EXPECTATIONS FOR COURSE COMPLETION:

Cases                                                                                                          100          

Business Plan       & Presentation                                                               300

Personal Strategic Plan                                                                               100

                  Total Points Possible                                                                 500

 

Academic honesty is expected from all parties. Any act of academic dishonesty is grounds for failing the course.

 

COURSE TOPICS

 

Week

 

1

Mission/Vision/Values

2

The Ethics of Entrepreneurship

3

 

4

Business Plan& Strategy

5

 

6

Entrepreneurial Law: Pre-venture Issues    

7

 

8

Financial Planning

9

  

10

Business Cycle & Understanding Growth

11

Planning for Growth

12

Building Effective Systems

13

Building an Effective Team

14

Growth & Human Resources

15

Presentations