BUS 401 Senior Capstone Experience

Instructor: Dr. A. Chandra Semester: Summer 2019

Office: 312 Federal Hall
Phone: 812 237 2105/ 2087
Email: aruna.chandrasekaran@indstate.edu
Office Hours: TBA

Course Description

The senior business experience is a capstone course in both the Scott College of Business and
an upper division integrative elective course in Foundational Studies. The course provides a
comprehensive overview of strategic management that integrates functional areas of business
through multiple ways of knowing.
The course emphasizes the bridging of theory and practice via application of theory to timely
and topical business events. Students will learn to understand and differentiate between the
multiple layers of the external and industry environment surrounding a particular firm to
assess and analyze issues / problems facing the focal firm through application of fundamental
principles of problem-solving and decision-making. Students will use social and behavioral
science in analyzing various forms of leadership in case studies and current events of
relevance to strategic management theories and frameworks. Business situations in various
contexts will be analyzed in class / online discussions, lectures, in-class activities and take-
home assignments with a focus on higher level critical thinking skills that call for deeper
situational application of theoretical frameworks and concepts. Businesses do not operate in a
vacuum, instead they function in situational contexts, and hence the discussion of historical
trends, global perspectives impacting a firm will be woven into the course topics where
indicated and relevant. In addition, the course will highlight ethical issues and related
questions of social responsibility impacting businesses.
Students in this UDIE course are required to critically read and analyze current events, gather
primary and secondary data for the case and culminating project scan news sources for
updates to cases and final project. The culminating experience in this course involves a final
project that calls for application of relevant theory to a case / consulting project with a local/
national / global business that students work with by collecting primary / secondary data
leading to in-depth strategic analysis. The final project provides a platform to integrate all
elements of the strategy capstone course to provide students with a theory and practice based
experience. An integrative and comprehensive experience of this nature along with case
analysis leading up to this project provide students an opportunity to move from mastery of
basic concepts to learning higher level critical thinking skills.
Prerequisites
BUS 263, 311, 321, 351, 361, 371, and a minimum of at least 78 credits, including
foundational studies courses. GE2000: Satisfies General Education Capstone Course
requirement.
Foundational Studies Program Outcomes:

This culminating capstone course aside from meeting foundational studies requirements is
designed to provide students an integrative experience that enables them to have the skills and
knowledge to be successful in their selected careers as professionals, consumers and citizens.
The course will provide competence in the following areas:

 Learn to identify key issues/problems facing a firm through critical reading and analysis
 Apply knowledge and skills in multiple ways in multiple contexts leading to conversancy
in bridging theory and practice
 Demonstrate ability and skills to understand and assess different country contexts as well
as multiple layers of the external environment that includes the political, economic,
social, cultural and technological elements.
 Understand and make decisions in an ethical manner taking into account multiple and
diverse stakeholders in a given context with competing interests.
 Demonstrate professional behavior through persuasive and engaging presentations, both
orally and in writing

Foundational Studies Learning Objectives for Upper Division Integrative Electives:

1. Use a thematic approach to a particular topic or issue that integrates multiple ways of
knowing:

 Theme: Understanding / assessing firm level strategy in a global context

 Integration of multiple ways of knowing

o Social or Behavioral Science (Assigned readings, Current Event

Analysis, Video responses, Case Analysis, Quizzes, Discussion,
Final Culminating project)
o Historical (Assigned Readings, Case analysis, Annual Report
Analysis, Discussion, Financial Statements, Final Paper)
o Global Perspectives and Cultural Diversity (Assigned readings,
case studies, News article analysis, Quizzes and Final Culminating
Project)
o Ethics and Social Responsibility (Assigned Readings, Discussion,
Quizzes, Current Event Analysis, Case Analysis, Final
Culminating Project)

2. Engage in a project or research that makes use of ‘multiple ways of knowing’ to address a
particular topic or issue:
o Current event analysis
o Case study analysis and presentation
o Final Project development and presentation
 3. Analyze and write at an advanced level
o Current Event Analysis (written and class discussion)
o Case Analysis
o Final Project

Skill and Applied Learning Requirements for Upper-Division Integrative Electives:

Every Foundational Studies course must assist students in developing and improving their
critical thinking, information literacy, and written and oral communication skills:
 Assigned Reading, current event analysis, case analysis, final project (critical
thinking skills)
 Discussion of assigned readings (critical thinking skills)
 Case Analysis and Final Culminating Project (critical thinking, information
literacy, oral and written communication skills)

Learning Objectives

1. Define the key steps in the strategic management process with reference to the
external environment, industry and firm levels.
2. Analyze macro environmental factors in terms of political, economic, social,
technological and cultural forces in order to assess how these forces impact the
firm and the industry.

3. Identify and evaluate industry trends / competitive positions that affect a firm’s
ability to gain and sustain competitive advantage. Learn to apply Porter’s five
forces model to examine and assess the industry environment.

4. Understand and analyze current trends impacting management of the firm, i.e.
sustainability, technology, globalization, ethics, corporate governance and their
implications for gaining and sustaining competitive advantage.

5. Select appropriate models / frameworks to analyze firm level strategy at the

corporate, business and functional levels.

6. Engage in experiential learning by reading and analyzing business cases, current

business events, and multimedia reports using strategy concepts and frameworks
with a view to gaining a deeper and more critical perspective on issues impacting
the strategic management of firms.

7. Apply relevant strategy concepts to personal growth and development and for
organizational assessment.
 8. Conduct a strategy analysis of a firm using relevant strategy tools to make viable
recommendations for gaining and sustaining superior performance rooted in
sustainable competitive advantage.
9. Learn to think critically, analytically and diagnostically and communicate ideas
clearly and concisely.

Required Materials:

Mastering Strategic Management v2.0 Author(s)Dave Ketchen & Jeremy Short

Version2.0 Pub DateJanuary 2018eISBN978-1-4533-8682-8Page Count332Online
Reader https://scholar.flatworldknowledge.com/books/30850/read
Click on the following link to go the web site where you may purchase the textbook:
Please be sure to scroll down to find my name, Aruna Chandra, since my colleagues are using a
different version of the same book.
https://students.flatworldknowledge.com/course/2566827?nop=&search=Indiana%20State%20Unive
rsity&searchtype=institution

Mastering Strategic Management, v. 2.0

By: Dave Ketchen and Jeremy Short

Published: January 2018

ISBN: 978-1-4533-8681-1
Professor: Aruna Chandra
Indiana State University
Business Capstone
Course #: 401
Start Date: May 2018
BUY NOW

Textbook Publisher Website: www.flatworldknowledge.com

Questions? Please don't hesitate to email the publisher at support@flatworld.com or
call 877.257.9243.
Readings from The Economist, The Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Business Week,
Fortune, etc. will be posted for discussion.
Each group will be assigned one case for analysis and a link for purchasing the case will be
provided. Cost of a case is $3.95.
Grades

Grades are non-negotiable and earned—not given. The following scale will be used to determine
grades:

A+ 97-100% C+ 77-79%
A 94-96% C 74-76%
A- 90-93% C- 70-73%
B+ 87-89% D+ 67-69%
B 84-86 % D 64-66%
B- 80-83% D- 60-63%
F 0-59%

The work you do this semester will be weighted as follows:

Class Participation 5%
Quizzes(3 x 10%) 30%
Current Event Analysis Paper 25%
Video Response Paper 15%
Final Project (Group) 25%
TOTAL 100%

Class Participation: (worth 5 % of total grade) your attendance and participation quality and
quantity will count in a campus class. In an online class, the quality and timeliness of your
discussion forum posts are counted.

Quizzes: (worth 30% of total grade) Multiple choice quizzes that include both factual recall as
well as application questions will be given twice during the course to make sure you are reading
the course materials with attention to detail, which is critical for later application in the course
assignments. The quizzes are meant to develop the following skills:
 Understanding and evaluation of information to apply knowledge and skills within and
across fundamental ways of knowing

Current Event Analysis Paper (worth 25% of your total grade)

This assignment involves finding a current event on your own or using one of the current events
provided by the instructor (no more than 3 months old with some exceptions) related to a timely
strategy event in the life of a business. You are required to present a brief 5 minute summary of
the event along with your point of view / analysis using theory from the course in class. The
written paper on the same event will be submitted on the assigned date for grading. Through his
assignment that involves oral and written communication, you will learn the following skills:
 Critical thinking in reading and analysis
  Information literacy
 Evaluate critically information from a news source through identification of key ideas as
well as hidden biases
 Demonstrate skills for effective professionals and citizenship
 Demonstrate understanding of historical, cultural, ethical an global issues
 Expressing yourself effectively, concisely and clearly in written and oral forms
Video Response Paper (worth 10% of total grade)

For this assignment, you will be watching a video posted by the instructor on a business focused
key issue of strategic relevance facing the firm, or a discussion of several strategy related issues
by recognized figures in business along with ‘food for thought’ questions to focus your attention,
while watching the video. You are required to take careful notes, while watching the video and to
view it more than once since it will be available in the Blackboard Learning Management
System for your course. This assignment is designed to develop the following skills:
 Assess information presented and grasp key points and integrate them with your own
point of view informed by theory from the course leading to critical thinking
 Integrating information from multiple layers of the environment surrounding the firm,
i.e., firm level, industry level and macro-environmental level (critical thinking, advanced
information literacy)

Final Project (worth 30% of final grade)

The Final project is the culminating group assignment that involves analysis of a given firm’s
strategy. You will develop the following skills:

 Integrating knowledge from various sources / disciplines through collection of

information from the source and from other outside sources
 Information literacy via collection of information from online print and media sources,
directly and indirectly
 Quantitative literacy that involves assessment of the financial condition of the business
and use of relevant ratios
 Problem solving / decision-making through assessment of key issues and generation of
credible and grounded strategic alternatives
 Advanced presentation and written communication skills

You can expect to receive grades (and any necessary, corresponding feedback) on each task
within two weeks of the due date. The instructor will be providing individual feedback on papers
in the feedback box of the TurnItIn assignment and global feedback on the particular assignment
in a class email sent to all students in the class after the grading is complete. For group papers,
one consolidated paper needs to be submitted by the group leader who will receive the feedback
in their feedback box and on the submitted document. It is the group leader’s responsibility to
share the feedback with group members. You may also set up your Blackboard notifications so
that you are emailed each time your instructor has updated a grade.
Topics:

A course calendar outlining weekly textbook chapter readings, current events and assignment
due dates will be posted on the Blackboard course site. Below is a list of topics that will be
covered in the course.

Mastering Strategy: Art and Science

Leading Strategically
Evaluating the External Environment
Managing Firm Resources
Selecting Business Level Strategy
Competing in International Markets
Selecting Corporate Level Strategies
Leading an Ethical Organization: Corporate Governance, Corporate Ethics and Social
Responsibility

Course Policies

1. My goal is for you to excel in this class and to develop the professional skills necessary
to succeed in your chosen career. I am here to support you in your learning journey;
however, you have the major responsibility for doing well. Achievement of course
standards requires you to know what you need to do to improve your performance and
this requires you to read posted content carefully and ask questions, in case you need
clarification. You are expected to study carefully all reading material and the feedback
returned to you, to note evaluation comments made to the entire class regarding
assignments returned, and to participate in group and class activities. You cannot meet the
objectives of this course by being a passive learner. As the semester progresses, you
should be able to implement several ideas to improve your performance. Also, you are
expected to ask questions and or/schedule individual appointments via Blackboard
Collaborate conference tool to clarify evaluations or other aspects of the course not clear
to you.

2. Class Participation. This class is designed as an extended conversation — about what

makes a firm successful, and about the strategic implications of the answer to that
question. This is an active community of learners; passively completing the course
materials is not enough to ensure success in this course. You are therefore expected to log
into Blackboard at least three times a week and check your email daily in order to
maintain contact with your classmates and instructor. Additionally, responding to
discussion boards, blogs, wikis, and other coursework on time will help maintain a
coherent conversation and avoid falling behind to ensure the best possible outcomes. This
class has two required group projects along with individual papers/ assignments. Group
work requires that you participate in a timely and substantive manner in group related
work, since failure to do so may result in you being ‘fired’ from the group for non-
performance with subsequent negative consequences. You will be required to complete a
peer evaluation of your group members at the end of the semester.
3. Time-management is crucial in online courses. As a distance class, this course is as
rigorous and demanding as a face-to-face class. Typical 3-credit-hour courses meet 2.5
hours every week, and you are expected to spend 2-3 times that on activities outside the
classroom. Therefore, in general you should spend a total of 7.5-10 hours per week for a
face-to-face class. Because you do not get the advantage of direct interaction with your
fellow students and instructor, that time typically increases in a distance course. For this
course, as per Indiana State Distance Education Guidelines, you should be willing and
able to commit 9 to 15 hours per week. If you are new to distance education, you should
expect your distance course to take more time than you would typically spend in a
traditional classroom setting. In addition, group work may require careful scheduling and
active time management.

4. Follow the required formatting for all coursework:

a. Word-process all submitted work using Microsoft Word (downloadable at
http://downloads.indstate.edu).
b. Use the standardized formatting associated with your discipline.
i. You will use APA formatting if your paper topic falls within the business,
nursing, or social sciences fields, such as psychology, linguistics, sociology,
economics, and criminology. For more information on APA formatting, please
refer to Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) or the writing resources available
within Blackboard > Start Here.
c. Save all documents as the following: LastName_ First Name_Course
No_AssignmentName_Draft#. For example, Smith_Ashley401Video Response
Paper2.

5. Policy on Late Papers/ Assignments: Papers or assignments that are turned in past the
due date / time defined in the syllabus / blackboard calendar will not be accepted. Papers
are usually due by 11:59 pm on the posted due date. You are required to drop the paper
into the drop box associated with the particular assignment. You may access the
appropriate drop box by clicking on the link at the end of the specific assignment. NO
LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Always make backup copies of your work in
the event of a computer problem, as technical issues are not a valid excuse for late work.
Note: An excuse such as, I dropped my paper in Blackboard by the deadline, but it does
not show up there is not a valid excuse. If the paper is not there by the due date, then the
grade for the paper is a zero.

6. Please use your last name followed by first name, course number and assignment name
(eg. SmithAshley401VRP.doc) as the file name for the files you send in for your
assignments. For Group assignments please use your group number and the last names,
first names of group members as the file name. Breach of this convention will indicate to
me that you have not read the syllabus carefully! Every file submitted in the incorrect
format will face a 5 point penalty.
 7. Be courteous and respectful to your classmates and your instructor. The ISU Code of
Student Conduct grants instructors authority to maintain classroom discipline, including
asking disruptive students to leave the classroom, and this includes the digital classroom.
a. Maintain a formal, respectful, civil, professional tone with all course
communications, including but not limited to blog posts, discussion boards, and
emails. Remember, your instructor is your supervisor and your classmates are your
colleagues.
b. Use Standard American English at all times. This means no text-speak.
c. Avoid derogatory language, obscenity, and hate speech.
d. Avoid the use of CAPS, as this indicates shouting.

Conferences and Individual Help

Via Blackboard Collaborate or a face-to-face meeting, we will have at least one optional,
scheduled one-on-one conference during the semester—to give us a chance to talk about your
progress in the course. However, you can also contact me via Skype (aciaran3261) or set up
individual phone or Collaborate appointments by emailing me a request. If you have problems,
communicate with me; worrying and complaining near the end of the semester are not substitutes
for getting available help.
Please email me a request for a Blackboard conference session and we will set up a time to
‘meet’ via Collaborate at a mutually convenient time during business hours.

You are also strongly encouraged to take advantage of ISU’s

Math & Writing Center. In addition to one required consultation
during the semester, you should consider utilizing this student
service throughout the course. Along with workshops and online
guides, the Math & Writing Center offers face-to-face and online
one-on-one writing assistance for all Indiana State students for all
stages of the writing process: pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and incorporating research.
The Center’s purpose is not to correct or proofread final drafts for you, but to help you learn
strategies that good writers use during the process of writing. Current hours of operation and
additional services can be found at their website: http://libguides.indstate.edu/writing. Click on
the Distance Tutoring tab to learn more about the consults available to online students. They also
offer free PowerPoints on various writing skills through their Writing Workshops tab.

Communication Policy

Understand that your professor is not on-call 24/7. You can expect responses to your inquiries
based on the following guidelines:
You should check your ISU email daily to stay
current and avoid missing any important
announcements or other correspondence. Missing
important communications may jeopardize your
success in the course. To email your instructors or
classmates, you can access the Send Email feature
through Blackboard via the Tools button.
 Before emailing your instructor a question or calling, please consult the Syllabus,
Blackboard site, textbook, FAQ discussion board, and other available resources.
You will find many answers among the sources provided. Emails or phone messages that
ask questions that can be answered by reading the available resources will result in a
response conveying as much.

If you have general questions whose answer would benefit the class as a whole, please
use the FAQ forum available within the Course Documents button on Blackboard. Only
specific, individual questions should be emailed to your instructor. If you email a general
question whose answer would benefit your classmates, you will likely be directed to post
your inquiry in the FAQ where your instructor will respond accordingly.

Emails to the instructor will be answered in 24-48 business hours; emails are not likely
to be answered during the weekend or on holidays. If you do not receive a reply during
this window, check to make sure you followed guidelines regarding emails below.
Ignoring the details listed below may be the cause of the no reply. Please do not expect
your instructor to return your email at 10 p.m.; just because you work late, does not mean
that he or she will be available then. Be patient. Be assured, your instructor will respond
to your inquiries.

Emails must be sent using your ISU email account (associated with Blackboard).
Emails that are sent using non-ISU accounts are automatically funneled by the email
program into the junk folder, which is very rarely checked.

Emails must contain at least the following information: your name, which class you
are in (BUS401-301), and the subject of your message in the subject line of the email
(e.g. Question about Homework Assignment). Emails that do not contain the above
identifying information may be deemed spam/junk and may be inadvertently deleted.

The easiest and most efficient way to get ahold of me is email; however, if you choose to
call, voicemails to my office phone will be returned within two business days. I am not
available to take phone calls after 4:30 p.m. EST. In the summer, it is best to
communicate via email, since I have irregular office hours during this time.

Technology Help

As a member of this learning community, you are expected to have basic computer skills, take
responsibility for using appropriate hardware and software, and have a general understanding of
how to use Blackboard, plug-ins, etc. Technical problems will not serve as a valid excuse for a
missed or late assignment.

Please inform your instructor as soon as you know there is an issue. He or she may be able to
assist you, otherwise, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) offers many resources to
assist with your technology needs. First, you can use a self-help tool available through the
MyISU Portal as well as on the OIT website. Here you have direct access to the OIT Knowledge
Base with up-to-date information about common errors, problems, and issues within Blackboard
and other supported technologies. Think of this as an FAQ resource. Simply log into the MyISU
Portal and click on the Help Desk Self-Service badge available in the Workspace tab to browse
the categories.

You can also submit a help desk ticket through the OIT website or via the Submit a Ticket link
within the Help Desk Self-Service in the Workspace tab in the MyISU Portal. By defining in
detail your problem with the drop-down selections available, your ticket will be routed directly
to the group or individual who can best assist you. As you are typing your ticket, Knowledge
Base articles may be presented to you that may help you resolve your issue without having to
create a ticket in the first place.

If you are wondering about the status of a ticket that you currently have open with OIT, you can
click on the My Tickets link within the Help Desk Self-Service in the Workspace tab in the
MyISU Portal to view your history. You can use this mechanism to track progress or to add
information to the ticket yourself.

If you have a specific Blackboard concern, please contact Instructional Tools:

Phone: 812-237-7000
Email: isu-blackboard-support@mail.indstate.edu

Or contact the OIT Help Desk directly for general technology help:
Phone: 812-237-2910 or 888-818-5465
Email: IT-Help@indstate.edu

Course’s Relationship to Scott College of Business Learning Goals

1. Comprehension of business concepts and practices of organizations.

1.1 Students will be knowledgeable about current business concepts.

This course focuses on the application of business concepts previously learned while
emphasizing the synthesis of the business concepts into an overall enterprise strategy.
Strategic management itself is a central business concept and practice which receives
extensive treatment in this class.

1.2 Students will understand internal and external influences on domestic and
international business practices.
A central feature of the development of business strategy is environmental scanning
which considers the influence of internal and external influences on the enterprise.
2. Apply problem solving to address information needs of organizations.

2.1 Students will solve business problems by applying appropriate technology, tools,
and decision-making techniques.
In this course, students analyze and solve real world strategic business problems through
interaction with organizations in case based studies. The tools of competitive analysis,
 market analysis, financial analysis, and organizational analysis are applied in this
process.

2.2 Students will evaluate the ethical dimensions of business decisions.

3. Demonstrate professional skills expected in the workplace.

3.1 Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively.

Students in this course present the results of their analysis and their recommendations
for action in both an extensive written report and /or oral presentations.

3.2 Students will demonstrate an understanding of appropriate workplace expectations

and behaviors.

Plagiarism, Academic Honesty, and Citing Sources

The ISU Code of Student Conduct defines plagiarism as follows:

Plagiarism is intentionally or carelessly presenting the work of another as one’s own. It

includes submitting an assignment purporting to be the student’s original work which has
wholly or in part been created by another. It also includes the presentation of the work,
ideas, representations, or words of another without customary and proper
acknowledgement of sources. Students must consult instructors for clarification in any
situation in which documentation is an issue. Students will be considered to have
plagiarized whenever their work is not properly documented. (4)

Academic Integrity is a core value of our community of learners. Every member of the academic
community (students, faculty, and staff) is expected to maintain high standards of integrity in all
facets of work and study. The Student Guide to Academic Integrity describes appropriate
academic conduct in research, writing, assessment, and ethics.

Academic dishonesty is not tolerated at Indiana State. The penalties can be severe and include:
failing the assignment, failing the course, and referral to Student Judicial Programs to face form
conduct charges. Students found in violation may be suspended or expelled and can have a
permanent notation affixed to the official transcript indicating that an academic integrity
violation occurred. Students are urged to discuss questions regarding academic integrity with
instructors, advisors, or with the academic deans.

Please note that even if you paraphrase another's work, you must also cite your source in the text,
just as you would a direct quote. Additionally, submitting a paper you have written for another
course is also a form of plagiarism known as multiple submissions.
You will be turning in papers through Turnitin, an online tool that assists in discovering
plagiarism. A great resource to help you avoid plagiarism is the Plagiarism Tutorial offered by
Indiana State's Cunningham Memorial Library.

If you intentionally or blatantly plagiarize in this class, you will fail the class, and the case will
be reported to Student Judiciary.

For this course you will be using either MLA or APA formatting, depending on the topic of your
paper. Projects focused on the fields of English, literature, languages, or culture will use MLA;
projects focused on the social sciences, business, or nursing will use APA. See Course
Documents > Research and Writing Resources for specific resources for each. Generally, the
following principles apply:

1. All quotes, summaries, paraphrases, and facts must have two types of documentation.
The first is a parenthetical or in-text citation inserted in the text where the referenced
content appears. The second is a bibliographic entry or endnote on a References/Works
Cited page at the end of the paper.
2. Anything cited word-for-word is a quote and must appear in quotation marks. Quotes
must be documented.
3. Any source cited in the paper should have a corresponding bibliographic entry/endnote at
the end of the document.
4. Only sources cited in the paper should appear in the References/Works Cited. Sources
you read but do not cite may be cited in a separate Works Consulted.
5. All quotes, paraphrases, and summaries must have page numbers as they are identified in
the original source. Many internet sites do not have page numbers listed online (it does
not count if they appear when you print out the document), although some do (such as
pdfs and online journals). Only site a page number if it is identified in the original source.

Academic Freedom
Indiana State follows the American Association of University Professors’ guidelines for
academic freedom as described on their website
(http://www.aaup.org/aaup/pubres/policydocs/content/ 1940statement):
Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they
should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no
relation to their subject.
Technology Requirements

For this online course, you will need access to a reliable computer with high-speed internet
access. To access the course, please log into http://blackboard.indstate.edu using your Sycamore
ID and password. Do not access Blackboard through the MyISU Portal; if you do, your access
may get timed out, and you will likely lose some of your work! You are expected to log in to
Blackboard at least three times a week, and you must check your Sycamore email daily at
http://webmail.indstate.edu in order to keep up with class updates.

Your computer should meet the following MINIMUM requirements:

 2.0 GHz Processor or higher
  4 GB Memory
 120 GB Hard Drive or higher
 Wireless Connectivity (802.11 b/g minimum)
 Updated Windows or Mac Operating System
o Windows
 Windows XP SP2 or higher
 Update: Start > All Programs > Windows Update
o Mac
 Update: Apple > Software Update

You must also have access to the following software and hardware:
 Antivirus Software (free download at http://downloads.indstate.edu)
 Firefox (free download at http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/) – Blackboard
generally prefers this browser.
 Internet Explorer (free download at http://windows.microsoft.com/IE) – This is a backup
browser for Blackboard. If you cannot access something in Firefox, try IE (or another
browser) before contacting your professor or Indiana State’s OIT Help Desk.
 Java (free download at http://www.java.com/getjava)
 Adobe Flash Player (free download at http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/)
 Microsoft Office (free download at http://downloads.indstate.edu)
 Video editing program (such as Windows Movie Maker or iMovie)
Noise-cancelling headphones/microphone (external, not one built into your computer)

Accessibility

Indiana State University seeks to provide effective services and accommodation for qualified
individuals with documented disabilities. The technology tools utilized within this course offer a
variety of accessibility features, such as compatibility with screen readers, text-based visual
alternatives, video scripts, and attention to Universal Design. The central platform for this
course, Blackboard, also complies with ADA requirements. If you need additional
accommodations because of a documented disability, you are required to register with Disability
Support Services at the beginning of the semester. Contact the Director of Student Support
Services at 812-237-2301. Once registered, the Director and course instructor will ensure that
you receive all the additional help that Indiana State University offers.

Emergency Services

Unfortunately a catastrophic event could occur on a local, regional, or national level that disables
communication to or from Indiana State University. Students should provide for their own safety
and the safety of their family and then contact their instructors by phone, private e-mail, or
through alternately provided numbers. Every effort on the faculty’s part will be made to
reasonably attempt to continue with the course and to meet the course objectives. If, for any
reason, there is no internet or telephone communication available for an extended period of time,
postal service will be used to continue; and in this instance students will be awarded incomplete
grades until revised completion plans can be determined. The Department of Public Safety
website can be accessed for the emergency response plan and other documents concerning
student and faculty safety.

For more information on academic and student support services that will help
you be successful at Indiana State and beyond, please refer to the Indiana State
Student and Academic Support Services link available in the Start Here button
on Blackboard.