Stetson School of Business and Economics

The Stetson School of Business and Economics (SSBE) promotes the advancement and integration of quality business education and practice. 
In support of Mercer University’s mission, the School provides undergraduate and graduate programs that are designed to enable, enhance, and expand professional careers, civic responsibility and lifelong learning.

MGT 477 EVENT MANAGEMENT (Fall 2007)

Instructor - Office Hours - Course Description - Objectives - Materials
Requirements - Grading Scale - Outline & Schedule

Course Description 
This course addresses the lifecycle of an event and the preparations needed to ensure its success.  An emphasis is placed on formal project management and professional event coordination.

Course Prerequisites 
MGT 363; MKT 361; and Senior Standing.

Instructional Design 
The pedagogical approach underlying the course design is based on:

• experiential learning:  understanding comes from the students applying the course concepts by working on assorted projects and problems
• observational learning: students learn from their interaction with professionals in the field
• collaborative learning:  students work together to leverage individuals' strengths, build shared understanding, and accomplish common goals.

This course is an elective course in the management curriculum.

Course Objectives 
Upon the successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Deliver a professional proposal for event coordination.

• Understand the various considerations for large event planning.

• Present a portfolio of work product related to event planning.

• Apply key principles of project management to event planning.

• Pursue a career in event management.

To be successful in this class, you are expected to:

• Read the assigned materials in preparation for each class.
• Participate in group exercises and class discussions.
• Allow adequate time to prepare written materials.
• Challenge yourself to go beyond the quick answer and initial solution.

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Course Materials 

Required

Silvers, J. R. (2004). Professional Event Coordination.  NY: Wiley.  ISBN 047126305.  This is available in the Mercer bookstore. 

We will be using Mercer's online environment for classes, Blackboard CE6.

You will also need three report covers, capable of holding 20-30 pages.

Course Requirements

Your final grade will be based on several indicators of performance, for a total of 100 possible points, as follows:

• Project (25)
• Midterm Exam (25)
• Final Exam (25)
• Portfolio (25)

Project
Working in a team, you will develop a  professional and coherent proposal to manage a specified event.  Your team  will be competing against other groups in the class and will present your proposal to a panel of judges.   The grade for your project will be based on your performance in the competition (five points),   the professionalism and content of your proposal (fifteen points), and  your peer evaluations (five points).

Midterm & Final Exams
There will be two exams given in class, the first at midterm, and the second during final exams. 

Portfolio
On an individual basis, you will create a portfolio of work products related to event coordination.  You may ask for ungraded feedback on each element of the portfolio AS IT IS COVERED IN CLASS.  The portfolio as a whole will be graded at the end of the term, based on the completeness, correctness, and professionalism of your work.

Attendance
Attendance is required for this course.  Please refer to the guidelines for effective class participation.   You must be present AND effectively participating in the class in order to receive credit for class participation.    You are allowed two unexcused absences.  After that, your overall course grade will be decreased one point for each absence.  Absences are excused with a note from a doctor or university official.  Note that, even if you have an excused absence (e.g., medical, athletic), you are still responsible for the work you missed. 

Grading Scale

Honor Code
It is expected that you will adhere both to the letter and the spirit of the Honor System as it relates to procedures and assignments for this course.  You may discuss the portfolio assignments with your classmates; however your work should be original. All work on the exams is to be done individually and is not to be discussed with other students.  Plagiarism is the use of ideas, facts, phrases, or additional information such as charts or maps, from any sources, without giving proper credit to the original author. Using direct quotations, paraphrases, or reproductions of any material that is not the student’s own authorship is also considered plagiarism. Failure to reference any such material used is both ethically and legally improper.  Violations  will result in referral of the matter to the Honor Council.

University Policy for Electronic Communications
Students are generally responsible for checking their Mercer electronic mail accounts for course communications and official University announcements.  As we will be using the Blackboard online system, you are expected to stay current on those communications as well. 

University Policy for Electronic Submission of Course Work
Students bear sole responsibility for ensuring that papers or assignments submitted electronically to a professor are received in a timely manner and in the electronic format(s) specified by the professor. Students are therefore obliged to have their e-mail client issue a receipt verifying that the document has been received. Students are also strongly advised to retain a copy of the dated submission on a separate disk. Faculty members are encouraged, but not required, to acknowledge receipt of the assignment. 

University Policy for Use of Cell Phones and Pagers
Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering any classroom, lab, or formal academic or performance event. 

Disability Provisions
Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting or as soon as possible.  If you are not registered with Disability Services, the instructor will refer you to the Student Support Services office for consultation regarding documentation of your disability and eligibility for accommodations under the ADA/504.  In order to receive accommodations, eligible students must provide each instructor with a “Faculty Accommodation Form” from Disability Services.  Students must return the completed and signed form to the Disability Services Coordinator on the 3^rd floor of the Connell Student Center.  Students with a documented disability who do not wish to use academic accommodations are strongly encouraged to register with Disability Services and complete a Faculty Accommodation Form each semester, also.  For further information, please contact Carole Burrowbridge, Disability Services Coordinator, at 301-2778 or visit the website at http://www.mercer.edu/stu_support/swd.htm.

Course Outline and Tentative Schedule  The calendar for the class will be maintained in our online class environment.

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©Dr. Linda L. Brennan
Last revised: 05/16/2008