MAN4910 Senior Capstone Project in Banking
(On-line or Blended) Syllabus

Hardware & Software
Requirements
Virtual Office Hours

Course Objectives
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Technical Assistance
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Student Requirements
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Students with
Disabilities
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Course Description


Dropping the Course

Assignments & Due
Dates Overview
Required Textbook

Grading Policy
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Attendance

About the Instructor

Course Objectives stated
in Performance Terms
Course Description:
This is like no other course you have taken at SPC. Throughout this course your role will be that of a Bank Executive
and you will be running a Bank. In this capacity you will plan, direct, and become the principle decision maker for your
Bank. In prior courses your role had been evaluating the decisions of others. Now the shoe is on the other foot and you
are now on the decision-maker “hot seat”. Your bank will prosper (or die) based on your decisions.
The course will give you the opportunity to experience and apply all that you have learned so far and to see the
interplay of all disciplines and actual results. You will have the chance to really do things – and be subject to realistic
macroeconomic environments and what will be intense competition. You will be responsible for charting a
course – and then achieving the planned results. 47 contact hours.
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Course Objectives:
1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of current and real world banking management issues.
2. The student will demonstrate an understanding of banking industry methods, regulatory requirements, and
informed ethical approaches for dealing with banking management issues.
3. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the different types of banking operations and banking market
environments, their interactions, their profitability and the risks associated with banking ventures.
4. The student will analyze and develop both potential and applicable solutions to banking management issues.
5. The student will develop a detailed project and/or solution within the banking environment and industry.
Upon Completion – students will be able to demonstrate the ability to:
1. Specify & execute goals and policies for operating a bank… including Regulatory Compliance.
2. Analyze and manage the financial state and performance of a bank.
3. Specify & execute strategies to manage the impact of interest rate risk on the Net Interest Income (NII) and value
of a bank.
4. Specify & execute strategies to manage the liquidity risk of a bank.
5. Specify & execute credit and pricing policies.
6. Operate a bank in a competitive, simulation situation.
7. Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of your bank; prepare a professional Annual Report, and
present to a board of banking executives.
Course Organization and Structure
This is an advanced professional business course that is intended to prepare competent practitioners. The course
emphasizes a mastery of fundamentals AND the competent application of those fundamentals to achieve practical
results in “real-world” situations. Furthermore this course emphasizes critical thinking v. a “question & answer” format.
It also emphasizes “active” v. “passive” learning & participation. Note – you are the decision maker and will be
expected to act independently.
The course is structured in a manner to help students successfully achieve these goals. This course will include:
1. Management Activities. Students are required to complete a series of assignments, including:
a. Evaluating Manager & Directors roles – using leading edge professional materials (Fed Reserve, BIS, FDIC);
b. Assessing the Liquidity Risk & IRR positions (BIS, FDIC materials)
c. Developing and clearly specifying a set of goals, objectives, policies, and strategies for their bank.
Compliance & related performance will be crucial to the bank’s performance through the simulation.
d. Assessing actual performance relative to track to these goals, objectives, policies, and strategies. Other
assignments are also made throughout the course.
2. Project. The course includes a project in which students will demonstrate the ability to plan and anticipate the
financial consequences of their decisions (via manually prepared Pro-Formas). This is a manual exercise that
provides students with a more fundamental experience with the characteristics and consequences of their
decisions. This project also prepares students for the eventual Simulation experience.
3. Workshops. The course includes “remote” Workshops. One helps prepare students for the Simulation
experience. The other helps prepare students for the Annual Report Presentation.
4. Simulation. The course includes a major simulation experience during which the student will operate a bank in a
realistic macroeconomic and competitive environment. The student will be responsible for all management
decisions and will be subject to realistic regulatory review. With each quarterly cycle students will formally assess
the prior period performance, specify objectives for the next quarter, and present the formal operating
characteristics (forms) they will follow for the upcoming quarter.
5. Annual Report & Board Presentation. Students will prepare a professional-level Annual Report, reflecting the
performance of their simulation bank. Both the Report and a professional grade PowerPoint presentation will be
developed – with the possibility of being presented to a board of banking executives serving as a Board of
Directors.
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Course Requirements:
Student Requirements:
Prerequisite(s): Student must have completed all major (core) courses in the Banking BAS or BS BA Program, including
1. FIN4324 – Commercial Bank Management, 2. FIN3461 – Financial Analysis, and 3. FIN4345 – Credit Analysis &
Loan Structuring (to be taken simultaneously in first Mod).
This course provides the opportunity for the student to demonstrate that he/she has learned the material from the
program, can evaluate and apply all of the material, and can synthesize the concepts and principles to make operating &
performance decisions in a real world environment. This course should be taken during the student’s last semester at the
college. It provides the student the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to recognize, assess, synthesize, and then act
as a decision maker. This course is the Capstone course and is usually the last course before graduation. There are 47 in
total contact hours required.
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Required Textbook(s):
There are no required textbooks for this course
However, for Reference purposes you will want to use:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Bank Management and Financial Services – 9th Ed. – by Peter S. Rose & Sylvia C. Hudgins
All of the materials used in FIN4345 - Credit Analysis & Loan Structuring
All of the materials used in FIN3461 – Financial Analysis
All of the materials used in FIN3403 – Financial Management
Optionally - Money, Banking, and Financial Markets – 2nd Edition – by Steven G. Cecchetti
All other necessary materials, including the Simulation Guide and various FDIC, Fed, and BIS materials, will be
provided by the instructor.
Capstone Simulation Guide:
Students will be provided a guide for the bank simulation. The guide includes everything needed to conduct the
Simulation.
Computational Skills:
Students are required to use Excel, Word, and Powerpoint to do class assignments, projects, case analyses, and
presentations. Basic Excel competence is expected. Please be aware that specific Excel “programming” issues will not
be addressed in the class. In particular, students will find that the use Excel will expedite bank performance analysis.
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Hardware and Software Requirements:
Students should have regular access to a computer that is connected to the Internet. It is strongly recommended that
students have a broadband (high-speed) internet connection such as DSL or a cable modem. When taking on-line
quizzes and exams (or viewing on-line video), students should have an internet connection that is stable and will not drop
their connection.
Students without a stable high-speed internet connection should consider making arrangements to take on-line
quizzes and exams at one of the St. Petersburg College libraries (or a similar facility) where a stable high-speed internet
connection is available. Internet Explorer is the preferred browser to use to access course materials.
Because of the use of teams in many classes, we require a common format for all students to share documents.
Students are required to submit assignments and share team documents in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)
formats. No other formats (such as .RTF, .WPS, etc) will be accepted.
Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet program that is the tool of choice among business & financial professionals.
Using Excel in this class (while not absolutely required) can increase your productivity and accuracy, help you get the
most out of this course, and prepare you to work on a professional level.
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About the Instructor:
Dr. Irv DeGraw
http://it.spcollege.edu:8500/course_info/inquiry.cfm?number=830
Please note: the appropriate salutation is either Professor DeGraw or Dr. DeGraw
Virtual Office Hours:
I will be available before and after any blended course. The best way to reach me is via email. I keep extensive virtual
office hours and am generally available via email seven days a week. Typically, I also check emails several times over
the weekend. Please be aware that email is the preferred means of contact.
Telephone calls are not encouraged. Not because I don’t want to chat with you - but because missed connections,
incomplete messages (the no message “please call”), and the inevitable “telephone tag” are inefficient and frustrating for
all. Over the past year several students have actually expressed disappointment because I did not return telephone calls
made to the office on weekends or on late weeknights. Be aware that, in general, we are not in the office over weekends
or around the clock.
However, I do try to keep a close watch on my email traffic – at all hours - and prior students will report that emails
were frequently returned promptly.
There may be guest lectures either by other faculty or outside experts in the area. The names and timings of
these lectures will be made available in advance as it becomes known.
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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Time Commitment:
This is a 3-credit course conducted over 16 weeks. In order to meet accreditation standards, on average, students
should expect to spend between 8-12 hours per week on course activities and assignments. Spending less time
would be insufficient for success in this course.
Class Attendance & Participation:
Class participation and attendance are expected and required. Participation is defined as reading and preparing for class,
completing and submitting assignments on time, and taking part in all course activities. The Assignments and Due Dates
Overview has assignments, and final project due dates listed.
Consistent with the policies of St. Petersburg College, attendance will be taken in every course – including both blended
and online. Failure to attend classes may jeopardize federal & state financing arrangements and scholarship awards.
St. Petersburg College requires all professors to monitor student attendance and participation in educational activities on
a weekly basis. Students are required to attend blended classes and/or participate in their on-line course each week as
verified by activity within the ANGEL Learning Management System, such as a discussion board posting, submission of
an assignment, messaging your instructor, chat, and completion of polls, quizzes or tests.
If you exceed four weeks of unexcused or otherwise undocumented absence, you will either be administratively
withdrawn by the instructor if this occurs before the 60 percent point in the term, or be given a grade of WF if it
occurs later in the term. If you are in your third attempt at completing a course, you will be given a WF grade at any
point in the term that you exceed the maximum number of weeks absent. Excused absences, of course, will not count
against you
For students enrolled in blended courses, attendance is measured by your physical presence in the class. For students
enrolled in online only courses, attendance is measured by your on-time assignment submission. Requests for an
excused absence MUST be made at least 7 hrs BEFORE the class. Requests made after the class (ex post) will not be
honored.
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Academic Honesty:
Academic honesty and plagiarism falls under the Academic Honesty Policy of the college.
Within the College of Business there is a zero tolerance for any violation of the St. Petersburg College
Academic Honesty Policy. Any student violating this Academic Honesty Policy should expect to receive an
immediate grade of “F” for the course. Students further need to recognize the zero tolerance nature of this
policy – there will be no warnings or second chances.
Academic integrity is submitting one’s own work and properly acknowledging the contributions of others. Any violation of
this principle constitutes academic dishonesty and is liable to result in a failing grade and disciplinary action. Forms of
academic dishonesty include:
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

Plagiarism – submitting all or part of another’s work as one’s own.
Cheating – using, or attempting to use, unauthorized materials on an examination or assignment.
Facilitating – helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty.
(source: Franklin University)
Academic dishonesty is inexcusable and students should not embarrass themselves, or jeopardize their careers, by
misrepresenting the work of others as their own.
Please note that in a profession such as banking, where professionals are entrusted with other people’s money,
the highest standards of personal integrity are absolutely required.
Students exhibiting lax academic integrity should expect to be precluded from profession’s in this industry.
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Dropping the Course:
Students may drop a course through the registration process and may receive a refund during the first week of classes.
After the first week students need to notify the instructor and then withdraw from the course. Students should refer to the
academic calendar for the exact dates and should also review the Withdrawal Policy
Please note that it is solely the student’s responsibility to drop classes in a timely manner in order to qualify for any
tuition refund. It is also solely the student’s responsibility to complete a withdrawal within the published deadlines.
Notifying the course instructor of an intent to drop or withdraw is insufficient. Only the student, not the instructors, may
perform a drop or withdrawal.
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CLASSPOLICIES
1. Grading Policy
Reflecting the Policies of the College of Business - Students MUST submit all of the assignments for each week – by
the deadline – or they will not receive credit for the week. There will be absolutely no exceptions to the deadlines
and under no circumstances will partial credit be applied for late submissions.
In this course, my absolute “drop-dead” deadline is 9:00am on Monday mornings (see specific dates and
assignments in the Assignments and Due Dates Section. After that time, I will not accept submissions and those
assignments receive an automatic grade of zero.
In the business world, if you are late with your bid, you will not get the contract; if you are late with an assignment, you
may not receive any further pay. The very same principle applies here – just like the business world, it is all or
nothing!
Now, in the event of a D2L problem, there is no crisis. Just submit your assignments directly to my college email
account. That works for me – and I’d understand.
Since there are absolutely no exceptions to this rule, be sure to view the assignments and expectations in the
Course’s Contents Section, and ensure you will be able to meet them.
2. Classes are conducted using a "team" format. Student teams (2 - 3 members) are ASSIGNED in the first class.
Teams collaborate and make joint submissions of homework assignments and receive common team grades for
these activities.
Certain other assignments, in this course, are conducted on an individual basis only.
Team work is not always easy and conflicts often result from differing skill levels and work ethics. When teams work
and communicate well, however, the benefits more than compensate for the difficulties. One way to improve the
chances that a team will work well is to agree beforehand on what everyone on the team expects from everyone else.
If a team member refuses to cooperate on an assignment, his/her name should not be included on the
completed work.
Previous students have found that team collaboration is beneficial to enriched performance and to workload
management. However, there are certain rules.
a. Student teams are permanent and may not have more than 2 - 3 members (without explicit instructor approval).
b. Team rosters are due following the first class.
c. Individuals may not "float" among teams. Any change in membership requires the instructor's explicit permission.
d. All team members are required to actively participate and contribute to the team’s work products.
e. If a team member fails to contribute to any assignment, the team should not include that member’s name
on the assignment. In that case, the member would receive no credit for the assignment. However, should the
team choose to include the member’s name anyway, the individual would receive full credit. It is the team’s call.
NOTE: it is also not uncommon for teams to complain (typically at the end of a term) that one team member did
not contribute – but they named them on each assignment. If you carry someone, you are responsible. If they
are not contributing – do you really want to carry them?
f. There is no room for "free-riders" (permanently non-contributing team members) and such non-contributing
members may also be "fired" from their team (with instructor notification). Fired team members will be
responsible for completing all remaining assignments individually.
Course Assignments and Activities
Assignments and Due Dates Overview
Angel.
For details see Content and Weeks 1-16 in
PLEASE NOTE CAREFULLY – all assignments are due by no later than 9:00am on the due date specified (usually
a Monday morning). Assignments received after that time will be not be accepted… WITHOUT EXCEPTION!
MAN4910 – Banking Capstone
Week
Class
Date
Class Topics
Assignments
1
1/12
Course Process &
Responsibilities
Read:
Bank Director’s Primer (Fed Atlanta)
Pocket Guide to “Red Flags”
Management & Directors
Roles & Responsibilities
Written:
Assignment #1
Planning & Operating a Bank
Yr1 Plan & Pro-forma
Yr-1 Pro-forma, evaluation
2
1/19
Planning & Operating a Bank
Yr1 – Yr2
Plan & Pro-forma
Read:
BIS Liquidity Risk Management
FDIC Liquidity Risk Management
FDIC IRR Position
Due
Date
1/18
1/25
Written:
Assignment #2
Yr-2 Pro-forma, Evaluation
3
4
1/26
Planning & Operating a Bank
Yr2 – Yr3
Plan & Pro-forma
2/02
Simulation Introduction
Review & interpret
- Base bank position
- Forms
- Processes
Read:
Simulation Guide
2/01
Written:
Yr-3 Pro-forma, Evaluation
Read:
Simulation Guide; Base Bank
position
Written:
Base Case Analysis
2/08
First round trial simulation data
submitted
5
2/09
Simulation Trial Round #1
Simulation Workshop
Read:
Analyze & evaluate First Trial results
2/15
Written:
First round trial simulation evaluation
Second round trial simulation data
submitted
6
2/16
Simulation Trial Round #2
Read:
Analyze & Evaluate Second Trial
results
2/22
Written:
Bank Policy & Strategy Statement
Second round simulation evaluation
Submit Q1 Simulation data
7
2/23
Simulation Q1
Bank Objectives & Mission
Seminar (tentative)
(Class only if Seminar is
conducted)
8
3/02
Written:
Evaluate Q1 performance
Submit Q2 data
Simulation Q2
3/01
3/15
Written:
Evaluate Q2 performance
Submit Q3 data
9
3/16
Simulation Q3
Written:
Evaluate Q3 performance
3/22
Submit Q4 data
10
3/23
Simulation Q4
Written:
Evaluate Q4 performance
Submit Q5 data
3/29
11
3/30
Simulation Q5
Written:
Evaluate Q5 performance
Submit Q6 data
4/05
12
4/06
Simulation Q6
Written:
Evaluate Q6 performance
Submit Q7 data
4/12
13
4/13
Simulation Q7
Written:
Evaluate Q7 performance
Submit Q8 data
4/19
14
4/20
Simulation Q8
4/26
Written:
Evaluate Q8 performance
15
4/27
Annual Report
Workshop / Audition
Written:
Evaluate total performance
assessment relative to Goals &
Policies;
Formal Annual Report
5/03
Formal PowerPoint presentation
16
5/04
Presentations
TBA
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Grading Policy:
The total grade for all students in Capstone course will be calculated based on the weighted percentages for the
three key areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Class Assignments
Pro-Forma Project
Bank Simulation
Analysis & Evaluation
Annual Report & Presentation
10 %
10 %
50 %
15 %
15 %
Assessment Grading Guidelines
Grade
A
B
Meaning
Superior
Academic
Work
Guidelines
Significant evidence of:
Good
Academic
Work
Solid evidence of:








Superior innovation and synthesis of thought
Superior application of concepts & theories
Insightful, logical reasoning
Mastery of the conventions of standard written &
spoken English, including citation conventions
Innovation and synthesis of thought
Application of concepts & theories
Sound, logical reasoning
Mastery of the conventions of standard written &
spoken English, including citation conventions
C
Adequate
Academic Work
Minimal evidence of:




D
Marginal
Academic Work
Some limited evidence of:




F
Unacceptable
Academic Work
Synthesis of thought
Application of concepts & theories
Sound, logical reasoning
Application of the conventions of standard written &
spoken English, including citation conventions
Synthesis of thought
A limited application of concepts & theories
Limited or flawed reasoning
Limited application of the conventions of standard
written & spoken English, including citation
conventions
Learning outcomes were not met
(Source: Franklin University)
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Technical Assistance:
Help Desk Hours - Effective 1/18/2000
Monday through Thursday 7 A.M. to 11 P.M.
Friday 7 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Saturday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Sunday 12 P.M. to 5 P.M.
Email: helpdesk@spjc.edu
Phone: (727) 791-2795
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From Student and Educational Services-Students with Disabilities
If you wish to receive special accommodations as a student with a documented disability, please make an appointment
with the Learning Specialist on the Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, or St. Petersburg sites. If you have a documented hearing
loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf at 791-2628 (V/TDD).
Clearwater
Linda Giar
AD 122
791-2710
St. Petersburg/ Gibbs
Gene Oskamp
AD 120
341-4316
Tarpon Springs
Barbara Thompson
Counseling
712-5789
Seminole
About the Instructor:
Instructor:
Dr. Irv DeGraw
Office:
EpiCenter 2-416
Office Phone:
(727) 341-3062
Email:
Degraw.irv@spcollege.edu