Agricultural Cooperatives AGEC 3463 Course Syllabus
Spring 2006
Dr. Phil Kenkel
kenkel@okstate.edu
744-9818
744-9837 (Norma)
Lectures:
9:00- 10:15
TTR, Rm 202 Ag Hall
Office hours:
8:00-10:00 TTR, by appointment or anytime I’m in the office
516 Ag Hall
Secretary:
Norma Eddington, Rm 513 744-9837
Catalog Description of Course: Prerequisites: 3323 and 3423 or permission of
instructor. An evaluation of the fundamental principles, objectives, structure, finance,
and management associated with the cooperative organization. An analysis of the
cooperative business organization within the modern economy — history, legislation, and
evolution. An examination of careers related to cooperatives.
Introduction to Course:
I have the good fortune to hold a position made possible by an endowment created by the
cooperative industry. One of the goals of the endowment was to give students a better
understanding of the cooperatives and cooperative career opportunities. In AGEC 3463
we will learn about how cooperatives are structures and discuss what is different and
what is not different about managing a cooperative. We will also be discussing some of
the exciting new development in cooperative businesses including new value-added other
non-traditional cooperatives. During the course of the semester we will also have a
number of presentations by cooperative professionals who will share their personal
viewpoints on the topics we are discussing. Attendance will be recorded on the days
scheduled for guest speakers. Another highlight of the course is the “Start Your Own
Cooperative” project. During the course of the semester you will identify a real-world
need that could be addressed through a cooperative business, design an appropriate
cooperative structure, and develop an actual business plan.
Objectives:
The objective of AGEC 3463 is to help you gain a basic understanding of:
 The basic principles and unique management, marketing and finance strategies of
cooperatives
 The scope of the cooperative industry and alternative structures for cooperative firms
 The rationale for the appropriate role of cooperatives in a market economy
 How “New Generation” cooperatives differ from traditional cooperatives and how
this structure is being used to develop new value-added businesses and other efforts.
 The basic steps in establishing a new cooperative.
 The types of career opportunities available in cooperatives.
Course Conduct:
This class will be a combination of lectures, discussions, and guest lecturers. You
are encouraged to ask questions and to discuss differences of opinion with the
instructor and other students. Class assignments and schedule may be modified to
accommodate discussion and the schedule of guest lecturers
Grading
2 Exams (100 points each)
Final Exam (comprehensive)
Homework and Quizzes
Attendance (guest speaker days)
Start Your Own Cooperative Project
Total
Points
200
100
50
50
100
-----500
At least 50 points of extra credit offered during the semester will accumulate and apply
only to the final exam. The highest grade possible on the final (including extra credit) is
100%. In the event that a student does not take the final their points earned on the final
exam will be their extra credit points.
Other Important Points Impacting Your Grade:
1.
Exams may be rescheduled only if permission is requested and granted at least one
week in advance for University-sponsored activities, or for verified illness or family
emergency. Any rescheduled of the final exam must follow University policy and
must be cleared with me one week in advance.
2.
The class project will involve students working in teams (this is a class about
cooperation) to design a hypothetical new cooperative. We will be using a feasibility
template (Microsoft excel) that will help you in preparing financial projections. In
addition to the written report, team members will make a brief report to the class.
Presentations are tentatively scheduled for April 13, April 18 and April 20. If we get
behind schedule during the semester the presentations may be re-scheduled during
dead week.
3.
Start Your Own Cooperative reports must include a typed paper and an electronic
copy of both the text (in MSWord format) and the feasibility template you’re your
financial projections (Microsoft excel) emailed to the instructor.
4.
Homework assignment have a designated due date. No points will be given for an
assignment not turned in by 5:00 p.m. on the date due. Assignments may be turned in
personally or emailed.
5.
Graded quizzes, assignments and tests will be handed out only one (1) time. Students
not in class when the material is handed out must pick up the material from my office.
Students have one week from the time the quiz, assignment or test is handed out to
inform my secretary or me that they did not receive their quiz, assignment or test
back. After one week, there will be no recourse.
Suggested Exam Schedule
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final Exam
Thursday February 16, 2006
Thursday March 30, 2006
Tuesday, May 3, 10:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Suggested Grading Scale
450-500
A
400-449
B
350-400
C
300-350
D
< 300
E
I reserve the right to “curve” the grades up, but I will not adjust any grades downward.
Textbook:
I have made special arrangement for us to preview a new textbook “Agricultural
Cooperatives: An Economic and Management Perspective” David W. Cobia and Bruce
L. Anderson, editors. This new textbook is a joint effort involving most of the top
cooperative scholars in the U.S. AGEC 3463 students will have access to the text online, at no charge, for use in the class only. You may review the book on-line or print
the chapters for you own use. To access the text go to the class notes web page
http://www.agecon.okstate.edu/classnotes.asp and then click on AGEC 3463. You will
need a user name and password to access the class web page. We will announce the
password in class. If you forget the password contact Norma (my secretary)
Class Attendance:
The textbook provides a foundation for the material covered in class. Several of the
chapters are fairly theoretical. The class lectures will emphasize the most important
material and may bring in additional material not covered in the textbook. You are
responsible for all material covered in class and announcements made in class. There is a
strong correlation between class attendance and performance in this class. Attendance
will be recorded on the dates scheduled for outside speakers and your attendance and
participation on these dates will impact your grade. A study guide will be provided prior
to each exam.
Course Evaluation:
A formal course evaluation will be administered near the end of the semester, but
throughout the semester, you are invited to visit with me or email me
suggestions/comments or leave them anonymously in my mailbox in 513 Ag Hall.
Academic Misconduct/Dishonesty:
Academic misconduct or dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the quiz,
exam, homework, or paper involved. "Academic dishonesty is behavior in which a
deliberately fraudulent misrepresentation is employed in an attempt to gain undeserved
intellectual credit, either for oneself or for another." (From Allegations of Academic
Dishonesty or Misconduct, Oklahoma State University Policy & Procedures Letter,
2-0822, Academic Affairs, December 1984.) Academic dishonesty in this course is
defined as cheating and/or assisting with cheating on an exam or homework; plagiarism;
unauthorized possession of examinations; falsification of records; reading or attempting
to read another student's answer while a quiz or exam is in progress; and the use of
books, notes, or any other materials not authorized during an exam or quiz. Homework
and assignments are to be prepared by the student and represent the student's own work.
Unless otherwise clearly stated in the assignment, all assignments are to be done by the
individual student and not by a "group effort."
Academic Accommodations
If any member of this class feels that he/she has a qualified disability and needs
special accommodations, he/she should notify me and request verification of eligibility
for accommodations from the Office of Student Disability Services, 326 Student Union.
Please advise me of such disability and the desired accommodations at some point before,
during or immediately after the first scheduled class period.
University Policy on Dropping Courses
At any time prior to and including Tuesday, January 17 a student may drop a course, and
no record of the course will appear on the student's academic record. After January 17
and prior to Friday January 20, student dropping a class will receive a 50% refund and a
grade of “W”
After this time and prior to Friday April 8, a grade of "W" will be recorded on the
student's academic record.
After April 8, a student may not drop a course and will be assigned only the grade
of "A”, "B”, "C”,"D”, or "F" or (when appropriate) "I, "NP”, "P”, or "R" by the
instructor. (Exceptions to this policy may be allowed by petition due to extraordinary
circumstances. A petition requires the signatures of the student's instructor, advisor, and
dean, with the grade of "W" or "F" assigned by the instructor.