… is available at http://fin4335.garven.com/spring2020/formulas_part2.pdf. I have also separately emailed this formula sheet to everyone enrolled in Finance 4335. I trust that you will find this formula sheet to be quite helpful as you take your Midterm Exam #2 tomorrow afternoon!

Last evening, the Finance 4335 Course Blog somehow managed to pretty much wipe itself out (how/why this happened, not sure but I will blame it on the COVID-19 bogeyman. Anyway, based on best risk management practices, my course-related websites are setup to create automatic back-ups on a regular basis. So the Sample Midterm 2 Exam Booklet and Solutions are back on the air. The same links appear on the http://fin4335.garven.com/sample-exams/ webpage.

Good seeing y’all yesterday; in the meantime if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to text (254-307-1317) or email. If you text, please identify yourself so I’ll know who you are.

Dear Finance 4335 students,

Notwithstanding a few hiccups here and there, I think we are off to a good start with the online version of Finance 4335. While it is challenging to pivot from face-to-face to online meetings, we are fortunate to have the tools for making this happen. We just need to learn how to use these tools more effectively.

As your professor, I need and rely upon real-time feedback to teach effectively. In a face-to-face setting, I react to non-verbal and verbal cues that you provide. Besides listening to and responding to your questions and comments, I also adapt my teaching according to non-verbal cues; e.g., puzzled looks signal that further clarification may be an appropriate response. When things go particularly well, sometimes students’ eyes light up, which is a rewarding experience (for student and professor alike)!

As we become more familiar and comfortable with video streaming versus face-to-face class meetings, I expect that the level of student engagement will likely improve. It’s inconvenient to have to audibly unmute oneself to ask questions or offer comments, but this is unfortunately a practical necessity given the limits of this technology. However, there is no compelling reason to remain visually muted during class.

When you log into class on Tuesday, March 31, please unmute your video and keep it that way throughout the scheduled class period. This will enable me to respond more effectively to your ideas, questions, and concerns, and motivate you to be more engaged and less distracted by all the other things one can do while seated in front of a laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

In the meantime, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about Finance 4335. Let’s do all we can to finish well!

Sincerely,

Dr. Garven

Today’s WSJ article by Jason Zweig on the social and cultural history of financial panics is masterful; see https://on.wsj.com/2yhDyxd! (this link provides subscribers and non-subscribers alike with ungated access to this article)…

Y’all may have already received a similar email to this from Krista Howell, who is Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Business Programs at Hankamer. The following information pertains to Spring 2020 grade modifications at Baylor generally and at Hankamer specifically:

Modifications for Business School Policies for Spring 2020

Given the unprecedented circumstances that have arisen during the Spring 2020 semester as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19, the University is giving students the opportunity to elect to convert any of their spring course grades to Pass/Fail at the end of the semester once their final grades have been submitted.

A grade of “Pass”:

Any course in which a student has earned a C- or above is eligible to be converted to “Pass” based on student election. Courses for which “Pass” or “Fail” is elected by the student will not count toward GPA calculations. Please see the changes to the University Policy: https://www.baylor.edu/provost/news.php?action=story&story=218153. Please see the list of Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.baylor.edu/registrar/index.php?id=967988.

In addition, the Hankamer School of Business is making the following modifications for the Spring 2020 semester only:

First Year Requirements:

For Pre-business students who have not yet met the First Year Requirements, a grade of “Pass” in BUS 1101, BUS 1201, BUS 1305/1350, ENG 1310, MTH 1308 or MTH 1309 will meet the minimum course grade for the First Year Requirements. In addition, those students will receive one extra semester to reach the First Year Requirements (including the 3.0 GPA) if needed. Therefore, if a student started in the BBA degree in Summer/Fall 2019, the First Year Requirements will be extended to the end of Fall 2020. If a student started in the BBA degree in Spring 2020, the First Year Requirements will be extended to the end of Spring 2021.

A 3.0 GPA and course prerequisites for the 2000-level and above business classes remain the same.

Business School Admission Requirements:

For Pre-business students who have met the First Year Requirements but have not yet met the Business School Admission requirements, a grade of “Pass” in BUS 2101, ACC 2303, ACC 2304, ECO 2306, ECO 2307 or QBA 2302 will meet the minimum course grade requirement for admission to the Business School. If at the end of the spring semester, a student goes over 60 hours but has under a 3.0 GPA, the requirement will be extended to the end of Fall 2020.

A 3.0 GPA and course prerequisites for the 2000-level and above business classes remain the same.

Course Retake Policy:

A grade of C or higher or “Pass” will not factor into the course retake policy. If a student does not convert to the Pass/Fail option, a grade of C-, D+, D, D-, F or “Fail” in BUS 1101, BUS 1201, BUS 1305, ENG 1310, MTH 1308, MTH 1309, BUS 2101, ACC 2303, ACC 2304, ECO 2306, ECO 2307 or QBA 2302 will count as a retake in the Business School Course Repetition policy.

Internal Transfer:

Non-BBA students who will reach the 45 Baylor hour limit during the Spring 2020 semester and have less than a 3.0 GPA will be granted an extension until the end of the Fall 2020 semester to reach the minimum GPA requirement to change their major to business.

Prerequisites for BUS 4385:

A grade of “Pass” in BUS 3101, FIN 3309/3310, MGT 3305, MKT 3305, or MGT 3325 will meet the minimum course grade requirement for BUS 4385.

Probation and Suspension:

Probation and suspension requirements will be looked at individually at the end of the semester.

Academic Progression:

Some course prerequisites and degree progression standards in the Hankamer School of Business require a specific grade requirement. According to the Pass/Fail policy, a grade of “Pass” will satisfy these requirements. However, even though a grade of “Pass” at the end of the Spring 2020 semester will allow a student to progress forward in the Hankamer School of Business, electing a grade of “Pass” does not mean that students should move forward in their major. Students should be encouraged to have robust conversations with the department faculty, academic advisor, and/or dean’s office regarding their preparedness to proceed to subsequent courses.

Students are advised to review the University Pass/Fail Policy and consider its impact on their academic and professional career.