Faculty Syllabus

PREREQUISITES: None.

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The lecture portion is Hyflex. Students enrolled in this Hyflex section can attend any class in-person or online, synchronously.
• Attendance for each class is required.
• All assignments and exams will be submitted to Blackboard.
• My policy is that AI notetaker services or apps are not allowed for class lectures or presentations. You must attend class in-person or online synchronously. Recording is not allowed by the student.

TEXTS AND MATERIALS

No textbook needed. All reading assignments will be provided on Blackboard.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Introduction to agribusiness management, marketing, accounting, risk management, record keeping, budgeting, employee/employer responsibilities, communications, human relation skills, production and distribution and agricultural career opportunities.

Transferability of workforce courses varies. Students interested in transferring courses to another college should speak with their Area of Study (AoS) advisor, Department Chair, and/or Program Director.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Identify skills and competencies needed for careers in agribusiness and the food industry.
2. Explore topics in agribusiness such as; economic principles, finance, risk management, record keeping, budgeting, employee/employer responsibilities, communications, human relation skills, and agricultural career opportunities.
3. Develop a basic understanding of the principles of agribusiness and to apply them in addressing agricultural issues.
4. Be exposed to the socioeconomic aspects of public policy issues regarding the agricultural/rural sector.
5. Explore the different agribusiness fields and career opportunities.
6. Apply and interpret bookkeeping and finance principles for agricultural businesses.
7. Discuss recordkeeping and employer responsibilities for agricultural businesses.
8. Create simple marketing strategies for an agribusiness. 

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The lecture portion is Hyflex. Students enrolled in this Hyflex section can attend any class in-person or online, synchronously.
• Attendance for each class is required.
• All assignments and exams will be submitted to Blackboard.
• My policy is that AI notetaker services or apps are not allowed for class lectures or presentations. You must attend class in-person or online synchronously. Recording is not allowed by the student.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

Lorig Hawkins (they/them), Masters in Agricultural Education

Lorig.hawkins@austincc.edu

Office: Rm 1206 and Zoom. (Link in Blackboard)

My office hours are as follows:

            Monday, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.

            Wednesday, 9:00 AM – 9:50 AM.

If you are unable to attend my office hours, please email me to arrange another time we can meet.

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus throughout the semester and change/add assignments. Any/all changes to assignments/expectations will be posted on Blackboard in the announcements section.

GRADING SYSTEM: Participation is the foundation of this course and reflects engagement, presence, and collaboration. Weekly assignments are designed as low-stakes practice to support learning, while major projects assess synthesis and application of course concepts.

In-class assignments and participation (40%). – Participation is defined as:

• Attendance + presence (10%)
• In-class activities (10%)
• Reflection check-ins (10%)
• Peer collaboration (10%)

Major Projects (45%). 5 Total

• Case Study Project (9%) - Find an agricultural business that is currently in operation. Describe the agribusiness and its current operation practices.
• Budget Project (9%) - In this assignment, you will create a budget for your proposed business using the provided template.
• Accounting Project (9%) - Students are given a realistic business scenario (e.g., a small farm adding a new product line) and must determine whether the product is financially viable.
• Marketing (9%) - Describe different products of a business and how you will market them.
• Goal Setting and SWOT project (9%) – Answer a set of questions intended to think methodically about all aspects of building a new business.

Weekly Assignments (15%). 9 Total

• Short exercises based on the weekly instructional materials in the Class Preparation section of Blackboard. Graded for completion or effort.