ENGR 460 02: Engineering Economy

For more information about your lecturer, view the "Introductions" discussion board in Learning Module 0 in Learning Modules. While there, introduce yourself by replying to the discussion board.

After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:

• Estimate costs and benefits of projects, especially using the cost index model and power sizing model
• Define time value of money and use interest in equivalent calculations
• Find equivalence for single payment, uniform series, arithmetic gradient, and geometric gradient cash flows
• Perform present worth analysis, equivalent annual worth analysis, rate of return analysis, benefit-cost ratio analysis, and sensitivity and breakeven analysis
• Apply probability to risk calculations
• Apply depreciation and taxation to economic analysis
• Apply inflation effects to economic analysis
• Differentiate between public and private sector analysis methods

Engineering Economic Analysis, Newnan et al., 14th edition (ISBN 0190931914)

You will not need Dashboard for this course - just a copy of the book. Be sure to get the 14th edition as problems vary between editions.

For most assigned problems, you will write out your work by hand. I do not mandate engineering paper, but you may find it helpful to keep your work organized and are certainly welcome to use it. If you would like to practice using your writing tablet to prepare for the exams, feel free to use this to write your homework out. You will then scan in your assignments (if written on separate paper), save them as single .pdf files, and submit the .pdfs in assignment links in Blackboard.

Some assigned problems will be worked in Excel. For these problems, you will do your work in Excel, save your work as an .xlsx file, and upload this file in the same assignment link in Blackboard.

For most assignments, you will upload two files in a single assignment link: a .pdf containing your work done by hand, and a .xlsx containing your work done in Excel.

Students are expected to use their official UND email in the course. Visit the Office 365 Email webpage for information on your UND email and how to download/install a free version of Microsoft Office. For technical assistance, please contact UND Technical Support at 701.777.2222. Visit the University Information Technologies (UIT) website for their hours, help documents and other resources.

In order to succeed in this course, at a minimum, you should be able to:

• Navigate in and use basic Blackboard functions
• Download and open electronic documents
• Create, save, and upload/attach electronic documents
• Send, receive, and manage email

Access and Log in Information

This course was developed and will be facilitated utilizing Blackboard. To get started with the course, please go to: http://blackboard.UND.edu and log in with your NDUS.Identifier, Username and Password. If you do not know your NDUS Identifier or have forgotten your password, please visit Your NDUS Account page on the UIT website.

Course Overview

This course is organized into a series of Learning Modules. There are 16 modules in the course, including Learning Module 0. Each Learning Module will open on the first class day the module will be covered (as per the schedule) at 12:00 am US Central Time, and information will be made available throughout the day. These modules contain assignment links, class recordings, case studies, and discussion boards designed to enhance the learning experience and support the various topics. Your midterm exams and final exam will be in the "Exams" content area. Homework, papers, and exams will be used to assess your comprehension and application of the materials.

What Should Students Do First?

Before the first class date, you should have read the syllabus, completed the syllabus assignment, completed your Introductions discussion board posts, and completed your First Thoughts discussion board post. These activities will be available in Learning Module 0.

How Students Should Proceed for Class Activities

On the left side course menu in Blackboard there is a “Learning Modules” tab. Inside Learning Modules you will find all the required readings, videos, and assignments/activities. A schedule with all applicable dates can be found later in this syllabus.

Resources

Many services are available to UND students such as writing assistance from the UND Writing Center, free online tutoring from Brainfuse, and more. Visit the Student Resources page for more information. Students also have access to the UND Student Resource Site via Blackboard. It is recommended that you become familiar with the tools and tutorials within the site to better equip you in navigating the course.

Course Requirements/Expectations

This is not a work-at-your-own-pace course. You are expected to log in regularly to view the recorded lectures, submit assignments and papers, and take exams. You should expect to spend at least 3 hours per week in class/viewing the video content, and 6 hours per week on reading and homework. Exams will be given on a specific date and will not be available at any other time.

1. The student will review the syllabus and course schedule posted in Blackboard.
2. The student will access and follow all course instructions found in the Learning Modules area of the Blackboard course.
3. The student will attend class and/or watch all recorded classes provided in the Learning Module folders.
4. The student will complete and submit assignments, papers, and exams by the dates noted and in the manner described in Blackboard and/or on the course schedule. We will use US Central Time for due dates and times - be sure to watch for Daylight Savings Time ending in November.
5. The student will participate fully and in a timely manner to get the benefit of learning from instructor and/or peers.

Instructor Responsibilities and Feedback

• The instructor will provide feedback on homework within one week of the due date.
• The instructor will provide feedback on reflection papers within one week of the due date.
• The instructor will provide feedback on term papers within 10 days of the due date.
• The instructor will provide feedback on exams within 10 days of the exam date.
• The instructor will be available during appointed Office Hours to answer questions, provide feedback, and offer advice.

Assessments

This course is made up of a series of assignments, papers, and exams to assist you in achieving the course learning objectives.

In this course, your learning will be assessed in the following ways:

Homework

Homework assignments are given at the beginning of a chapter. All assigned problem sets will be made available through assignment links in Blackboard within the Learning Modules. It will be clear on each assignment which problems are to be worked by hand and which are to be worked using Excel. All assignments are due at 11:59 pm US Central Time on the dates indicated on the schedule. Each assignment will be worth 15 points. Typically, three problems per assignment will be graded, and each problem will be worth 5 points.

Homework submissions that appear to be nothing more than copies of someone else's work or plagiarized from an online source will not be graded. Work copied from solutions manuals, online sources, Chegg, etc. will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences. This is academic dishonesty. Multiple offenses will result in the student being referred to the Dean of the College of Engineering and Mines and the Dean of Students office. I will no longer grade your work.

Papers

There are two types of papers in this class: reflection papers and a term paper.

Reflection papers will be assigned throughout the semester at random. This will allow you to reflect on your recent learning and the lecturer to assess student learning and answer questions. These will be announced in the lectures, and the topics of the papers will be part of the recorded lecture videos. In the same videos, I will announce the due date for the reflection papers. The submission window will always include a weekend.

A term paper will be assigned later in the semester and will be due at 11:59 pm US Central Time on the date indicated on the schedule.

Exams

The exams will cover previous reading/lecture material and will be problem-based. All exams are pdf-style and will be proctored using ProctorU. Each exam is comprehensive (topics from Chapter 1 through the last chapter covered are fair game). Midterm exams will be written to be completed in 75 minutes, and the final exam will be written to be completed in 120 minutes. Exam dates may be found on the provided schedule below.

The midterm and final exams will be closed book and closed notes except for the following resources:

1. A scientific calculator. Graphing calculators are prohibited on exams. If you use a prohibited calculator, your exam may be given a score of 0 at the instructor's discretion.
2. The inside front cover and Appendix C of the textbook. This will be posted as a pdf on Blackboard that you may print if you do not have a physical copy of the book.
3. A formula sheet (8.5"x11", one side, handwritten, no worked problems, must be submitted with the exam)

All cell phones and portable electronic devices (for example, smart watches) are prohibited during exams.

Announcements

Announcements will be posted in Blackboard on a regular basis. Be sure to check the class announcements regularly as they will contain important information about class assignments and other class matters.

Email

You are encouraged to post your questions about the course in the FAQs discussion board forum in the Blackboard site or raise them in class if you are able to attend synchronously. The Blackboard discussion board is an open forum in which you and your classmates are encouraged to answer each other’s questions about course concepts or examples - not about homework. If you need to contact me directly, check the Faculty tab in Blackboard or the syllabus for my contact information. My email response hours are 7 am-7 pm US Central Time each day classes are in session. If you email me between these times, I will do my best to get back to you the same day. Outside these times, I will respond typically within 24 to 48 hours. If you email me, please include "Engr 460" in the subject line to ensure it receives the proper attention.

Discussion Forums

Discussion boards are an excellent way for you to engage with the course material and with your peers. Each week we will have at least one discussion board for you to participate in. You are expected to read all assigned discussion boards and provide thoughtful contributions. You should read the optional FAQ discussion boards and provide thoughtful contributions, but you are not required to.

Course Etiquette

When participating in class (online or in person) it is important to interact with your peers in an appropriate manner. Always use professional language (no netspeak) in your postings and emails. Please be respectful of your classmates at all times even if you disagree with their ideas.

A: 90% to 100%
B: 80% to 89.9%
C: 70% to 79.9%
D: 60% to 69.9%
F: 0% to 59.9%

The above grading scale is your guaranteed grade. Any adjustments ("curving") are considered a bonus and will be made at the discretion of your instructor, to the entire class, based on class performance and course expectations. This will not be done until final grades are due.

Assignment Policy

All assignments must be submitted through assignment links in Blackboard and will be due at the dates and times noted on the schedule and in Blackboard. Each assignment will be worth 10 points.

Any work submitted by you in this course for academic credit must be your own work. You are encouraged to study together and to discuss information and concepts covered in the videos with other students. You can give "consulting" help to or receive "consulting" help from other students. However, this permissible cooperation should never involve one student having possession of a copy of all or part of the work done by someone else, in the form of email, an email attachment file, or any other physical or electronic form.

Paper Policy

All papers must be submitted through Blackboard and will be due at the dates and times noted in the schedule and/or in Blackboard. Term papers will be submitted through SafeAssign to check for plagiarism.

Additional summary/reflection papers will be assigned at random throughout the semester. The topics for the papers and due dates will be announced in the lecture videos. The submission window will always include a weekend.

Exam Policy

If you are physically located in the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks area: I expect you to take your exams with the class unless you have made alternate arrangements with me. If you violate this policy, you will receive a grade of "0" for the exam - no exceptions.

If you are not physically located in the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks area: Exams are to be taken on the dates posted on the schedule, unless you have made prior arrangements with your instructor. On those dates, you will have a 24-hour window to access the exam: 12:01 am - 11:59 pm US Central Time. You will have a 1.75-hour window on midterm exam access and a 2.5-hour window on final exam access. That window opens when ProctorU accesses the exam and includes time for you to download the pdf and upload your completed exam. Any exam shown to have extended beyond the time limit will be given an automatic 0.

It is departmental policy that all exams be proctored using ProctorU. ProctorU is an online proctoring services. The equipment requirements for ProctorU may be found at the following link: https://und.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/2048/IT/KB/ArticleDet?ID=58880. Your equipment will need to be tested with ProctorU. If you have any additional questions, please contact Courtenay White (courtenay.white@und.edu, 701.777.4333).

During the exam, you must keep your face in full view of the camera for the entire duration. You must have your external web cam on, and have a clean and uncluttered workspace.

During exams, you must do your own work. Talking or discussion is not permitted during exams, nor may you compare papers, copy from others, or collaborate in any way. Any collaborative behavior during the exams will result in failure of the exam and may lead to failure of the course and University disciplinary action.

Late Work

All work must be submitted by the due dates posted in the schedule/on Blackboard. No late submissions will be accepted without a valid reason. Late work will be given 50% credit with instructor permission. No credit will be given on work submitted late if that work has been graded and returned to the rest of the class. The acceptance of late assignments is at the discretion of the instructor, provided that you contact the instructor before the due date and ask for an extension. If you have a conflict with the schedule, please contact your instructor as soon as possible.

It is UND's policy that students notify their instructors when ill so appropriate actions may be taken (e.g., develop alternate time schedules, assignments, and exams as needed).

In the event of extenuating circumstances, such as severe illness (doctor's note is required) or a family emergency (death, child illness, etc. - documentation must be provided), it is your responsibility to communicate with the instructor at least two days before the exam or due date.

Extra Credit

You may earn 5 points of extra credit in homework if you complete the Introductions discussion board posts at the beginning of the semester. You may also earn 5 points of extra credit in homework if you complete the SELFI evaluation at the end of the semester. You will need to upload a screenshot showing you have completed it to Blackboard. No other extra credit opportunities will be available.

Class Participation

You are required to log in regularly to the class Blackboard site. You are also encouraged to participate in all class activities.

Incompletes

It is expected that students will complete all requirements for a course during the time frame of the course. For reasons beyond a student’s control, and upon request by the student or on behalf of the student, an incomplete grade may be assigned by the instructor when there is reasonable certainty the student will successfully complete the course without retaking it. The mark “I,” Incomplete, will be assigned only to the student who has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work up to a time within four weeks of the close of the semester, including the examination period, and whose work is incomplete for reasons satisfactory to his or her instructor. More information regarding UND’s Incomplete policy can be found on The Grading System webpage.

Resolution of Problems

Should a problem occur, you should speak to your instructor first. If the problem is not resolved, meet with Dr. Joel Ness. If the problem continues to be unresolved, go to the department chair (Dr. Will Semke), and next to the college dean (Dr. Brian Tande). Should the problem persist, you have the right to go to the provost next, and then to the president.

Essential Studies Goals: Breadth of Knowledge

This is an Essential Studies Social Sciences course, and as such involves the study of the behavior and cultures of humans - individually or in groups. This course will involve empirical analysis in order to evaluate and make predictions or draw conclusions about human behavior; the interpretations you arrive at in this course will come via induction, deduction, or a combination of both.

• ES courses in the social sciences introduce students to human behavior.
• ES courses also introduce students to some of the methodologies through which conclusions in the various disciplines are reached: probabilistic explanatory models, case studies, censuses, historical document analysis, oral histories, ethnographies, surveys, participant observations, analysis of material evidence (artifacts), experiments or quasi-experiments.

Essential Studies Goals: Critical Inquiry & Analysis

This course addresses the Essential Studies learning goal of Critical Inquiry & Analysis. This means it will focus on collecting and analyzing information to reach conclusions based on the evidence.

More specifically, inquiry should be thought of as a systematic process of exploring issues, objects, or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments. Analysis is the process of breaking complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding. You should expect to focus on these intellectual skills as part of this course.

Essential Studies Goals: Written Communication

This course addresses the Essential Studies learning goal of Written Communication. This means it is about developing and expressing ideas in writing or with a mix of words, data, and images. You can expect to work in different genres and styles of writing as you develop your written communication skills in this course.

Essential Studies Goals: Information Literacy

This course addresses the Essential Studies learning goal of Information Literacy. This means it is about being able to find necessary information, understanding where that information comes from, and evaluating and using that information appropriately.

More specifically, information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning. You should expect to focus on these intellectual skills as part of this course.