It is now more obvious than ever that legislative and regulatory decisions made in Washington can have a tremendous impact on business.  Yet few business leaders understand the policy process well enough to adequately anticipate policy or regulatory changes in advance, to fully understand the various perspectives and constituencies that seek to influence policy decisions, or to ethically and effectively represent their interests in the policy making process. 

Participating in the Washington Campus program will give you the opportunity to learn directly from Washington insiders such practical knowledge as:   
      ●  How the policy making process really works
      ●  Who holds the power
      ●  What issues matter
      ●  How to effectively communicate and promote your interests
      ●  How to develop sound business strategies that take into account and influence potential policy changes

What have Ross students who attended past sessions thought of the Washington Campus program?  Their comments are available in a program evaluation summary in order to help you decide whether this program is right for you!

The Washington Campus program is offered several times throughout the year.  Each session runs for five full days, from Monday through Friday.  Your day will begin at 8:00 am and conclude by 6:30 pm, except for an early, mid-afternoon dismissal on Friday.  Due to the condensed nature of the program, very little time is built into the week for independent sight-seeing.  If you would like additional time to explore and enjoy the nation's capital, plan to extend your trip by either arriving early or staying later if possible.

We are pleased to point out a unique opportunity available to Ross students in 2012.  Cindy Schipani, Merwin H. Waterman Collegiate Professor of Business Administration, Professor of Business Law, and Chair of Law, History and Communication at Ross, will be Faculty Director for the February 27 - March 2 session. 

A complete list of upcoming session dates, eligibility information and registration deadlines is noted below.  Please note:

• Washington Campus registration is available on a first come, first served basis. Spaces may fill prior to the posted registration deadline.

• Not all students are eligible for each session. 

NOTES:
¹February 27 - March 2, 2012 session: 
         ^● Specifically targeted to Ross students. 
         ^● Occurs during the University of Michigan Winter break.
         ^● Cindy Schipani, Chair of Ross's LHC department, will be the Washington Campus resident faculty director. 
         ^● International MBA1 students who plan to earn enough credits in order to apply for an H1-b visa in 2012
            may benefit from the timing of this session.
²MBA 1 students are eligible only if these session dates do not conflict with an internship commitment.
³MBA 2 and Eve MBA students are eligible only if not enrolled in any other UM courses during these session dates.

Students are responsible for both Washington Campus and UM tuition, which are separate from and exclusive of one another.

Financial aid may be available to assist in covering program expenses if requests are made in a timely manner (critical processing deadlines affect the disbursement of aid).  Email rossfinaid@umich.edu for more information.

The course requirements include:

1. Exam (25% of grade) - Given during the week in Washington, D.C. 

2. Group Project (25% of grade) - Due approximately 2 weeks after your return 

3. Public Policy Analysis Research Paper (50% of grade) - 12-14 pages written individually; due approximately 3 weeks after your return.  Requirements to be posted on the CTools site for LHC 688

4. Classroom Attendance for all sessions during the week in D.C.

Please note that before you arrive in Washington, the Washington Campus staff will send you a syllabus describing the first two requirements.  They will also send you a list of mandatory readings to be completed before you arrive in Washington.  Your classroom in Washington will include MBA students from Ross as well as MBA students from other business schools throughout the country.  Each school requires completion of items 1, 2 and 4.  Item 3 is a requirement for credit in LHC 688 at Ross.  The other schools participating in the program will have different requirements for credit in their degree program.

Students who wish to enroll in LHC 688 must meet the following criteria:

• Active degree candidacy.  Required at the time of your chosen session; alumni are not eligible to participate in LHC 688.

• Good academic standing. 

• Prior completion of some core coursework at Ross. 

  Full-time MBA students who have successfully completed their First Year Fall core courses (approx. 15.75 credits).

  Evening MBA students who have successfully completed a minimum of 15 earned credits.

• Room in your schedule to register for a 3 credit elective (LHC 688), during the appropriate term.

  Full-time MBA students will register for LHC 688 in the Winter term.  LHC 688 is included in the 18-credit hour term limit for full-time students; we do not raise credit limits above 18.00 in order to accommodate this course.  First year students typically have 12 credits of core in Winter; if LHC 688 is elected (3 credits), students may register for no more than 3 additional credits of Winter A electives.

  Evening MBA students will register for LHC 688 in the term during which their session occurs.  This means that those attending the January or March sessions will register in the Winter term, while participants in the May or June sessions will register in the Spring term.

• No conflicts with other commitments at the time of your chosen session. 

  • Other courses in which a student is enrolled may not conflict with the dates of their chosen session.  This is due to our commitment to faculty to preserve the integrity of student class participation. 

  • Summer internship dates must not overlap with the May or June sessions.

• Please note that Weekend MBA students are not eligible to attend.

BEFORE YOU REGISTER:

• Review the critical information above.  Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with:

  • Session Information

  • Course Expenses

  • Course Requirements

  • Eligibility Criteria - Not all students are eligible for each session!

• Read more about the Washington Campus program.  Visit their website at www.washcampus.edu to decide whether or not you can commit to attending and paying the required fees. 

• Ask questions.  If you have any questions about either the program or your eligibility status, please contact Ross Academic Services at rossacadservices@umich.edu before registering. 

• Remember...

  • Washington Campus registration is available on a first come, first served basis.

  • Your seat is not guaranteed until both registration and payment are complete

HOW TO REGISTER:

Two separate registrations are required for Washington Campus.  The first is directly through The Washington Campus and reserves your space in the program.  The second is through UM's Wolverine Access and allows you to receive academic credit on your UM transcript following successful completion of the program.

1. Register for your desired session on the Washington Campus website
   Go directly to www.washcampus.edu to register and pay your Washington Campus tuition and non-refundable registration/activity fee before the corresponding deadline.  Step-by-step registration instructions are available to assist you.  Please keep in mind that space is available on a first come, first served basis until the published deadlines.  Your seat is not guaranteed until your Washington Campus registration and payment are complete, therefore do these two steps as soon as possible.

2. Notify Ross Academic Services
   Submit the following to Ross Academic Services at rossacadservices@umich.edu:

   • A forwarded copy of the registration confirmation email that you receive from the Washington Campus.

   • An email, preferably from your UMICH account, indicating the following:

     • Name
     • UMID Number
     • Uniqname
     • Academic Program (MBA1, MBA2 or Eve MBA)
     • Dates of chosen Washington Campus session
     • "I have read and agree to abide by the session information, eligibility criteria, registration information, course requirement and course expense information contained on Ross Academic Services' Washington Campus website.  I wish to be enrolled in LHC 688 in order to earn 3 academic credits for successful completion of this course.  I understand that I will be required to take an exam, and complete both a group project and an individual public policy research paper." 

3. Register for LHC 688 on Wolverine Access. 
   When approved for your session, you will receive an electronic permission to register for LHC 688.  Specific directions for your session will be provided by Academic Services at the appropriate time.  Depending on the session, different course registration processes may apply.

Be sure to check your umich email account and the Washington Campus website regularly for additional information and directions that will help you finalize plans and be prepared to attend the program.

What topics are covered? 

Every session will cover basic topics, such as: the structure and function of federal government, decision-making, advocacy and lobbying, and federal regulations.  Other areas discussed will differ in order to be topical in terms of current events, and may address current high-priority issues related to the economy and financial markets, the housing crunch, foreign policy.  In 2012, you can likely expect to hear about upcoming elections.

What is a typical session like?

No two sessions are exactly alike.  Your day will typically run from 8am--6:30pm with an hour break for lunch.  Be prepared to be an active participant throughout the day!  View an agenda from a previous session for an idea of what to expect.

Who conducts the lectures and participates in the policy discussions? 

You'll benefit from the expertise of a wide variety of Washington insiders from diverse public, private, and non-profit sectors that may include: current and former Directors, Commissioners, Deputy Assistants, Assistant Secretaries, Chiefs of Staff, a member of Congress or a Congressional staff person, consultants, executives, lawyers, lobbyists, and industry experts.

How is the course graded?

LHC 688 is graded according to the standard MBA five-level grading scale (EX, GD, PS, LP, F).  Your final grade will be based on four components: class attendance, a short exam administered while in Washington, D.C., a group project due two weeks following your return, and a public policy analysis paper to be completed after the session and graded by the Ross faculty director.

Can I miss one day of the program, or arrive late?

No.  Punctuality and attendance at all sessions is mandatory due to the condensed nature of the course. 

Does LHC 688 satisfy the Law/Ethics requirement?

No.  Please see the core curriculum for your program to see a list of classes that satisfy the Law/Ethics requirement.  LHC 688 does count for 3 credits towards elective requirements.

How can I learn more?

If you'd like to discuss how Washington Campus might satisfy your academic plans, schedule an academic counseling appointment.  If you have further questions regarding this program, please review the Washington Campus website or contact Ross Academic Services at rossacadservices@umich.edu or 734-647-4933.