575.710.81 - Financing Environmental Projects

Expanded Course Description

Prerequisites 

NONE. For those students with no knowledge of financial markets, it is beneficial to review a number of Prospectus products for major mutual fund or similar organizations, such as T. Rowe Price or TIAA- CREF. For those students unfamiliar with business writing, it is helpful to review formats for proposals and similar documents. The Purdue “OWL” and the Hopkins Lib. Are good sources. 

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules. The Modules can be accessed by clicking Modules on the menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. Students are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting.

Course Topics

• Core and Policy Principles
• Subsidies in Environmental Finance
• Management Principles
• Borrowing Introduced
• Fundraising Principles
• Time Value Of Money
• Sources of Funds
• Financial Principles and Risks
• Financial Statements
• Role of Artificial Intelligence
• Oral Presentations

Course Goals

The goal of the course is to give engineers, utility managers, and environmental policy makers a firm grounding in the principles and practices that obtain of finance for major environmental projects. Another major goal is to equip students with the ability to advocate for those projects and financing that they support.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Explain the basics of financial analysis as it relates to environmental projects.
• Evaluate major benefits of undertaking long-term debt including the municipal bond market and other major funding sources.
• Explain financial tools such as grants and loan/bond guaranties.
• Analyze the various means to advocate adoption of a particular project with data managers and environmental policy specialists.
• Develop effective written proposals for finance projects.
• Evaluate the role of ethical principles in financial planning and projects.
• Advocate effectively for financial strategies for environmental projects.

Textbooks

Required

The course will be making use of a number of open source online materials and thus there is no required text to purchase. You must however download and be familiar with the following:

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (August 2008) Guidebook of financial tools: Paying for environmental systems
   

 You will also be responsible for the reading materials posted within each Module.

Required Software

Microsoft Office Suite basics will be sufficient for this course -- Word, Excel.

Additionally, some required computer literacy skills include:

• Using online libraries and databases to locate and gather appropriate information
• Properly citing information sources
• Preparing a presentation of research findings

Student Coursework Requirements

Student Coursework Requirements:  

It is expected that each module will take approximately 10-12 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: listening to the audio presentation (approximately 1 hour per week); reading the assigned materials (approximately 4–6 hours per week); and writing assignments to include online discussion activities (approximately 4–6 hours per week).  

This course consists of three basic student requirements: 

1. Discussion questions in every module – 25% of final grade  

Discussions are a significant formative assessment in this course. To allow for more depth, they will have a multiple-week cadence. Week one, students will make initial posts. Week two students will engage in meaningful dialogue with peers on discussion topics. (1, 2/3, 4/5, 6/7, 8/9, 10/11,12)  

 Please note that a rubric for these discussions is available for you (posted in each discussion assignment). 

 Participation in the Canvas classroom discussions are a vital part of building and maintaining a dynamic, interactive classroom. I will actively participate in these discussions.  

2. Two written proposals – 55% of final grade weighted equally  

Modules 4-7 and Module 8-11  

You will be asked to prepare two detailed, professional quality proposals along the lines commonly accepted in the business and professional/governmental contexts. Each proposal will be approximately 8-10 pages in length exclusive of charts, graphs and budgets (these items are expected to be present on an as-needed basis). You will be asked to provide an annotated bibliography for these proposals. One proposal will focus on enhancing or modifying an existing environmental project, whereas the second will focus on a potential new program or policy.  

3. Two Oral Presentations to the class (based on each written proposal) (Modules 7 and 12) – 20% of final grade weighted equally

 Using the PowerPoint and/or other materials you create you will present a short (5-10 minute) briefing for your projects. You may create any audience and existential reality you wish for the purpose of this exercise. The grading criteria are provided in a rubric posted in the assignment item in Canvas. 

Grading Policy

Grading Policy 

• Student assignments are due according to the dates in the Calendar and Assignments items in the corresponding modules.  
• Writing skills are a key element of grading. Spelling, syntax, sentence structure and all of the conventional elements of composition and communications are all germane to an evaluation of your grade. Both content and the method of communicating this content are highly esteemed!  
• All assignments are due according to the dates in the Calendar.  
• Late submissions will be reduced by one letter grade for each week late (no exceptions without prior coordination with the instructors). 

EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week. 

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students. This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University is committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. If disability accommodations are needed for this course, students should request accommodations through Student Disability Services (SDS) as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.  For further information about this process, please refer to the SDS Website.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically.  For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity.    If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.