Live Chat with an Advisor!
Contact Us
forgrad@plymouth.edu
Tel: (800) FOR-GRAD or
(603) 535-2636
Fax: (603) 535-2572
Plymouth State University
MSC 11
17 High Street
Plymouth, NH 03264-1595
Course requirements
SBI teams self select their members based on student learning objectives and the ability to work together. Students then register for the appropriate SBI course. An SBI project is a graduate elective course(s) granting three or six credits. Students will register for the course BU5500 Small Business Problems and Strategies for a three week credit project and, in addition, BU5501 for a six credit project. Most SBI projects are six credits which offers time and flexibility needed to prepare a comprehensive report to suit client needs and team schedules. The tuition for this course is the same as for any three credit MBA course. SBI participation is a requirement in the Small Business Entrepreneurship Program
For a complete list of course descriptions as well as registration information for this program, please visit our course information page.
Team organization
Any business department faculty member may serve as coordinator of an SBI case, though the director has ultimate responsibility for successful completion of each case. Interested faculty members sometimes let us know of cases in their field, or express interest in leading a team on one of the available cases. When teams are assigned to clients, the first step is a meeting at the client's site to introduce the parties, to define the work to be performed, and to sign a confidentiality agreement. Once the client agrees to the project definition as detailed in a Statement of Work, the team considers itself under contract to Plymouth State University and to the client. The faculty advisor serves an SBI team in an advisory role, overseeing, assisting and supporting the team's efforts. Any out-of-pocket expenses for printing, authorized travel, copying and the like are reimbursed by the program. Student consulting is provided pro bono. Expenses such as posted for a mail survey or software are the responsibility of the client.
Presenting the report to the client
At the conclusion of the case, a draft report is submitted to the faculty advisor and the SBI director. They read the report, offer suggestions, and approve it for submission to the client. The faculty advisor evaluates the quality of the report and its value to the client and then provides the SBI director with the students grades for the course(s).
