Attendance
Attendance at every meeting is mandatory. Wednesday pitches and Friday work sessions depend on everyone being in the room.
- You're allowed three unexcused absences.
- After a fourth unexcused absence, you'll receive a warning from me.
- A fifth unexcused absence fails the course, and you won't be invited back to CES.
- Absences are excused for medical reasons, family emergencies, varsity athletics, necessary job interviews, and other genuine emergencies. When you can, let me and the CES secretary know ahead of time.
- The end-of-term pitch is mandatory for everyone: the Fall Video Pitch Competition on December 2 in fall, and the Entrepreneurship Summit in winter.
Ventures and membership
A CES venture has one to three students. Solo founders are welcome, and teams are capped at three to keep them manageable. Everyone in CES works on a venture, and if you don't have your own, you have two options:
- Join a venture. Work inside an existing CES business and learn how a student venture operates day to day.
- Join the CES team. Help with marketing, promotion, recruiting mentors, and running events. You'll report on that work each Friday, just like a venture does.
Starting something new mid-term. If you want to start a new venture, build it outside of CES time while you keep working on your current one. Once it's far enough along, you can pitch it to CES on a Wednesday to make it your main focus. Let the secretary know a week ahead.
Maker Program certification
Every CES member earns at least one certification from the Maker Program, the Connolly Center's year-round program for turning ideas into ventures. It's a requirement for passing, so please choose yours early.
Funding and resources
- You can pitch for grants to fund your venture. CES does not take equity in student ventures.
- You have access to mentors among faculty, alumni, and local business leaders. Ask me for an introduction, and come with a specific question.
- CES pays for Claude Code and other AI tools for building and automating your venture.
- You can use the workspace and equipment at the Connolly Center.
- We'll support you in pitch competitions and crowdfunding campaigns.
Professional conduct
- Be honest in every business dealing, pitch, and report.
- Treat members, speakers, mentors, and alumni with respect. Harassment and discrimination aren't tolerated.
- Use CES money and resources the way they were granted.
- Keep what your classmates share about their ventures confidential.
- Follow W&L policy and the White Book. The CES bylaws govern the organization.
AI and evidence
I expect you to build with AI tools. Your Friday report, though, is your own record of what happened, so write it yourself and make sure the evidence is real: a customer you actually talked to, a sale that actually went through, a page that actually loads. Making up a conversation, a number, or a transaction is an integrity violation and can fail the course.
Students with disabilities
I am committed to ensuring access to course content for all students. Reasonable accommodations are available for students with disabilities. Contact Lauren Kozak, Title IX Coordinator and Director of Disability Resources, to confidentially discuss your individual needs and the accommodation process. More information can be found on the Undergraduate Disability Resources webpage.
If you have already been approved for accommodations, please meet with me within the first two weeks of the term so we can develop an implementation plan together. It is important to meet as early in the term as possible; this will ensure that your accommodations are implemented early on. If you have accommodations for test-taking, please remember that arrangements must be made at least a week before the date of the test or exam.
Getting help
Email me at jmargalus@wlu.edu and you'll hear back within one working day. I hold office hours by appointment in Holekamp 109. You can also lean on the Connolly Center's space and equipment, W&L's alumni network, and your classmates. If a partner backs out, a teammate stops showing up, or a build takes over your week, please tell me the day it happens instead of waiting until your Friday report is due.