Jack L. VanDerhei, Ph.D., CEBS
Dept of Risk, Insurance, and Healthcare Management
489 Ritter Annex, Voice: 215.204.8144, fax: 215.754.4367
last updated: 07/17/03

Partial list of pre-approved topics:

  1. PBGC - does it (and possibly defined benefit funding) need to be reformed?
  2. Cash balance plans
  3. Social Security reform
  4. The use of company stock in 401(k) plans
  5. Financial advice for defined contribution participants
  6. Pension accounting: is it serving its intended objectives or should it be changed (and, if so, how)?

This is just a partial list of pre-approved topics. I have an entire website of readings for each of these topics as well as others that will be added during the course of the semester.

Format requirements for term papers:

  1. There must be a one-page executive summary at the front of the paper
  2. The body of the paper must be limited to no more than ten pages (minimum font size = 10 point)
  3. Endnotes and references should appear at the end of the paper and will not count against your ten page limit.
  4. You are free to use an unlimited number of pages for charts, graphs, tables, appendices, etc. However, be sure to reference these materials in the body of the paper!

Contents of the term paper:

  1. If you are using one of the topics on the pre-approved list, be sure that you include the following information:
    a brief summary of the literature on this topic
    an explanation of why this topic is an important public policy issue (if you are unable to complete this section, you should probably choose a different topic)
    an explanation of the unresolved issues
    a summary of the various viewpoints on this issue
    YOUR opinion on what would be the most appropriate solution to the unresolved issues
    a cost/benefit analysis of why you believe your solution would be optimal
  2. If you choose a topic that is not on the pre-approved list, meet with me to discuss what would be appropriate for your paper.