After much discussion and deliberation, the American Psychological Association (APA) writing style format has been adopted, replacing MLA, throughout the Business and Management curriculum. The APA format was chosen after consideration that:

- it is the style most frequently used in business programs nationally
- it is the style used by the majority of business journals and publications
- it is used by the IWU traditional business department
- it is used by all other CAPS programs
- it is better suited to business research and scholarship

This change was made understanding that the transition will not be entirely seamless. All "class start" facilitators have already been notified and began implementing this change with new classes beginning on January 26. All Faculty and Student Guides and other course materials are to be revised by March 1st. Prior to that date the course materials you receive may not yet reflect this change. Students beginning their core program prior to August 1, 2003, received The Writer's Brief Handbook. Students beginning their core program on or after August 1, 2003, received Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage. These two handbooks include both MLA and APA styles but do contain some minor differences in formatting instructions. Please keep the need for flexibility in mind when grading student papers.

Classes that are in process will be given up to six months to begin using the new style. For most, due to the nature of the course material, teaching style, and specific program, this change will be inconsequential and nearly transparent. For a few others, whose courses involve significant writing and research, the change may be substantive. Each facilitator is encouraged to allow flexibility and understanding. Specific issues should be discussed with the director of your program. A sequential implementation beginning with new classes would have meant that this process would take up to 26 months. That alternative was considered and rejected as it would have been more disruptive overall to all programs.

The OCLS staff has offered to assist facilitators in the initial evaluation of written assignments by reviewing work for proper formatting. The OCLS website found at http://www.indwes.edu/ocls also lists a number of links that display the APA format. Attached is a summary document that explains and demonstrates the main features used in the APA style. Your support in this endeavor is, as always, greatly appreciated.