Application
To apply for a fall reading group, please fill out an online application using the link below.
Deadline for early decision: May 1, 2022. Applications after this date will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Application Process
- Interested students should fill out the online application. Students may apply for more than one reading group with the same application.
- Students may respond to essay prompts by uploading a video or audio file (recommended) or with written responses.
- Students will be notified via email if they have been selected to participate in a reading group.
Application Timeline
- The deadline to submit an online application is May 1.
- Scholars accepted into the reading group will be notified via email by May 6.
- Accepted scholars must respond to the invitation via email by May 11.
Students may apply for multiple reading groups. Please use the above link for all applications. If you are interested in more than one reading group, please indicate your interest on the application. You do not need to submit multiple applications. If you have any questions, please email ndsu.pcpe@ndsu.edu
Financial Revolutions: From Commodity Money to Cryptofinance
This fall 2022 Mancur Olson Reading Group, titled Financial Revolutions: From Commodity Money to Cryptofinance, is open to all NDSU undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. At the end of the program, each participant will receive a $500 scholarship.
Led by Dr. James Caton, scholars will explore the evolution of finance from medieval lending standards to emerging trends in cryptocurrency. Students will discuss the future of money as they examine questions related to banking, personal finance, blockchain, and Bitcoin.
Meetings: Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Richard H. Barry Hall, NDSU Downtown Campus
Reading texts from:
- Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money by Nathaniel Popper
- Selected articles and publications
Conscious Capitalism: An Oxymoron or Not?
This fall 2022 Mancur Olson Reading Group, titled Conscious Capitalism: An Oxymoron or Not?, is open to all NDSU undergraduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. At the end of the program, each participant will receive a $500 scholarship.
Led by Dr. Thomas Krumel, scholars will explore historical challenges posed by capitalism and discuss whether conscientious companies have moved capitalism closer to its highest potential, fostering a more positive environment for everyone. Students will examine how capitalism can create value for all stakeholders—including customers, employees, suppliers, investors, society, and the environment.
Meetings: Tuesdays from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Richard H. Barry Hall, NDSU Downtown Campus
Reading texts from:
- Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business by John Mackey and Rajendra Sisodia
- The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
- The Myth of the Robber Barons: A New Look at the Rise of Big Business in America by Burton W. Folsom
- Selected articles and media