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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS*
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Course Title: Sustainable Agriculture- Online
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Course Prefix & Number: AGCR 1371
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Section Number: 340
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Semester: Fall 2020
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Semester Credit Hours: 3
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Lecture Hours: 48
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Lab Hours: 16
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Course Description (NCTC Catalog): Introduction to history, principles, and practices of sustainable agriculture as applied to local and global agriculture. A comparison and evaluation of sustainability of conventional agricultural practices will be made from the environmental, economic, and social perspectives ("planet, profit, and people"). Case studies and other tools will be used to relate principles of sustainable agriculture to basic farming practices.
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Course Pre-requisite(s): None
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Required or Recommended Course Materials: None
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Madison King
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Campus/Office Location:
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Gainesville Campus, Online office hours only
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Telephone Number:
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E-mail only
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E-mail Address:
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mmking@nctc.edu
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OFFICE HOURS- All online through WebEx and email
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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9 AM – 12 PM
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11 AM – 4 PM
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1 PM – 3 PM
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ALL OTHER TIMES BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
GRADING CRITERIA
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# of Graded Course Elements
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Graded Course Elements
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Percentage or Point Values
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3
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Exams
3 X 150 points
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450
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12
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Lecture Assignments
12 X 25 points
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300
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1
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Attendance
15 weeks X 10 points
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150
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1
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Project
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100
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1
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Final
*optional to replace lowest exam grade
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--
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FINAL COURSE GRADE
Overall course grades are determined as follows:
A= 900+ points
B= 800- 899 points
C= 700- 799 points
D= 600- 699 points
F= 0- 599 points
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
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At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
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1.
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Describe and demonstrate various techniques and management practices used to optimize agriculture from an environmental, social, and financial perspective
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2.
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Identify environmental, social and financial factors which are important in both sustainable and conventional
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3.
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Express and discuss the importance of sustainable agriculture as it compares to conventional agriculture
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4.
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Utilize computer programs and agriculture related programs associated with this course and various aspects of the agriculture related industry
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5.
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Demonstrate the implementation of planning, establishing, and maintaining agricultural operations under sustainable practices
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Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which
they have registered.
• All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent
due to sickness or emergencies which are approved by the instructor, or due to
participation in an approved college-sponsored activity (which requires written
approval from the appropriate Dean or Director).
• The instructor is responsible for judging the validity of any reasons given for
absence. Valid reasons for absence however, do not relieve the student of the
responsibility for making up required work.
• Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence
unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled
to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if
possible, for permission to postpone the exam.
• Students may be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation
of the instructor who feels the student has been unjustifiably absent or tardy a
sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course's objectives.
• Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories may be considered
sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College.
• Students may be dropped from a developmental course required for the Texas
Success Initiative (TSI) purposes for non-attendance. Official NCTC TSI rules state
that students not passing all sections of the THEA, Compass, or the TSI
Assessment test must be enrolled in at least one area of remediation each
semester they are enrolled or until all sections are passed or all remedial
requirements have been met.
• Simply logging into an online course does not constitute attendance. The U.S.
Department of Education calculates last date of attendance by the last time a
student participated in an online discussion or made contact (interacted) with a
faculty member and this standard is applied to online courses.
Instructor Policies
It is expected that you will behave in a respectful manner throughout all class activities.
Lecture Assignments
This category will cover any miscellaneous assignments including discussion boards, quizzes, and written assignments. You will have an assignment every week there is material covered. Exam weeks will not have assignments and are of their own category. Assignments are due the following Monday from when they are assigned. Each assignment is worth 25 points.
Discussions
There will be a few discussions throughout the semester and count as one of your lecture assignments. You will need to be mindful of other’s opinions. Sustainability can be a touchy subject and some have very strong opinions. I ask that you have an open mind as you write your posts and respond to others.
It is expected that you will show respect towards your peers. Any rude or mean-spirited comments will be removed and you will not receive credit for the post.
You are welcome to have differing opinions but construct your argument in a way that is not of an attack mindset.
Attendance
Attendance will be taken based on your online activity. If you turn in at least one assignment every week you will be counted as present.
Since you have a week to complete these assignments and get credit for attendance, there will be very few reasons to request an excused absence. Excused absences are at the discretion of the instructor. If for some reason you are seeking an excused absence you need to contact me and discuss your options.
Exams
Exams are given during the week listed in the syllabus schedule. You will have a week to submit the exam therefore no make ups will be offered. If you miss an exam you can take the final exam to replace the grade.
The final exam will be the week of December 7th and be online. A time will be decided later in the semester. The final is optional. If you choose to take the final it will replace your lowest exam grade.
Project
You will have 1 project towards the end of the semester. It is to include everything you have learned in a wrapping up of information. More details to follow later in the semester.
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Date
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Topic
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Week 1- 8/24
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Syllabus review, History of Sustainability
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Week 2- 8/31
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Conventional vs. Sustainable Agriculture
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Week 3- 9/7
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Genetically Modified Organisms
Official date of Record (September 8th)
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Week 4- 9/14
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Pesticides, Fertilizers
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Week 5- 9/21
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Cover Crops
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Week 6- 9/28
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Exam
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Week 7- 10/5
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Food Waste
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Week 8- 10/12
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Greenhouse Gases
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Week 9- 10/19
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Climate Change
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Week 10- 10/26
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Grass fed Beef
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Week 11- 11/2
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EXAM
Last day to withdraw for a “W” November 2nd
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Week 12- 11/9
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Farm and Ranch Economics
Project Assigned
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Week 13- 11/16
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Public Perception
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Week 14- 11/23
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Marketing, Real Operations
Project Due 11/30
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Week 15- 11/30
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EXAM
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Week 16
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FINAL December 7th – 11th
*optional to replace lowest exam grade
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Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 2, 2020.
DISABILITY SERVICES (OSD)
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209. Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209.
North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112). http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx
CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA______________________________
o Communication
o Mathematics
o Life and Physical Science
o Language, Philosophy & Culture
o Creative Arts
o American History
o Government/Political Science
o Social and Behavioral Sciences
o Component Area Option
o Critical Thinking
o Communication
o Empirical and Quantitative
o Teamwork
o Personal Responsibility
o Social Responsibility
o Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)
o Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook. http://nctc.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2016-2017/Catalog/North-Central-Texas-College-Student-Handbook
EARLY ALERT/CARES REPORTS
The NCTC Early Alert program has been established to assist students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Your instructor may refer you to this program if you are missing assignments, failing tests, excessively absent, or have personal circumstances impacting your academic performance. If submitted as an Early Alert, you will be notified via your NCTC e-mail address and then contacted by a Counseling and Testing advisor or counselor to discuss possible strategies for completing your course successfully.
The NCTC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team addresses behavior which may be disruptive, harmful or pose a threat to the health and safety of the NCTC community-such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior which could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student. Just click the NCTC CARES Team logo posted on MyNCTC, or send an e-mail to CARESTeam@nctc.edu. As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion. Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty. See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.
Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:
1) The student will receive a failing grade (“0”) on the assignment. If the assignment is within a group in which the lowest assignment is dropped, the assignment will not be able to count as a dropped score. It will count as part of the grade.
2) A “Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form” will be submitted regarding the incidence.
3) Student may be dropped from the course with a failing grade (letter grade of “F”).
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Name of Chair/Coordinator:
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Dr. Lisa Bellows
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Office Location:
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Gainesville Science Building Office 403A
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-4252
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E-mail Address:
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lbellows@nctc.edu
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* The instructor reserves the right to modify any part of this syllabus with prompt notice to the student.