STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

AI STATEMENT

Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.

When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty.

Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  (Refer to the following link.)

https://www.nctc.edu/lions#support

TIMELYCARE

NCTC’s TIMELYCARE provides 24/7 medical and mental telehealth care at no cost.  (Refer to the following link.)

https://www.nctc.edu/timelycare

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class.  If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division.  If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.

Name of Instructional Dean:   Darrell D. Smith

Office location:                       Champions Circle

Telephone number:                (817) 464-1001

E-mail address:                          ddsmith@nctc.edu

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ONLINE CLASSES (SPRING 2025)

Internet and Computer

It is the student’s responsibility to have access to a reliable computer and internet connection in order to take this class.

**This class will require extensive use of a computer and Autocad 2025 software.  It is required to have this software installed on your personal computer.

**The student must have internet service and be able to access Canvas in order to take this class. (Every day of the week)

Contacting the Instructor

You may contact the instructor via email or by calling the number listed in this syllabus.

**The instructor will not respond to text messages.

Emails

1) Emails must be sent through Canvas or your NCTC email account.  You should not email the instructor from your personal email account.

2) All emails will be responded to within 24 hours.

3) If you need to schedule an appointment to meet, please do so by sending an email.

**Meetings can also be scheduled by using the “Cisco Webex” Tab in Canvas.

Grading turn-around time:

1)  Class assignments, discussions, tests:  2 Weeks

Additional Attendance Information – In addition to the attendance policy as specified by NCTC (on page 4 of this syllabus), the following criteria will be in place.

1. 1. Each student must make every effort to attend class. This is even true for online classes. Online classes have weekly discussion questions that must be completed on specified days. This is how, in part, your attendance is measured online. These discussion questions are assigned weekly and cannot be made up.
   2. If a student misses more than 25% of a class, the contact hours will be considered not to have been met and the student will be automatically given a failing grade and dropped from the class. In face-to-face and hybrid classes this is your physical presence, in online, as mentioned this is through discussions and other weekly activities.

TESTS

Makeup Tests:

You must give me advance notice if you will be missing a test.  You must take your makeup test within 1 week of the original test (Otherwise you will receive a 0 for the test). No make-up tests are allowed the last week of the semester.  There will not be a make-up allowed for the final test.

Test Instructions:

1. Tests will be between 10-40 questions.
2. Tests will be open for 1 week only.
3. You will have 15-120 minutes to complete each test.
4. No outside materials/internet is allowed unless specified otherwise.
5. Tests will be taken through Canvas.
6. Lockdown Browser may be required to take tests.
7. Grades will be posted on Canvas for your review.

ASSIGNMENTS

Modules:

1) All assignments must be completed in order. 

2)  It is o.k. to work ahead in each module.

3)  All assignments must be completed on time in each module.

4)  Once modules are closed, they will not be accessible.  Any assignments not done will receive a “0”.

Late Assignments:

Course work will not be accepted late.

Assignment Instructions

1. No late assignments will be accepted.  If you do not submit an assignment by the due date (posted on Canvas), you will receive a 0 for the assignment.
2. Assignments and due dates will be posted on Canvas.
3. Assignments will be submitted through Canvas unless specified otherwise.
4. If you are asked to resubmit an assignment, you must do so within one week of the request.
5. If you have life circumstances that are preventing you from completing your assignments, you must notify me by email and schedule an office visit or phone call.  
6. Extensions to assignments may be given under special circumstances. The instructor must approve the extension, and extensions will be no longer than 1 week after the initial due date. (A student will not be given more than 2 extensions unless there are extreme circumstances). You must request an extension by email and provide a valid excuse.

DISCUSSIONS

1) Discussions are a mandatory part of the course.

2)  Initial posts will be due on Wednesday, and responses will be due on Sunday of the same week.

3)  Discussions will be graded on:

      -Word Count

      -Post addresses topic

      -Post is thorough and well written (spelling and grammar)

      -Responded to at least 1 other student with required word count.

4)  Some discussion posts will have special grading criteria. This will be posted in Canvas.

5) Use of AI is not permitted on discussions unless specifically stated on the assignment.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

NCTC has a variety of resources available if you need financial help. 

1. You must apply for these resources, and you must meet all the requirements to be eligible to receive them.  (They are not guaranteed.)
2. These can be used for books, childcare, transportation, etc.
3. If you have a financial need, please email me, and I can recommend the appropriate person to contact regarding your need. 
4. I cannot guarantee that you will be eligible, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

*Changes or updates to this syllabus may be made during the semester.  These changes will be posted on Canvas.