INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

OFFICE HOURS

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

GRADING CRITERIA

* The lowest grade from each of the elements where there is a single asterisk by the course element will be dropped if the mandatory Assessment Quiz is submitted on time.

**While the mandatory Assessment Quiz does not carry a separate percentage weight, be aware that failure to submit the Assessment Quiz by the due date and time will result in NONE of the graded course elements being dropped.

*** Discussions topics are subject to change. Some may be cancelled, some may be graded as a completion grade, and others will be graded using the included rubric.

****General class participation will be determined by looking at weekly discussions, attendance in web conferences, submitting assignments on a weekly basis, etc. The grade may not be posted until the end of the semester so that the instructor has a complete picture of your participation for the complete semester.

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

SmartBook 2.0 : The SmartBook 2.0 (SB) assignments are directly over textbook content and will be completed in McGraw-Hill Hill Connect (MHC) via the “Assignments” Tab in our Canvas course. SmartBook uses adaptive technology to tailor the assignment and learning experience to each individual student’s needs. SmartBook starts by identifying the topics a student knows and does not know. As the student progresses, SmartBook adapts and adjusts the content and questions on the assignment based on the individual student’s strengths, weaknesses, and confidence. Each SmartBook assignment is set to take 30 – 50 minutes to complete on average. However, it may take some students more than 50 minutes to complete and some students less than 50 minutes to complete.

 **How quickly a student completes the assignment depends on (1) how many questions the student answers correctly and (2) how confident the student is that their answer is correct, prior to viewing the correct answer and their score for each question. So, if you are confident that the answer you have chosen is correct, make sure to click “I know it” when you are asked “Do you know the answer?” after having answered the question. If you are confident that your answer is correct , but instead you click on “Think so,” “Unsure,” or “No idea,” then SmartBook will keep on giving you additional questions covering those same concepts until you (1) answer all of the questions correctly and (2) are confident that you answered all of the questions correctly. Therefore, as there is no limit on the number of times that a student can attempt and work through each SmartBook assignment, if a student continues answering all of the questions that SmartBook presents him/her with in the assignment, the student will eventually achieve a perfect score and earn a “100” on the assignment

Please be aware of the opening and closing dates for the SmartBook assignments, as no assignment will be re-opened once it has closed and no late assignments will be accepted. Again, you have no limit on the number of attempts on the SmartBook questions to get the correct answer and state that you are confident the answer is correct, and there is no time limit. Think of this as practice!

McGraw-Hill Connect Quizzes: The McGraw-Hill Connect quizzes are generally over textbook content and will consist of objective (multiple choice, true false, fill-in-the-blank, matching, etc.) questions. In addition, there may be some numerical calculation problems. Quizzes are completed in Connect via the “Assignments” tab in your Canvas course or directly by going to your McGraw-Hill Connect classroom. Please be aware of the due dates for the quizzes. You may work on the quizzes past the due date, but your grade on the due date will be the recorded grade in the Canvas grade book. You usually have three attempts on the quizzes to get the correct answer. There is no time limit.

Discussions: After the first Introduce Yourself Discussion (D1), the remaining are designed to give students the opportunity to express their knowledge about topics related to the class in an open discussion setting. It is recommended that students also comment on other students’ posts. These will be submitted in Canvas, not McGraw-Hill Connect.

Group Project: There is one major group project for the semester. The instructor reserves the right to have smaller group projects throughout the semester. See Week 5 in Canvas for more information about the group project.

Written Assignments: This assignments will determine your ability to  connect the content in the class with “real world” events. It may consist of written responses to questions or other forms of assignment.

In-semester Exams: Exams 1, 2, and 3 generally contain around 40 to  50 objective (multiple choice, true false, fill-in-the-blank, matching, etc.) questions and may contain 1 or 2 essay questions. The questions will be related to the content covered up to the date of that particular exam. A study guide will be posted in Canvas prior to the due date of the exam. Exams 1-3 will be taken in McGraw-Hill Connect.

**Note: All students MUST complete the “Assessment Quiz”. It is a mandatory assignment required by the department for completion of the course. If you do not complete the “Assessment Quiz”, one of the in-semester exams will NOT be dropped.

The “Assessment Quiz” covers all of the student learning outcomes for the course and is used by the department to measure what students have learned and mastered after having completed the entire course.

Final Exam: The final exam is cumulative. That means that the questions may cover any and all topics covered during the semester. It is located in McGraw-Hill Connect. A study guide will be provided prior to the due date.

**Details on when SmartBook Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams are open and due will be given in Connect and/or on Canvas. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of what is due and when it is due. Failure to regularly sign into Canvas and Connect could be the difference between passing and failing.

The final grade is out of 100 percent according to the following scale:

90 – 100 = A,  80 - 89    = B, 70 - 79    = C, 60 – 69   = D, 59 or below = F

Note: Grades will be rounded only from the tenth’s position. That means, for example, if the final average is 79.5, then that rounds to 80 for a “B” grade. However, if the final average is 79.4999, then that does not round to 80 and  therefore the grade is a “C” for the course. Do not ask for extra credit or for the grade to be “bumped -up” at the end of the semester.

IMPORTANT DATES

Classes Begin – Tuesday, January 19

Official Date of Record – Monday, February 1

Exam 1 – Wednesday, February 10 – Sunday, February 14*

Exam 2 – Wednesday, March 10 – Sunday, March 14*

Spring Break – Monday, March 15 – Sunday, March 21

Last Day to Withdraw with "W" – Monday, April 5

Exam 3 - Wednesday, April 14 – Sunday, April  18*

Semester Group Project – Sunday, May 2

Assessment Quiz- Sunday, May 9

Final Exam – Monday, May 10 – Wednesday, May 12***

*The due date is the relevant Sunday as indicated, but there is no penalty for submitting on the following Monday or Tuesday immediately following the assignment week. After the two-day extension, there are no make-up or extension possibilities for any reason.

Do not get behind. It is hard to recover if you get behind.

***DO NOT ASK TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM EARLY OR LATE. IT MUST BE TAKEN ON ONE OF THE DESIGNATED DAYS. THERE ARE NO EXTENSIONS PAST WEDNESDAY, MAY 12 FOR SUBMITTING THE FINAL EXAM.

FINAL GRADES:

(To repeat) Once the Final Exam Deadline has passed, all grades are final. All final grades are determined by the coursework completed throughout the semester and follow the standard rounding rules, rounding to the nearest whole number (i.e., a final grade of 89.50 is an “A” and a final grade of 89.49 is a “B”, etc.) Do not ask for your grades to be “bumped up” once the final exam period has ended.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

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 illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work prior to the due date.  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 take the exam early.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.  Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy: To repeat, regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students. For online classes, students should login to both Canvas and McGraw-Hill Connect as well as check NCTC email and Canvas announcements on a daily basis. Do not wait until the last day/minute to start assignments.

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Monday, April 5.

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321.  Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)_______       

o         Communication

o         Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

o         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

            Government/Political Science

X         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

o         American History

X         Critical Thinking

X         Communication

X          Empirical and Quantitative

o           Teamwork

              Personal Responsibility

X            Social Responsibility

COURSE TYPE

o           Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

X           Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o           WECM Course

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

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)]”. 

Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course. You are not to give any person (which includes parents, spouses, friends, etc.) access to your Canvas account at any time during the semester. If you do, you are putting the integrity of the course work completed in question. Do not ask someone to email me on your behalf in Canvas. If you have an emergency and cannot contact me yourself, it is best to have an alternative person contact me using my NCTC email address: mimccoy@nctc.edu  or by calling 940.217.5966. If there is no answer be sure to leave a message giving your full name, the class and college (ECON 2301 at NCTC), and specifics about the emergency. Again, do not give anyone access to your Canvas account. Any student who cheats on any course material (exams, assignments, and post-tests) will immediately fail the course and academic dishonesty papers will be filed with the Dean and VP of Instruction.

Syllabi statement regarding potential Conversion of Onsite Classes to Online/Remote Format:

Conversion of Onsite Classes to Online/Remote Format: North Central Texas College students should be aware that in the event of a college closure due to COVID-19, onsite classes will be converted to an online/remote format. Students should plan ahead to ensure they have access to the computer equipment (either PC, MAC, or tablet), webcam, and internet connectivity to continue their classes in an online/remote format. Please read all your official North Central Texas College student emails as the transition from onsite to online/remote might require a reorganization in your personal situation. Students will be granted a 72-hour transition and grace period. Online classes will continue as scheduled without disruption. Wear a mask, stay safe, and contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change as conditions change.

Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students must wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. Students without coverings, or those who do not comply with the rules relating to face coverings, will not be able to participate in on-campus classroom activities. To request an exception to this requirement, students should contact the NCTC HR Office of Enrollment Management (ccove@nctc.edu). Failure to comply with the face coverings requirement may result in the Instructor directing the student to leave the classroom. Any student asked to leave the classroom may be referred to the student conduct officer. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

Temporary COVID-19 Attendance Policy for Face-to-Face Meetings: We are facing an unprecedented situation in which all of us must be flexible and make prudent decisions in the best interest of our families, our campus, and our community. In light of this, North Central Texas College is temporarily establishing the requirement that faculty keep records of student attendance for face-to-face course meetings as well as a documented seating chart. In addition, students who are sick or need to quarantine should not attend classes. Students will not be required to provide formal documentation from a health care provider and will not be penalized for COVID-19 related absences when proper notification to campus health officials is made in accordance with the guidelines stated below.

Faculty will:

• Notify students about important course information and delivery changes through Canvas and campus email.

Students should:

• Provide notification to campus officials (via NCTC Daily Health Check protocol through Canvas) if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine so we can confirm reported absence with instructors, monitor, and assist the campus community.
• Notify instructors in advance of the absence.
• Connect with that class through Webex if the class session is being transmitted in a hybrid fashion.
• Keep up with and/or make up missed classwork or assignments.
• Submit assignments digitally through Canvas or other means as announced by your instructor.
• Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs, and other critical academic activities described in the course syllabus.
• Check Canvas and campus email daily to receive important announcements pertaining to the course.

During the spring 2021 semester, faculty with face-to-face meetings will establish assigned seating/work stations to facilitate roll-taking, and, if necessary, contact tracing. Additionally, we ask all members of the College community to be attentive to their health, and safeguard others, by following the CDC’s guideline to “stay home when you are sick.” You should stay home if you have symptoms. More information on what to do if you are sick is available at the CDC’s website.

Additional NCTC information is available at http://www.nctc.edu/coronavirus/index.html

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Note: This schedule/calendar is tentative and subject to change. Be sure to check the announcements several times each week in Canvas for updates.

Syllabus Addendum – Spring 2021

NCTC Student Services and Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions-all you need to know as a new or continuing student
• Student Services page-all the offices and contact information you need!

• Advising FAQ's-all majors and programs!

• Meet Your Advisor/Coach
• Degree Plans and Online Registration
• Career Services and Completion Center
• Course Combination/Credit Hour Maximization Matrix
• Lion365 Year-Round Registration!
• Post-Registration Checklist
• Navigating Your First Year at NCTC

• Affinity Groupsand Student Life & Organizations 
• Awareness, Community Resources, andWellness
• CARES Team and Counseling Services

• Financial Aid and Scholarships 
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Student Success/Tutoring, TRIO, and OSD (Disability Services)
• Testing Services
• QLess and Signing into Virtual Lines  
• Keep track of NCTC campus and COVID-related updates 

Affinity Groups

Staff and faculty representing the Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s), along with academic advisors, counselors and success coaches, serve as mentors for NCTC’s student-centered ​Affinity Groups​.

An ​Affinity Group​ is a population of students who have specific needs, barriers or systems they are needing to navigate not only within college, but within life. Providing mentorship, support and resources for identified Affinity Groups such as Black/African American students, veterans and active military, single parents, students with disabilities, adult learners, Latinx, LGBTQ+ and students who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness, enables us to make more impactful, meaningful connections with students who are in dire need of equity and understanding.

Career Services Center

In need of employment? NCTC Career Coaches meet one-on-one to provide training in writing resumes, job searches, interviewing, and more. The Skills to Succeed Academy is also a free interactive, online employability training program focused on building the skills and confidence you need to find the best career.

Completion Center

The Completion Center provides a variety of services for first-time in college students. These include academic success coaching, goal setting, course planning, student resources, career development, and job placement services for all new college students. Free online Success Seminars are also available through Student Lingo and new students will also enroll in a First Year Experience (NCTC 1001) course to get started on the right track!

Counseling and Advising

Academic Advisors and Counselors help students explore majors and programs offered, how to take the best combination of classes to meet your goals, assist with questions related to university transfer, and guide students towards academic and personal success, and more. At NCTC, you are assigned to a specific advisor or success coach based on your major or career interests. You can locate our advisors and their majors, along with contact information on the Meet Your Advisor page-and even schedule an appointment with them through their online calendar!

Early Alert and CARES

The NCTC Early Alert program assists students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Faculty and staff may refer students through the Early Alert process at any point in the semester in an effort to provide appropriate intervention and access to support services. Examples of behaviors that could prompt an Early Alert referral could be missing assignments, failing tests, excessive absences, or personal circumstances impacting academic performance. A student submitted as an Early Alert will be contacted by an academic advisor or success coach through text, phone, and/or via their NCTC e-mail address to discuss any current challenges as well as helpful resources and success strategies-we want our students to finish strong and know that education is a partnership!

The NCTC CARES Team is concerned not only about our students' academic success, but also their emotional and physical well-being. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior which could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student, such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. Visit the NCTC CARES site to also locate campus and community resources, or email counseling@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.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

EDI partners with the entire campus community to create, maintain and demonstrate NCTC’s commitment to an equitable, diverse and inclusive learning environment where NCTC students succeed. NCTC defines equity as encompassing the practice of acknowledging individual differences and systemic disparities when developing new programs and resources for our campus community, which may sometimes challenge our own beliefs and assumptions, in order to ensure balanced educational opportunities toward completion. Everyone Included. Everyone Belongs. Everyone Valued. Everyone Inspired. 

Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid provides students with information and guidance with applying for eligible types of financial assistance, such as the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Students who have any types of exemptions or tuition waivers will also work with the Financial Aid Office to have these funds applied to their accounts. Additionally, the Scholarship Office provides local scholarship opportunities through an online application process, and tips on how to secure other types of scholarship awards which can help finance educational goals.

Student Success Center

The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals. The center links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free online tutoring.  Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, and a Math Lab to assist new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. First generation students can also participate in TRIO which offers specialized services.

Testing Services

The mission of NCTC Testing Services is to provide high-quality testing services that adhere to the professional standards and guidelines to meet the needs of students, faculty, and community members.