NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Federal Government

Course prefix, number, and section number: GOVT2305 0344

Semester/Year of course:  Fall/2022

Semester start and end dates:  August 22, 2022 to December 8, 2022

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid):  Synchronous online

Class meeting location, days, and times:  Online

Lab meeting location, days, and times: N/A

Semester credit hours: 3

Course description: Origin and development of the U.S. Constitution, structure and powers of the national government including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, federalism, political participation, the national election process, public policy, civil liberties, and civil rights.

Course prerequisites: none

Required course materials: Registration in the course gives you access to the e-book needed for GOVT2305.  You do not need to purchase a separate textbook. 

Inclusive Access is a partnership between NCTC and McGraw-Hill Education, to provide the best learning resources on the first day of class. Students can gain access to McGraw-Hill’s adaptive online platforms with the latest version of the eBook at a discount. If students would like to purchase a physical copy of the textbook, they can order a discounted loose-leaf version through the bookstore.

Students who drop before the add/drop date will have their book fees credited back to their student account, and students who remain in the course will be charged a materials fee by the school to have continued access of the online platforms.  If you remain enrolled in the course but wish to opt-out of access to the book please email the NCTC Bookstore with your name and student number to 1263mgr@follett.com.

Name of instructor:               Kevin Davis

Office location:                      Flower Mound Campus - Room #107, Cubicle #4

Telephone number:               972-899-8410

E-mail address:                       kdavis@nctc.edu

Office hours for students:     MW – 9:30 to 11am, TR – 11am to 1pm (In Office and Online)
Friday – 11am to 2pm (Online)         

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments:   Participation Assignments, Smart Book Assignments, Pre & Post Tests, Discussions, Video Quizzes, Research Papers, Midterms and Final Exam.

Final grade scale:  650 total points possible

A = 579+ pts     B = 578 – 514 pts     C = 513 – 449 pts    D = 448 – 384 pts    F = 383 or less

Late work policy:  Most material can be turned in a few days after it is due through CANVAS, but points will be taken off for every day it is late.  Due to the 3^rd party nature of LearnSmart, there are NO late assignments accepted for that.  Only exception for a late Midterm or late Final Exam will be for a valid, doctor excused medical reason, or the death of a close family member with evidence.

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy: 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)]”. 

Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy: Students who intentionally cheat WILL be reported to the Dean and WILL be dropped from the class for Academic Dishonesty.  This will include instances of copying from the internet or another student’s paper and presenting it as your own work or using a prepared cheat sheet during an exam.

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.  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.  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:  None

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is October 31, 2022

Student Learning Outcomes: (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog).

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system.
3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
6. Analyze the election process.
7. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
8. Analyze issues and policies in U.S. Politics.

Core Objectives: Critical thinking, Communication, Personal Responsibility, Social Responsibility

COLLEGE POLICIES

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.

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

THE OFFICE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students with
disabilities. OSD counselors and advisors also provide strategies for academic success;
individual, career, and academic counseling services as well as referrals to campus and
community services and assistance with admission and registration.

It is not necessary that a student with a disability disclose his/her/their disability to college
officials if he/she/they is not requesting any accommodations.

OSD is federally funded through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Federal
Grant.

NCTC is committed to making its degree and certificate programs accessible to all qualified
persons in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA Amendments Act, and
The Rehabilitation Act (1973), Section 504.

REQUEST SERVICES

New Students

Accommodations require advance preparation. Please make your request before the semester
begins.

Documentation is required before any accommodations can be provided. Depending on your
diagnosis, this documentation should come from a medical doctor, psychologist or other licensed or properly credentialed professional.

Current Students
Contact the OSD at the beginning of each semester well in advance of registration.

Contact Us
Please reach out to us to schedule and intake or if you have questions or concerns.
Wayne Smith, OSD Manager, kwsmith@nctc.edu, (940) 498-6207
Yvonne Sandmann, OSD Advisor, ysandmann@nctc.edu, (940) 668-3300

www.nctc.edu/osd

LIBRARY

NCTC has brick-and-mortar libraries on the Gainesville, Corinth, Flower Mound, or Bowie
campuses that are staffed by credentialed librarians wanting to help you succeed in your college career. All students are welcome at any library.

On campus? Visit our website www.nctc.edu/libraries

Off-campus? Our research databases are now available in OneLogin

For Virtual Assistance from a librarian, please use https://www.nctc.edu/ ask-a-librarian or
schedule a virtual appointment in Upswing, accessed through OneLogin.

Please visit www.nctc.edu/libraries for the operating hours, phone number, and email of the
library nearest you.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS