Herbaceous Plants: HALT 1303-0100

Spring 2021 Class Syllabus

A study of herbaceous plant material. Topics include practices and procedures used in the identification, growth, propagation, maintenance, and utilization of herbaceous plants in the horticulture industry.

Student Learning           Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

Outcomes                                Identify herbaceous plants at various growth stages; explain methods to propagate herbaceous plants; and describe the cultural requirements for care and use of herbaceous plants.

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630 Total Pts

Grading Scale:

567-630 points - A

504-566 points - B

441-503 points - C

378-440 points - D

Fewer than 378 points – F

Withdrawal Date:

April 5, 2021

Course Evaluation Descriptions

Lecture Exams

The lecture tests will include all notes, discussions from lecture, reading assignments, lab notes, videos, and fieldtrips. Lecture tests are not cumulative. Exam questions will be multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and/or essay.

Plant ID Quizzes

An important component of this class is identification of plants, learning plant names (both common and scientific), and learning their growing requirements.  Students will be given 10 quizzes, each worth 20-points. The lowest score will be dropped for a total of 180 points.  Quizzes will cover any material covered during the “Plants of the Week” class segment.  The information covered in these quizzes is cumulative.

Class Participation

Class Participation:  Participation is a very important component of your learning experience.  This is a class in which students learn from each other. Each student will research 5 Articles during the semester and submit your findings in the Canvas Discussion Board. The topic is open to anything that pertains to the course or horticulture industry. Students are expected to take an active part in the discussions by responding through the Discussion Board. Students can gain extra points through their participation. The instructor will set the schedule of dates for the student’s topic.

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Planting Schemes

After completing this class, students should not only be able to identify landscape plants, but they should also know how to select appropriate plants for particular landscapes.  Students will receive 2 Planting Scheme assignments this semester, worth a total of 50 points each.  Of the 50 points, 40 points is for the submittal of the assignment and 10 points for participating in the discussion. Blank landscape designs will be distributed, and students will devise a planting scheme based on certain criteria for that landscape.

Plant ID Spreadsheet

In addition to identifying plants, you will create a repository for the plants we learn in class. Spreadsheets are useful tools allowing the user to sort plants based on a criteria. The student will be able to use this tool in their careers.

Study and Preparation Time:

This is a 3-hour credit class. In general, students should expect to spend 2-3 hours studying for each credit hour of a course.

Curving Exams and Final Grades

Exams, assignments, and final grades are NOT curved in this course.

Evaluation of Class       I am open to receiving your comments, either positive or negative. These help me to enrich

and Instructor                  this course and improve as a teacher. Please feel free to see me, email me at dcastagno@nctc.edu.

Scholastic Integrity        Scholastic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of college rules and regulations and is punishable as prescribed by Board policies. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.

I TAKE ACADEMIC DISHONESTY VERY SERIOUSLY.

Plagiarizing, copying answers from another student’s exam, and collaborating on assignments constitutes academic dishonesty and will result in swift disciplinary action. This action will take the form of failing that assignment and/or the entire course. In addition, a letter will be written to the Vice President of Instruction.

Students’ Rights and    NCTC Board policy FLB (Local) Student Rights and Responsibilities states that each student

Responsibilities              shall be charged with notice and knowledge of the contents and provisions of the rules and regulations concerning student conduct. These rules and regulations are published in the Student Handbook published in conjunction with the College Catalog. All students shall obey the law, show respect for properly constituted authority, and observe correct standards of conduct.

Student Support Services

Disability Services (OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a distraction reduced environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc.

On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in the Administration (100) Building or call 940-668-4209. Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD.

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

Support Services

Counseling and Testing staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such as College 101, placement testing, academic advising and course registration, transfer assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration), and much

more.  http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx

Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, free 24/7

online tutoring through Grade Results and 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 support services.

http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx

Financial Aid offers financial resources for students that qualify, visit the financial aid offices for more

information.  http://www.nctc.edu/FInancialAidHome.aspx

Early Alert/CARES

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.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Syllabi Statements Spring 2021 - COVID-19 Specific

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

INSTRUCTOR:

David Castagno

dcastagno@nctc.edu

COURSE NUMBER AND NAME:

HALT 1303 Herbaceous Plants

SEMESTER AND YEAR:

2021 Spring Semester

I, the undersigned, acknowledge that I have read and understand the policies of this HALT 1303 course syllabus (as stated in the preceding document) and agree to abide by the terms of this syllabus. All terms of this syllabus are subordinate to published NCTC policies and all federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.

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Student’s Name—PLEASE PRINT

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Student’s Signature                                                                                        Date

STUDENT INFORMATION

Name _________________________________________________________________________

College Major __________________________________________________________________

Future Business Plans __________________________________________________________

How did you find out about this class? _____________________________________________

What do you hope to accomplish by taking this course? Please list at least 3 goals.

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