NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
Landscape Irrigation
HALT 1333 0400
Spring 2021
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Course Schedules
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Day & Time
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Date(s)
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Location
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Hybrid (Online)
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1/19/2021 – 5/15/2021
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ONLINE Hybrid
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T 6:00 pm – 7:50 pm (Lab)
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1/19/2021 – 5/15/2021
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Corinth Campus Room 214
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Semester Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 32
Lab Hours: 32
Course Prerequisite(s): n/a
Course Description:
Coverage of irrigation systems including equipment, design, performance, and maintenance. Topics include residential and small business applications, troubleshooting, repair, and technological advances in irrigation systems. 32 lecture hours + 32 lab hours.
Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of the course a student will be able to:
- Describe the basic installation techniques used to install an irrigation system.
- Discuss the separation of zones for turf areas, shrubs, groundcovers, and other plant groups.
- Prepare a design for an irrigation system.
Required Course Materials:
*Texas Landscape Irrigation Training & Reference Manual, Fifth Edition
Order Online: http://www.isstx.com/store/p5/Texas_Landscape_Irrigation_Training_and_Reference_Manual.html
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Name of Instructor: Joe Feather
Campus/Office Location: Online
Telephone Number: N/A
E-mail Address: jfeather@nctc.edu
OFFICE HOURS
By Appointment. Monday thru Friday – (Online)
GRADING CRITERIA
Percentage or Point Values
50 points - 5 Participation Articles 10 pts. ea.
200 points – 2 Exams (2 at 100 points each)
200 points – 4 Assignments/Design Elements (4 at 50 points each)
100 points – 1 Design/Assignments (1 at 100 points each)
150 points – Final Irrigation Design (1)
700 Points TOTAL
Grading Scale:
630-700 points = A
560-629 points = B
490-559 points = C
420-489 points = D
< 420 points = F
Class Participation: Participation is a very important component of your learning experience. This is a class in which students learn from each other as well as by participating in hands-on projects. Students are expected to take an active part in all discussions and come prepared for these discussions.
Student Articles: Students are expected to post 5 irrigation related articles. The other class students are required to comment on the articles for a grade.
Fieldtrips: Students are required to attend these fieldtrips and show up on time.
Exams: We will have 2 exams this semester at 100 points each for a total of 200 points. Exams will be in the form of essay, multiple choices, true/false, and/or short answer.
Design Assignments: An important component of this class is learning to design on paper an irrigation layout to completion. Throughout the course of this semester, students will be given 5 assignments. 4 assignments each worth 50 points and 1 assignment worth 100 points for an accumulative total of 300 points. Assignments/Designs will cover material covered during the class segments. The information covered in these assignments is cumulative.
Final Design: After completing this class, students should be able to layout a site and design an irrigation system for residential and small commercial landscape sites. They will know how to select the proper materials for each design to make it efficient in operation. Students will design 1 large residential Irrigation System this semester, worth 150 points. Blank landscape designs will be distributed, and students will devise an irrigation system based on certain criteria for that site.
COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE
Tentative Calendar
1 – Introductions – Plant/Soil/Water Relationships – Textbook Information
2 – Irrigation terminology, equipment, parts
3 – Basic Hydraulics – Pressure/Flow/Friction Loss
4 – Hydraulics Continued
5 – Determining Power & Water Supply, Selecting Sprinklers, Precipitation Rates
Exam 1
6 – Selecting Sprinklers, Circuiting Sprinklers, Sizing Pipe
7 – Sizing Pipe & Calculating System Pressure Requirements
8 – Backflow Devices, Equipment Manufacturers Catalog (website) usage
9 – Installation Techniques
10 – Layout PVC design
11 – Drip Irrigation Basics, measurement & layout
12 – Controllers, Sensors. Computer Design Software
13 – Final Design Preparation
14 – Exam 2
15 – Final Design DUE
16 – Pick-up Final Design / Troubleshooting Q&A
ACADEMIC CALENDAR – Spring 2021 LINK: https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-calendar.html
ATTENDANCE POLICY Students will be counted as present for the week when the weekly quiz/assignment has been submitted. If the quiz is not submitted for the week, students will be counted absent. No submissions will be accepted past the due date.
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 5, 2021.
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. If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-4321. Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online. NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE STUDENT HANDBOOK 2020-2021
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)]”.
Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:
• Honesty in completing assignments is essential. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other kind of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in appropriate sanctions that may include failing an assignment or exam, failing the class, or suspension or expulsion. A report WILL be filed with the college.
• If cheating or collusion is suspected, a conference between the suspected parties, the instructor, and the appropriate dean will be scheduled, and notation made in the student’s file.
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 / workstations 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
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
Questions / Concerns / Complaints
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Dr. Lisa Bellows
Office Location: Gainesville Science Building Office 408
Telephone Number: 940-668-7731 ext. 4346
E-mail Address: lbellows@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Sara Flusche
Office Location: Gainesville
Telephone Number: 940-668-3351
E-mail Address: sflusche@nctc.edu