Student Handbook

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

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.

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 are detailed in the Student Handbook.

Name of Chair:

Steve Keith

Campus/Office Location:

Gainesville – AGC 1602

Telephone Number:

(940) 668-4217

E-mail Address:

skeith@nctc.edu

Name of Dean:

Debbie Huffman

Campus/Office Location:

Gainesville – Career & Technical Education Building

Telephone Number:

(940) 668-3357

E-mail Address:

dhuffman@nctc.edu

Evaluation of Class and Instructor

I am open to receiving your comments, either positive or negative.  These help me to enrich this course and improve as a teacher.  Please feel free to see me, email me at rhparker@nctc.edu, or send me a note in the mail to the following address:  NCTC, ATTN: Rebecca Parker, 1525 West California Street, Gainesville, TX 76240.

Attendance and Tardiness Policy

General NCTC 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)

Course-Specific Attendance Policy:

For every three absences, the student’s final grade will drop by one letter. 

Three instances of tardiness (entering class late) will constitute one absence. Students who come late and leave early on the same class day will be counted absent. 

Students arriving more than 15 minutes late for class will be counted as absent.

Students who come to class late need to make sure that they are counted as present on the roster; see instructor after class to have the roster updated.  If the student fails to have the roster updated, and there is no record of attendance, the student will be counted as absent.

If a student does not participate in online activities for a consecutive three weeks, the student might be dropped from the CANVAS roster (blocked in CANVAS) and might be dropped from the class.

The professor will not provide class notes to those who are absent.  Students are responsible for obtaining the missed materials and notes from a classmate, not from the professor.

Other Policies and  Pertinent Information

Other Policies and  Pertinent Information, Continued

Other Policies and  Pertinent Information, Continued

Emailing the Instructor

After the first week of class, all correspondence with the instructor should be done through the Canvas course mail system rather than through the NCTC email system.

Missing Assignments

There are no make up’s for participatory assignments. Other assignments must be made-up before the next class.

Disruptive Behavior

A student who engages in any behavior or language in the classroom that intentionally or unintentionally disrupts the learning process will be asked to leave the class and may be reported to the Vice President of Instruction for disciplinary action.

Grade and Attendance Records

All grades and attendance/tardy records will be posted in Canvas and can be accessed at any time during the semester.

Cell Phones, Texting, and Outside Communication

Please silence all cell phones before class.  In cases of emergencies, you may answer your phone or a text, but please leave the classroom/lab environment to do so.  Texting and outside communication in the classroom and lab environments is prohibited.

Missing Classes

Each class is assigned participation points that students earn as a reward while attending.  Regardless of excuse, if a student misses a class, participation points for that lab cannot be earned, as the opportunity to earn them is during the scheduled class.  There are NO MAKE-UP classes.

Late Work

Late work will not be accepted after the following class date. Computer problems are not an excuse for late work.

Tobacco Products

Please do not bring tobacco products or any containers that might have tobacco byproducts in them into the classroom, the gardens, or the Gainesville Greenhouse.  See Tobacco Free Campus Information Policy.  If you do use tobacco products, always wash your hands with soap and water before entering the greenhouse (Gainesville) or touching any plants.

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.

Notes

It is the student’s responsibility to take notes during class, lab, and fieldtrips.  Bring a notebook that you can carry around and be able to access quickly.  The instructor will not remind students to take notes.

Web Browser

Take note that it is best to use FireFox as your web browser when using CANVAS.

Curving Exams and Final Grades

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

Lab Attire, Physical Nature of Activities, and Weather Factors

Be prepared to work in the heat, cold, and wet weather, if labs are scheduled for outdoors.  If the weather warrants a change in lab schedule, students will be notified by the instructor via an announcement or a note posted on the classroom door.  Check announcements before coming to class. 

Be sure to dress according to the expected weather and appropriately for the scheduled lab activities.  Wear sturdy shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.  Be aware that you will be on your knees, bending, digging, etc.  You may also need sunscreen, bug spray, and a hat.  Also, be sure to come prepared with water to drink.  There are no vending machines or water fountains near the gardens.

This class is more physically demanding than other college classes.  Some of the lab activities are strenuous in nature.  Please come prepared to carry heavy loads, to dig, to walk lengthy distances on occasion, to kneel, to use hand saws, etc.  This is not a lab where we consistently sit in a classroom.

Receiving Communication From Your Instructor

Students can receive instructor announcements via texts and/or to their personal email accounts.  To activate this setting, go to your Canvas profile, and enter in how you would like to receive communications.

Tobacco Free Campus Information

NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students which cumulates unsightly tobacco litter and interferes with assuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of tobacco use and of exposure to second hand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns please contact the Office of Vice President of Student Services at (940) 668-4240.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a protozoan (one-celled) parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii. Dangers to an unborn child from toxoplasmosis include birth defects and fetal death.  The disease can be passed to people through contact with cat feces, and exposure is possible through contact with contaminated soil.  Pregnant women should wear gloves when gardening or working in soil or sand, as it may have been used by neighborhood cats and contain cat feces.   Any foodstuffs from the garden (fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc.) should be washed thoroughly before ingestion. 

Facebook & Email Lists

I oftentimes take photographs during class and will post them to Facebook.  Please Like us at NCTC Agriculture to see posted pictures.

If you would like to join email lists to be notified about information regarding the Horticulture Certifications, Job Opportunities, or the NCTC Horticulture Club, please send me an email expressing interest. 

Tentative Calendar