INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

OFFICE HOURS

I do not have an office on campus; however, I am available by appointment request via WebEx.  Please email me via my Canvas email and request an appointment via WebEx.

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

The schedule, policies, and assignments contained in this course syllabus are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, class progress, or by mutual agreement between the instructor and the students.  All changes will be announced in class before the change with a posted change to the syllabus via the Canvas announcement tab.

GRADING CRITERIA

See Canvas for a breakdown of grades per assignment.  Please note that the total points at the end of the course MAY NOT add up to exactly 1070.  A difference in total points for the course could happen if an assignment is dropped, not all the quizzes are given, or I decide to change the assignment's value.  Students will be notified of ALL assignment and/or grading changes in the announcement section in Canvas.   

The schedule, policies, and assignments contained in this course syllabus are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, class progress, or by the instructor.  All changes will be announced in class via the announcement tab in Canvas.

This class is an online course; however, regular and punctual attendance is expected in all classes for which students have registered.  All absences are considered unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  The students' responsibility is to provide documentation of the emergency for approval and judgment 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.  Students will be dropped from a class by the Registrar if the instructor 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 adequate cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

You are expected to complete all assignments by the stated due dates.  Simply logging in to an online course does not constitute attendance. The U.S. Department of Education calculates the last date of attendance by the last time a student participated in an online discussion or made contact (interacted) with a faculty member. This standard is applied to online courses. Visit the NTCC attendance regulations at https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-policies/attendance-regulations.html to learn more.

Students can read more about the College's grade appeal processes and procedures for assigning incomplete grades by visiting the Academic Catalog: https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-policies/grades-reports/student-gradeappeal.html (Links to an external site.) and https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academicpolicies/grades-reports/incomplete-grades.html (Links to an external site.).

Students can learn more about the withdraw policy and procedure by http://www.nctc.edu/current-students/drop-withdraw-class.html (Links to an external site.).

The last day to withdraw from a course with a "W" is February 13, 2021.

GRADE APPEALS & INCOMPLETE GRADES:  

Students can read more about the college's grade appeal processes and procedures for assigning incomplete grades by visiting the Academic Catalog: https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academicpolicies/grades-reports/student-grade-appeal.html (Links to an external site.) and https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-policies/gradesreports/incompletegrades.html (Links to an external site.).  

COVID-19 Specific Syllabi Statements Fall 2022

Syllabi statement regarding potential 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 or other health related crisis, 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. Contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 27, 2021 and are subject to change as conditions change.

Syllabi Statement Regarding Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students are not required to wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. In May, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott released an Executive Order prohibiting Government entities from mandating the use of masks. As a political subdivision of the State of Texas, NCTC will follow the Governor’s Executive Order for Government entities and effective immediately NCTC is no longer mandating the use of masks while on campus. This order does not mean that you cannot choose to wear a mask, rather it is no longer allowed to be mandated. These policies and procedures were updated on May 19, 2021 and are subject to change.

Return to Standard Attendance Protocol for Face-to-Face Meetings: In spring 2020, we faced an unprecedented situation in which all of us had to 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 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 fall 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

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students 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 provide 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.

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

         Communication

         Mathematics               

         Life and Physical Science

         Language, Philosophy & Culture

         Creative Arts

         American History

         Government/Political Science

         Social and Behavioral Sciences

         Component Area Option

         Critical Thinking

         Communication

         Empirical and Quantitative

         Teamwork

         Personal Responsibility

         Social Responsibility