INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

GRADING CRITERIA

Grade Scale:   90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C;     Below 70% = F

All homework and quizzes will be completed online using MyLabsPlus (MLP) off campus at the convenience of the student.  All tests and the final exam will be completed ON CAMPUS in a proctored environment using MLP according to the tentative calendar (dates are listed below).

Check MLP for all due dates.  Do not ask to extend due dates.

The grade book in MLP keeps a running average of your grade.  The instructor will notify you when grades have been copied into CANVAS.

If you are waiting for Finical Aid please use the Temporary Access Code.  The access code is necessary to register and unlock all the features including homework/quizzes/tests for our course. I will NOT modify due dates because you did not purchase your access code.

There will be no make-up assignments (including tests or final exam). The final exam is comprehensive and must be taken by all students. The final exam may be used to replace one low test grade.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

STUDENT EMAIL

All students at NCTC are assigned a student email address, also known as Lion Pride email. Lion Pride email can be accessed on the NCTC home page by clicking on MyNCTC, then the link “Lion Pride Email” to the left. After clicking the Lion Pride Email link, the Microsoft Office 365 window will open.
1. Enter your NCTC student e-mail address. (for example, Smithj123456@student.nctc.edu)

2. Enter your password (your NCTC Student ID Number, either 7 or 9 numbers).
3. From the list of Microsoft icons, choose MAIL.
4. You will be asked to set your language and local time zone (Central Time). Your account is now activated.

**It is the student’s responsibility to activate and regularly monitor the assigned NCTC (Lion Pride) e-mail account. Important announcements and notifications from the Admissions office, Financial Aid, or other college staff will be sent via the Lion Pride student email system.

For communicating with classmates and instructors, students also have an option to communicate through Canvas. Canvas messaging is NOT the same as Lion Pride e-mail. Failure to read and/or receive NCTC e-mails (either in Lion Pride or in Canvas) is no excuse for not complying with the College Prep Attendance Policy or any other school policies. Be sure to regularly check BOTH the Lion Pride email as well as the Canvas inbox for important messages and information.

TSI COMPLIANCE

At North Central Texas College, students who test but do not meet the passing scores in ALL sections of the TSI Assessment or any other THECB approved testing measurements are required by state law to obtain TSI advising and continuously enroll in a formal college preparatory studies (developmental) program every semester until all TSI requirements are satisfied. TSI program attendance is MANDATORY. Non-compliance with the rules of attendance will result in a student being WITHDRAWN from the college preparatory course and possibly from North Central Texas College. Withdrawals are subject to college policies as set forth in the college catalog.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all College Prep classes for which they have registered. There are NO excused absences.  Faculty in the Department of College Preparatory Studies will notify students of absences on a regular basis and one courtesy warning e-mail notification will be sent to the students’ current NCTC student e-mail address (Lion Pride email and/or Canvas email) when the student accrues 1 week absence (not necessarily consecutive days) in a course. Please check your NCTC student email (Lion Pride) frequently to ensure that you are receiving notifications from the college and from your instructors. Some faculty may send notifications in Canvas as well. Failure to read and/or receive NCTC e-mail (Lion Pride) is no excuse for not complying with the Attendance Policy. It is the student's responsibility to maintain correct and current e-mail and local and permanent addresses with the college.

After a student has been absent from class 2 weeks (not necessarily consecutive days), the student may be dropped. If the student is dropped from the only College Prep class in which he/she is enrolled and is TSI liable, the student may be DROPPED from all remaining courses for that semester.

Inform the instructor in writing during the first week of class of any religious holidays observed this semester. Documentation must be given to the instructor at the class following the holiday.

Also, since punctuality has become a problem in recent semesters, three tardies may be considered one absence. Coming in late disrupts the class. Occasions do occur that you will need to be tardy, but not on a consistent basis.

HOMEWORK, QUIZZES, AND TESTS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

All homework, quizzes, tests, and the final exam are completed online using MyLabPlus (MLP). You will need an access code that can be purchased in the bookstore or online after you log into MyLabsPlus. Read the announcements in Canvas for all instructions. The Attendance Policy Notification (or commonly called TSI form) must be ‘signed’ and submitted no later than January 23, 2017.

For Technical Help:

MyLabsPlus (MLP) tech support phone 888-883-1299 or online http://247support.custhelp.com for live chat.

Homework:

All due dates are listed in MLP. Complete the assignments by 11:59 pm of the due date listed. The homework may be attempted multiple times in order to increase your homework grade.

HINT: You are expected to watch all section video presentations in the MyLabsPlus classroom. These videos can be accessed from the Chapter Contents menu. This takes the place of going to class in a traditional course. If you do not have a high-speed Internet connection, it may be difficult to view the videos. The videos contain instruction on each objective that is to be covered in the course. If you don’t watch the videos it is equivalent to not coming to class, and will make the HW difficult to complete. You can also access a power point presentation for each section.

Video Organizer handouts can be printed from MLP. The video organizer will help students take notes and practice problems before starting the homework. Due dates will not be extended.

Quizzes:

Weekly quizzes will be due.  All due dates are listed in MLP.  Quizzes may be attempted three times, and many quizzes have time limits. Only the highest score will be counted. Students should attempt the quiz multiple times in order to be prepared for the unit test. Due dates will not be extended.

Tests & Final:

Four unit tests are scheduled during the semester and a comprehensive final exam. Make sure to follow the deadline dates listed in MLP, and watch for the test announcements in CANVAS.  The tests will be given on MLP, but you will take the test in a proctored setting. You will have only one attempt. Each test will have a time limit of 60-80 minutes. Students will be allowed to use a non-graphing calculator on the tests. No make-up exams will be given, but the final exam can replace your lowest test grade.

The final exam will be comprehensive and is required of all students. The final exam will also be given on MLP. The final exam may be used to replace your lowest regular exam grade.

The test dates for this semester are listed below:

Exam #1 – week 4 – Saturday Feb 11

Exam #2 – week 8 - Saturday March 11 (Sat at the start of Spring Break)

Exam #3 – week 11 – Saturday April 8

Exam #4 – week 14 – Saturday April 29

FINAL EXAM – week 15 – Saturday May 6

The final exam must be completed on or before Sat May 6^th.  No exceptions.

**If you are unable to take a test on the Corinth campus on the above dates, you are welcome to take a test in a campus Testing Center that is closer to you. The dates above are the LAST DAY to take the test, so any Testing Center or alternate testing must happen prior to the dates listed for each unit test. Please contact me ASAP if you have concerns about the testing dates.

Testing times are scheduled by availability, so please plan accordingly.  A link will be sent to you so that you will be able to sign up. Students will be allowed to use a non-graphing calculator on the tests PROVIDED by the proctor at the testing site. No make-up exams will be given, but the final exam can replace your lowest test grade.

Gradebook:

The grade book in MLP keeps a running average of your grade. I review all quizzes and tests in order to assign partial credit where possible.  I look for answers that are technically correct, but have not been submitted in ‘good form’. An example would be an answer of 14/16 that has not been simplified to 7/8. Your answers will be more complicated than this example, but you get the idea that I will be looking for answers that are technically correct.

If you believe a problem should have been marked correct please email me and I will look at it.

CLASS RULES

1. Attendance is VERY IMPORTANT in this class! An absence in this online course is defined as the following: You must complete assignments with a score above 50% in order to be counted ‘present’.

Our typical ‘week’ will run from Sunday to Saturday every week. (The first week is a little different, since the first day of class is Tuesday January 17).  

If you do not complete any assignments within a week then you will get a zero for the attendance grade for that week.  You will be DROPPED from this course if you have more than TWO zero’s for attendance grades.  Your grade will be kept in the MLP gradebook for attendance grades.  The CANVAS gradebook will be updated periodically.

1. More on ATTENDANCE: You must log in and complete required assignments at least once every week (at any time during the week) or you will be considered absent for the week. Optional activities (study plan, or videos) do not satisfy attendance requirement.

To be counted present, you must log in and complete at least ONE graded assignment (e.g., homework, quiz, practice test, or test) with a score greater than 50%. If you do not complete any assignments with a score GREATER than 50% within a week then you will get a zero for the attendance grade for that week.  You will be DROPPED from this course if you have more than TWO zero’s for attendance grades. If needed, seek help so that you can re-take quizzes or re-try homework in order to get your grade up.

1. To be clear: from the first day of the semester, even if you are ahead of the due dates, you must log in every week and work on assignments until you have completed all the assignments and have taken the final exam.

1. Do not ask me to extend the due dates. Work ahead on the assignments instead (remember… if something can go wrong, it will).

1. If you live by one of the NCTC campuses you may go to the Math Lab during their posted hours for additional help.

1. You are welcome to come to my office during my posted hours. E-mail is the best and easiest way to contact me mgossett@nctc.edu .  You can send me messages in CANVAS, but remember to check your LION Pride email as well.

1. I check my email daily.  Please email me with any questions, problems, or concerns you have.  Remember to allow response time; you will not get ‘immediate’ feedback. I teach regular classes and therefore I am not on the computer 24/7. You can email me directly from MLP. You can also send me a message from CANVAS. (Email and CANVAS are two separate entities).

8. You need to log into CANVAS in order to access MyLabsPlus. Your current grade will be located on MyLabsPlus. I will periodically update the grades in CANVAS and will send notifications when I have done so.  

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Thursday, April 6, 2017.

DISABILITY SERVICES (OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-498-6207.

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

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook. http://nctc.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2016-2017/Catalog/North-Central-Texas-College-Student-Handbook

CAMPUS RESTRICTIONS

Tobacco-Free Campus:  NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco, on campus property.

Campus Carry: Current law prohibits the open carry of firearms on college campuses including all property such as parking lots.  For more information, see the website at http://www.nctc.edu/Police/gun-laws-campus-carry