INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 GRADING CRITERIA

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

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 any school policy. 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 Non-compliance with the rules of attendance can result in a student being WITHDRAWN from the college preparatory course. 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 classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies. It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval by the faculty member. Approved college-sponsored activities are also excused absences. The instructor is responsible for judging the validity of any reason given for an 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 the absence is documented and excused by the instructor. 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 enough times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered enough cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

HOMEWORK, QUIZZES, AND TESTS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

All homework, quizzes, and tests are completed online in MyMathLab (MML). You will need an access code that can be purchased in the bookstore or online after you log into MyMathLab. Read the announcements in Canvas for all instructions. The Attendance Policy Notification must be ‘signed’ and submitted no later than January 28, 2020.

For Technical Help:

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

Homework: All due dates are listed in MML. 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 MyMathLab 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.

Quizzes: Weekly quizzes will be due.  All due dates are listed in MML.  Quizzes may be attempted five times, and each quiz attempt has a time limit.  Only the highest score will be counted. Students should attempt the quiz multiple times in order to be prepared for the unit test.

Tests:  Four-unit tests are scheduled during the semester and a comprehensive final exam. Make sure to follow the deadline dates listed in MML, and watch for the test announcements.  The tests will be given on MML, 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 MML. The final exam may be used to replace your lowest regular exam grade. The final exam must be completed by Sat May 16th.  No exceptions.

The test dates for this semester are listed below:

Exam #1 – week 4 - Thursday Feb 13

Exam #2 – week 8 - Thursday March 12

Exam #3 – week 11 – Thursday April 9

Exam #4 – week 14 – Thursday April 30

FINAL EXAM – week 16 – Thursday May 14

**If you are unable to take a test on the Gainesville campus on the above dates, you are welcome to take a test in a campus Testing Center that is closer to you or in an alternate proctored setting. 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 MML 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.

CLASS RULES

1. Attendance is VERY IMPORTANT in this class! An absence in this online course is defined as the following: Our typical ‘week’ will run from Monday to Sunday every week. (The first week is a little different, since the first day of class is Tuesday January 21.)  Homework and quiz assignments close at 11:59 PM on Sunday evenings (see the weekly schedule for specific due dates).
2. 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 such as study plan, or videos do not satisfy the 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 needed, seek help so that you can re-take quizzes or re-try homework in order to get your grade up.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 taken the final. 
3. Do not ask me to extend the due dates. Work ahead on the assignments instead (remember… if something can go wrong, it will).
4. If you live by one of the NCTC campuses you may go to the Math Lab during their posted hours for additional help.
5. You are welcome to email me at any time and I will respond during my posted hours. We can talk by phone if necessary; however, the best way to contact me is via email, apembroke@nctc.edu.

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Friday, April 3, 2020.

MATH LAB

Students who need help with any math class can visit the NCTC Mathematics Lab to receive assistance. No appointments are necessary. See the most current tutoring hours for all campuses at http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/student-success/tutoring/mathematics-lab.html. 

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 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).   https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/student-services/office-students-with-disabilities.html

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook. https://www.nctc.edu/_documents/academics/student-handbook.pdf. 

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:

• Zero on the assignment
• Failing grade for the course 

CAMPUS POLICIES

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: Effective August 1, 2017, a license holder may carry a concealed handgun on or about the license holder's person while the license holder is on the campus of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state. For more information, see the website at https://www.nctc.edu/campus-safety/campus-carry.html.

Parking Permits: The North Central Texas Community College District has managed traffic and parking regulations in order to ensure the safety of the campus community related to the operation and parking of vehicles on campus. These regulations apply to all operators of motor vehicles on campus. For parking permits and more information, see the website at https://www.nctc.edu/campus-safety/transportation-parking.html.