NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course title: Beginning Algebra
Course prefix, number, and section number: MATH 0305
Semester/Year of course: Fall 2024
Semester start and end dates: 8/26/2024 – 12/14/2024
Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Face to Face
Class meeting location, days, and times: Mon-Thurs 12:30 - 1: 45, Room 210 Flower Mound Campus
Semester credit hours: 3 (lecture hours: 48)
Course Description: A study of relations and functions, inequalities, algebraic expressions and equations (absolute value, polynomial, radical, rational), with a special emphasis on linear and quadratic expressions and equations. This course does not count toward graduation at NCTC.
Course prerequisites: Appropriate placement score on TSI or other approved assessment test.
Required course materials: Registration in the course automatically adds a textbook fee to your NCTC tuition and fees which gives you access to the online learning platform and e-book needed for MATH 0305 (MyLab Math). You do not need to purchase a separate access code. Instructions on how to get your access code can be found in a document on the Course Homepage or in the course Modules. (see * Inclusive Access below for more information)
Current email address (default email address is Lion Pride)
Non-graphing scientific calculators are permitted.
*** NO GRAPHING CALCULATORS NOR CELL PHONE CALCULATORS ALLOWED – ONLY SCIENTIFIC CALCULATORS ALLOWED. *** TI-30X IIS is highly recommended.
Free scanner app
Notebook
Optional:
Squires/Wyrick, Developmental Mathematics: Basic Math, Introductory Algebra, & Intermediate Algebra Notebook, 2nd Edition (paper workbook)
Name of instructor: Jennifer Brown
Office location: Flower Mound Campus, Room 207
Telephone number: (972) 899-8410
Email address: jfbrown@nctc.edu
STUDENT HOURS (OFFICE HOURS)
Each week instructors have time set aside to meet with students outside of class. (Traditionally these times are called “office hours”.) This is a time when a student may ask questions regarding the class, or discuss a particular problem/topic with an instructor one-on-one. Student hours may be held in-person or online. See below for instructions on where/when/how instructors will offer student hours in this class.
In-person student hours: All student hours are by appointment, but typically at 10:30am or 12:30pm. Please email Mrs. Brown to set up a time that is convenient for you.
Online student hours: All online student hours are by appointment. Mrs. Brown has a relatively flexible schedule but teaches from 11-12:30 Monday-Thursday. Please email Mrs. Brown to find a time that is convenient for you. Online meetings will be on WebEx.
MATH TUTORING LAB
Students who need help with any math class can visit the NCTC Mathematics Lab to receive assistance. There are math tutors available on most campuses and online. This service is free for all students enrolled in an NCTC math class. Sign up for an appointment or see the most current tutoring hours for all campuses at https://www.nctc.edu/math-lab.
SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER
The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
List of graded assignments: Please see Canvas for all assignments and due dates.
Final grade scale: Grade Scale: 90 – 100% = A; 80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C; Below 70% = F
Late work policy: Late work is typically not accepted unless due to major illness or emergency. Please discuss late work options with Mrs. Brown if you feel you have a situation that warrants a due date extension.
SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.
COURSE POLICIES
Academic Integrity Policy: Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation, and collusion. The use of online math solvers with submitted work is considered academic dishonesty. 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 Code of Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.
Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:
- Zero on the assignment
- Failing grade for the course
Artificial Intelligence Policy: Any cheating by use of AI will be given a 0 for the assignment with no option to redo the work.
Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is expected and necessary for student success in this course. For more information on attendance regulations please see the 2024-2025 NCTC Catalog. (https://www.nctc.edu/catalog)
Withdrawal Policy: A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.
Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: Monday, November 4
Student Learning Outcomes: At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Use appropriate symbolic notation and vocabulary to communicate, interpret, and explain mathematical concepts.
- Define, represent, and perform operations on real numbers, applying numeric reasoning to investigate and describe quantitative relationships and solve real world problems in a variety of contexts.
- Use algebraic reasoning to solve problems that require ratios, rates, percentages, and proportions in a variety of contexts using multiple representations.
- Apply algebraic reasoning to manipulate expressions and equations to solve real world problems.
- Use graphs, tables, and technology to analyze, interpret, and compare data sets.
- Construct and use mathematical models in verbal, algebraic, graphical, and tabular form to solve problems from a variety of contexts and to make predictions and decisions.
Core Objectives:
COLLEGE POLICIES
ADA STATEMENT
NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations. See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.
AI STATEMENT
Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.
When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and other such technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty.
Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.
STUDENT SERVICES
NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students. See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.
Inclusive Access
The NCTC Bookstore and Pearson Education have partnered to provide the best learning resources on the first day of class so that students can gain access to Pearson’s adaptive online platform with the latest version of the eBook at a discount. If students would like to purchase a physical copy of the textbook, they can purchase it through the bookstore.
Students who drop before the add/drop date will have their book fees credited back to their student account, and students who remain in the course will be charged a materials fee by the school to have continued access of the online platforms. If you remain enrolled in the course but wish to opt-out of access to the book please email the NCTC Bookstore within the first two weeks of class with your name and student number.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class. If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
Name of instructor: Jennifer Brown
Office location: Flower Mound Campus, Room 207
Telephone number: (972) 899-8410
Email address: jfbrown@nctc.edu
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Ben Owens
Office location: Corinth 174
Telephone number: 940.498.6209
E-mail address: bowens@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Mary Martinson
Office location: Gainesville 1403
Telephone number: 940.668.7731 ext. 4377
E-mail address: mmartinson@nctc.edu