NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course title: Beginning Algebra
Course prefix, number, and section number: MATH 0305 0602
Semester/Year of course: Fall 2025
Semester start and end dates: 8/25/2025 – 12/13/2025
Modality: Face to Face
Class meeting location, days, and times: MW 9:30 am – 10:50 am DEN 114
Semester credit hours: 3 (lecture hours: 48)
Course Description: This course supports students in developing skills, strategies, and reasoning needed to succeed in mathematics, including communication and appropriate use of technology. Topics include the study of numeracy and the real number system; algebraic concepts, notation, and reasoning including algebraic expressions and equations, factoring polynomials and graphing; quantitative relationships; mathematical models; and problem solving. This course does not count toward graduation at NCTC.
Course prerequisites: Appropriate placement score on TSI or other approved assessment test.
Required course materials:
- MyLab Math for Developmental Math: Basic, Intro & Interm Algebra Access Code (e-book included with the MyLab Math access code)
- 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 (You can also use the Google Drive app to scan to your Google Drive)
- Notebook
Optional course materials:
Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: Concepts and Applications, 8th edition, Marvin Bittinger, David Ellenbogen, & Barbara Johnson, Pearson, 2024
Name of instructor: Sawyer Kolbe
Email address: skolbe@nctc.edu
Student Communication:
You can reach me via Canvas message or email. I try to check both at least once daily.
Please read below about office hours, both virtually and in person.
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: Students may schedule to meet me by sending me a message on Canvas or sending an email to set up an appointment during the following times: MW before class from 8:30 – 9:30. These must be scheduled a minimum of 24 hours before the appointment.
Online student hours: Students may schedule to meet me virtually by clicking the Cisco Webex Link in Canvas and selecting the “Office Hours” option at the top. These must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance of the appointment. Availability: Friday 9 am – 4 pm.
Asking questions: Students are always welcome to communicate their questions or
concerns via email or Canvas. Students are expected to clearly identify themselves and use professional communication skills.
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 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
Course Grading Structure:
MyMathLab Homework: 15%
Quizzes: 20%
Midterm Exams: 50%
Final Exam: 15%
Final grade scale: Grade Scale: 90 – 100% = A; 80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C; Below 70% = F
*Grade of D is NOT an option in this course
GRADING POLICY
Pearson Homework: All homework will be completed online using MyMathLab (MML) following the scheduled due dates. You will have unlimited attempts to maximize your score by the assigned due date. Homework may be turned in late with a 10% deduction for each question answered late and for each day late. (2 days late = 20% deduction)
Pearson Quizzes: All quiz assignments will be completed online using MyMathLab (MML) following the scheduled due dates. You will have three (3) attempts to maximize your score by the assigned due date. The highest score will be recorded.
Late Pearson Homework/Quizzes policy: Due dates on homework/quizzes will not be extended, but students can continue to improve assignments after the due date for a 10% penalty.
TESTING POLICY
Unit Tests & Final Exam: All tests and the final exam will be completed In-person with me in class on the given test date.
Testing Feedback: Students have 48-hours, following the return of testing feedback, to raise
questions or concerns about grading. After the 48-hours have expired, students can no longer contest a test grade. There will be no feedback provided following the final exam. The grade book in Canvas is the official record keeper of this course.
Missed Testing policy: There will be no late testing after the testing window closes. If you are aware of the necessary absence, please plan with your instructor to test early. This applies to unit tests and the final exam. Any missed test will earn a zero. The final exam is comprehensive and must be taken by all students; or a zero will be recorded. Make-up testing or re-takes are not offered for any reason
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
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. (Attendance Regulations – NCTC 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 a Fall 2025 course with a “W” is: Monday, November 3, 2025
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.
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.
AI MATH DIVISION STATEMENT
Many online calculators, equation solvers, and graphing tools exist that may aid students in computing and visualizing math problems. These tools are a great resource for helping better understand how to work problems and can be a huge help in studying. However, these tools can be misused/overused. Math classes require students to develop a certain level of skill that a student must be able to demonstrate without the aid of these tools. Often a student may become reliant on these tools or have false sense of confidence in their knowledge and skills. Generally, if a student is using tools or resources to help learn material, eventually they must take away those resources to ensure they are able to work problems with only the tools allowed in the class. In short, we encourage students to use whatever tools they find useful in developing their knowledge and skills. But, these tools must be used thoughtfully so that true understanding and proficiency are developed.
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.
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: Sawyer Kolbe
E-mail address: skolbe@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