NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title:  College Algebra

Course prefix, number, and section number:  MATH 1314 0310

Semester/Year of course:  Summer 2023

Semester start and end dates: 6/5/2023 – 7/6/2023 (Summer I session)

Modality:  Asynchronous online: communication happens on your own time and doesn’t need scheduling.

Class meeting using Webex is listed on the tentative schedule

Semester credit hours:  3 (Lecture hours: 48)

Course description:  In-depth study and applications of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations using matrices. Additional topics such as sequences, series, probability, and conics may be included. NOTE: No formula cards are used for testing.

Course prerequisites:  Meet TSI college-readiness standard for College Algebra or equivalent

Required course materials: 

Registration in the course gives you the access code to the online learning platform and e-book needed for MATH 1314 (MyLab Math).  You do not need to purchase a separate access code.  Instructions can be found in a separate document on the Course Homepage. (see * Follett ACCESS below for more information)

Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS (Walmart $13.97) or TI-36X Pro (Walmart 20.73 best) is recommended

Graphing calculators and phone calculators will not be allowed on exams.

Optional course materials:  College Algebra, Lial/Hornsby/Schneider/Daniels, 13^th edition, Pearson, 2021

Name of instructor: Kathryn Fritz

Office location: Not on campus during the summer, but will meet students if needed.

Telephone number: Email only during the summer. Use Canvas emails.

E-mail address: kfritz@nctc.edu but use Canvas emails.

Office hours for students: Webex conferences listed on Tentative Schedule.

STUDENT HOURS (OFFICE HOURS)

Each week instructors have time set aside to meet with students outside of class. (Traditionally these times have been 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.

Office hours are listed on the Tentative Schedule, and we will meet using Webex meetings.

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 every campus 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:

Homework Assignments 37, and is 20% of overall grade.

Quizzes and Discussion Board at least 20, and is 10% of overall grade.

Tests: Midterm and Final, is 70% of overall grade.

Note: Each homework assignments grade needs to be 90-100% and each quiz grade need to be at least 85%. Notice that adding the homework and quiz weights is 30% of your overall grade which is almost another test grade.

Final grade scale:  A = 90 – 100%;  B = 80 – 89%;  C = 70 – 79%;  D = 60 – 69%;  Below 60% = F

*The final exam is a departmental comprehensive algebra exam and must be taken by all students. All finals must be completed by July 6.

Late work policy:

See Canvas Modules 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:

1. Zero on the assignment
2. 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 2022-2023 NCTC Catalog.  (https://www.nctc.edu/catalog; Click on 2022-2023 CATALOG and go to page 138 to see Attendance Regulations) In an online class, completed MyMathLab Assignments are the attendance grade.

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 Summer I course with a “W” is: Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

Student Learning Outcomes:  At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of properties of functions, including domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
2. Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
3. Apply graphing techniques.
4. Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.
5. Recognize, solve, and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.

Core Objectives:

X          Critical Thinking

X          Communication

X          Empirical and Quantitative

Teamwork

Personal Responsibility

Social Responsibility

COLLEGE POLICIES

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

To access Student Handbook go to NCTC homepage (www.nctc.edu), scroll to bottom and click “Student Handbook”.

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.

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.

* Follett ACCESS

Follett ACCESS is a partnership between the NCTC Bookstore and Pearson Education to provide the best learning resources on the first day of class. 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 order 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 to 1263mgr@follett.com.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS