NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course Title: College Algebra
Course Prefix, Number and Section Number: MATH 1314 0500
Semester/Year of Course: Fall 2024
Semester Start and End Dates: 8/26/2024 – 12/14/2024 (16-week session)
Modality: Face to face
Class Meeting Location: Flower Mound Campus, Room 208
Days and Times: Mondays and Wednesdays from 8am – 9:20am
Support course (if needed): None
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.
Course Prerequisites: Meet TSI college-readiness standard for College Algebra or equivalent
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 1314 (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)
Suggested Course Materials:
Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS is recommended
Graphing calculators and phone calculators will not be allowed on exams.
Optional course materials: Physical Textbook – College Algebra, Lial/Hornsby/Schneider/Daniels, 13th edition, Pearson, 2021
Name of instructor: Jason Rutledge
Office location: Flower Mound Room: 107 (Corinth Room: 206)
Telephone number: NA
E-mail address: jrutledge@nctc.edu (or send messages via Canvas)
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.
Email is the best way to contact the instructor. From there you can request a face-to-face meeting, online via WebEx or set up a time for a phone conversation. (WebEx is a real time video conference application adopted by NCTC.) Any issues related to content, grading, technical issues or any other aspect of the class can be dealt with through email if meets the need of both the student and instructor.
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:
MML (MyMathLab) Quizzes 29 Quizzes the average of the quizzes is 20% of the final grade
Tests 4 Tests the average of the tests is 64% of the final grade
Final Exam 1 Final Exam the final exam is 16% of the final grade
MML Quizzes: (20% of overall grade)
All quizzes are completed online and outside of the regular class time. You will be allowed up to 5 attempts for each quiz and each attempt must completed within one sitting, i.e. you cannot start the quiz, leave it and continue to work on it later. Canvas records your highest of those 5 attempts and the 5 lowest quiz scores will be dropped from the calculations of your final overall average. All of the due dates and times for the quizzes are given in Canvas and MyMathLab.
Tests and Final Exam: (80% of overall grade)
There will be 4 tests and a comprehensive Final Exam. Each of these 5 assessments account for 16% of your final overall average. (5 x 16% = 80%) Make-up tests will be administered according to the guidelines spelled out in the “Information about Assignments (Math 1314)” document posted in Canvas. The Final Exam will be required for all students enrolled in the class and can be used to replace a lower test grade. The dates and content for each test are listed below:
Test #1 (Chapter 1) Wednesday, September 18th
Test #2 (Chapter 2) Wednesday, October 9th
Test #3 (Chapter 3) Monday, November 4th
Test #4 (Chapter 4) Monday, November 25th
Final Exam (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) Monday, December 9th
MML Homework: (0% of overall grade)
The MML Homework is NOT a graded component of this course. Its purpose is to supplement the course lectures and other provided materials used to be successful in this class. Your goal should be to work as much of the homework as you need to master the material. If this means earning 100’s on every homework assignment…so be it. If this means never opening any homework assignment whatsoever…so be it. Or if there is some middle ground that is best for you, do that.
The only way to access the homework is to:
- Log into our Canvas course.
- Click on the “MyLab and Mastering” tab on the left side of the screen.
- Click on the big yellow button to open a new window to the Pearson website. (Make sure your pop-up blockers are turned off.)
- In the new tab/window, click on the “Assignments” tab and scroll down. There you will find all of the
homework assignments for this course.
Late work policy: No late work is accepted.
SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.
Final grade scale: 90 – 100% = A; 80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C; 60 – 69% = D; Below 60% = F
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. (https://www.nctc.edu/catalog) Attendance will be recorded each day and it is the student’s responsibility to be counted as “present” for any given class. The attendance record for this course will be accessible to the student via Canvas using the “Quickly Attendance” tab.
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 16-week course with a “W” is: Monday, November 4, 2024
Student Learning Outcomes: At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate and apply knowledge of properties of functions, including domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
- Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
- Apply graphing techniques.
- Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.
- Recognize, solve, and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.
Core Objectives:
ü Critical Thinking û Teamwork
ü Communication û Personal Responsibility
ü Empirical and Quantitative û Social Responsibility
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 (from NCTC)
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 STATEMENT (from the Math Division)
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.
AI STATEMENT (from the Instructor)
While there are many great resources available to you, keep in mind that for this class ChatGPT, Desmos, Wolfram-Alpha, Chegg, Symbolab, and similar programs should only be used to help you understand the material we are covering in the class. Any student suspected of submitting work that is not their own (whether it is copied from another student or from technology) will be required to meet with me. If a student is found to have presented work that is not their own, they will be subject to the academic integrity policy. If you would not be able to explain to me how to work a similar problem, you should not submit the solution as your own.
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 Chair: 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