SYLLABUS

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Title

College Algebra

Course prefix, number, and section number

MATH 1314 0620

Semester/Year of course

FALL 2025

Semester start and end dates

8/25/2025 – 12/13/2025

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor Name

Lori Blagg

Office Location and number

Denton/Rm 214

Email Address

lblagg@nctc.edu

 

 

MATH 1314.020

Modality

Face to Face

Class meeting location

Denton Campus/RM 211

Class meeting days

Tuesday/Thursday

Class meeting times

8:30pm-10:50pm

NCBM 0214.0620

Modality

Face to Face

Class meeting location

Denton Campus/RM 211

Class meeting days

Tuesday/Thursday

Class meeting times

8:30pm-10:00pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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: 

 

  • MyMathLab Access Code: (e-text included in MML)
    • Instructions  on how to create your MyMathLab account and purchase the access code can be found in a separate document on the Course Homepage or in the course Modules in Canvas.
  • Scientific calculator (TI-30XS Multiview or TI-36X Pro are the recommended calculators).                       *Graphing Calculators and Phone calculators will NOT be allowed on exams.

Optional course materials:  College Algebra with Integrated Review, Lial/Hornsby/Schneider/Daniels, 13th edition, Pearson, 2021 (updated 2024)

All class notes, lecture videos, and assignments are online and posted through Canvas and MyMathLab. Quizzes and Testing including Unit Exams and the Final Exam are on paper and will be given during class on the scheduled dates posted in our Canvas course.

<lblagg@nctc.edu >>

  • When emailing your instructor, please make sure to do the following:
    • Always email from your NCTC student email
    • In the email, state the course and section number

 

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.

 

Office hours for students:

  • Online/Virtual Office Hours - via Email/Canvas/WebEx:     

   

  • Monday/Wednesday 9:00am-1:00pm       
  • Tuesday/Thursday by appointment only
  • On Campus Office Hours by Appointment - Denton Campus/RM 214
  • Tuesday/Thursday 11:00am-12:00pm       

 

<< For online office hours, students can schedule an appointment by selecting the Cisco Webex option in our Canvas course and navigating to the “Office Hour” tab.  The times that the instructor is available will be displayed there and a student may schedule a meeting by choosing a time and selecting “Confirm Meeting” at the bottom of the page.>>

 

 

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

Assignment Weights

Percent

MyMathLab Assignments

(Homework & Quizzes)

15%

Review Quizzes

25%

Unit Exams

45%

Final Exam

15%

Total

100%

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

*The final exam is a departmental comprehensive algebra exam and must be taken by all students. The final exam may also be used to replace the lowest unit exam grade.*

 

 

 

 

Late work policy: Homework and Chapter Quizzes(In MSL) may be worked on past their due date with a 10% late grade penalty.  No Make-up Unit Tests or Final Exam will be allowed.  They must be completed on their scheduled date.

After the final exam there is NO more work a student can do to improve their grade.

 

 

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:

  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 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 16-week 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:

  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

 

 

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 OSD Addendum:  OSD_addendum_fall24.pdf


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.

  • To access Student Handbook go to NCTC homepage (www.nctc.edu), scroll to bottom and click “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: Student Services Syllabus Addendum 2022-23 JUNE 2022.pdf

 

 

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:  Lori Blagg

Office location:  Denon/214

E-mail addresslblagg@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