INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

GRADING CRITERIA

Grade Scale:   90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C;  60 – 69% = D;  Below 60% = F

Participation: The participation grade is a measure of active participation in class.  Activities including, but not limited to, attendance, completing support assignments, class work, researching information and meeting with the instructor.  

Homework: Homework may consist of exercises to practice skills and reinforce concepts learned in class, or it may include student reading or video assignments.   Reading or video assignments are due by 10 am on their due date.

Quizzes: Students will have up to 3 attempts on online quizzes.  Each quiz is based on the sections covered the previous week.  Quizzes will be due Mondays at 11:59 pm, but it is recommended that students review and attempt quizzes in advance.  If a quiz is interrupted/disconnected, the student may continue where they left off, but may not correct previous work.   I will keep the highest scores for each quiz.

Exams: There will be four unit exams and a final exam. The exams will be short answer, where students must show their work.  Students that notify the instructor prior to the exam, may be allowed to make alternate arrangements at the instructor’s discretion. All exams are paper and pencil, in-person exams.

Make-up policy:  Make-ups are only offered to students who experience a formally documented medical emergency or military service requirement. Make-ups are not offered due to missing class for celebrations, extracurricular activities, changes in work schedules, relationship problems, or undocumented medical issues. Students who experience an emergency which interferes with an assignment must contact me within three days of that documented emergency so we can determine how to proceed.

• Medical Emergencies: Students need to attach an image of the hospital documentation along with their initial email. I do not need to know the specifics of any diagnosis (that can remain confidential). The portion of the discharge instruction sheet that hospitals must provide patients--the section showing the name of the patient and date(s) of service--will usually suffice.
• Funerals: Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for students to fabricate stories of death/illness in the family. As such, I require documentation if you miss an assignment/exam and seek a make-up for this reason. As above, students must contact me within five days of the death so we can determine how to proceed. Death is a serious matter and to protect students who sadly do experience such an event, I do not tolerate fabrications in this area. I consider fabricating a family sickness/death for personal gain to be a form of scholastic dishonesty, which will result in an automatic zero for the work in question.
• Military Service: The military service stipulation is offered only to the military personnel himself/herself since their access to a computer may be temporarily disrupted. Students who need to meet a military service requirement during the semester should contact me in advance of leaving for service so we can determine how to proceed with schoolwork. If a student is unexpectedly called into service to assist with a crisis/disaster (e.g. as occurred during Hurricane Harvey a few years ago), please notify me via email as soon as the word comes down so I can anticipate any necessary adjustments. Usually, there is not a problem making adjustments, so do not worry. However, feel free to email me any questions on this matter.  Albeit a stressful time for the family of the service person, extensions for assignments do not extend to significant others of the service person.
• If other circumstances outside of the student’s control cause the student to miss a unit test, the final exam score will replace the zero earned on the missed unit test. However, feel free to email me any questions on this matter. 
• Final Exam: The final exam is required and comprehensive. 
• Late entry on exam days: Students must be on time with a pencil and a calculator at the beginning of each exam. I will provide extra paper for student use. Students entering late on exam days must submit their exam at the regularly scheduled time.

COURSE OUTLINE/ Tentative schedule outline

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

Extra credit: Leeway is already built into this course, primarily by way of the ability to use the final exam to replace a lower exam score. Attendance points are also easy points to earn. I do not answer emails at the end of the semester asking for more points to raise a grade. This to be an inappropriate request. 

Technical issues w/ computers: If a student contacts me on the premise that he/she/they experienced a computer issue and I find info which suggest otherwise, I will consider that scholastic dishonesty and that student will earn a zero on the work in question. If a student does experience a legitimate computer issue, I require documentation before I consider options: 

1. First, immediately take a snapshot IMAGE of the ERROR MESSAGE so you have something to show our IT department and me. You can either take an image of the entire screen using your smart phone or by hitting the "PrtSc" (Print Screen) key on a PC. If you have a Mac, Google the process now, so you are ready should something happen in the future. The time and date should be captured on your screen shot.  Without visual proof of an issue, I do not consider options.
2. Second, you may then send me an email but you must include the snapshot IMAGE *and* the webpage or screen you were attempting to access.  If you know that the issue is a Canvas issue or an issue with the publisher, you should also contact the appropriate entity.  If you are unsure of which to contact, I will assist you in determining this at this time. 
3. Third, contact the appropriate tech support:

• NCTC eCampus HelpDesk - request a TICKET for assistance. For Canvas, click on the word "Help" in the upper right hand corner of Canvas, near "LogOut," and follow the instructions. The phone number is (940) 668-3335, and the direct website to submit a request for technical assistance is https://ecampushelpdesk.nctc.edu/hc/en-us/requests/new.  
• Pearson Website.  To create a ticket with the publisher, submit a request for assistance using the website link: https://support.pearson.com/getsupport/s/contactsupport.  You will need to specify that you are using the product “MyLab Math” and to select “Yes” you are using the school website (Canvas) to log in.

4. Lastly, forward me a copy of the ticket number or email confirmation from tech support.   

Emails, canvas, notifications, and due dates:  Use Canvas to download lecture materials, class notes, read class announcements, track due dates and grades, and email me.

I encourage students to have NCTC emails and Canvas notifications automatically forwarded to the email account they check most regularly. Click on the Canvas "Account" icon, then scroll through both the "Settings" and "Notifications" options.

I do not send reminders for each item of graded work. However, I discuss each assignment in class, and dates are listed in Canvas. I recommend signing into Canvas at least three times a week to stay on top of everything.

Behavior policy: So that we are on the same page, I expect students to be respectful to all and refrain from classroom disruptions. Students may briefly and occasionally check cell phones during class. However, frequent phone use (defined by eyes fixated on the phone for multiple minutes and/or multiple times in a class period) or usage of a computer that distracts fellow students counts as a disruption. Specific action taken during and following other disruptive incidents will depend on the nature of the incident, but it is possible to be removed from a course for behavioral issues.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog)

All students at NCTC are assigned a student email address, also known as Lion Pride email. Lion Pride email can be accessed on the NCTC home page by clicking on MyNCTC, then the link “Lion Pride Email” to the left. After clicking the Lion Pride Email link, the Microsoft Office 365 window will open.
1. Enter your NCTC student e-mail address. (for example, Smithj123456@student.nctc.edu)

2. Enter your password (your NCTC Student ID Number, either 7 or 9 numbers).

3. From the list of Microsoft icons, choose MAIL.

4. You will be asked to set your language and local time zone (Central Time). Your account is now activated.

**It is the student’s responsibility to activate and regularly monitor the assigned NCTC (Lion Pride) e-mail account. Important announcements and notifications from the Admissions office, Financial Aid, or other college staff will be sent via the Lion Pride student email system.

For communicating with classmates and instructors, students also have an option to communicate through Canvas. Canvas messaging is NOT the same as Lion Pride e-mail. Failure to read and/or receive NCTC e-mails (either in Lion Pride or in Canvas) is no excuse for not complying with any school policy. Be sure to regularly check BOTH the Lion Pride email as well as the Canvas inbox for important messages and information.

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to documented illness or emergencies. It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval by the faculty member. Approved college-sponsored activities are also excused absences. The instructor is responsible for judging the validity of any reason given for an absence. Reasons for absence, whether valid or invalid, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless the absence is documented and excused by the instructor. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

• Daily attendance is graded in this course. Students receive two points for each day of attendance. There are approximately 28 days of standard class this semester, but since I only count 25 days for points, a little leeway is built in should you miss a few classes. Be sure to sign the attendance sheets.  Students who miss a class day for any reason will not earn credit for attendance.
• Late entry/leaving early on regular lecture days: If you have to enter late or leave early one day for another obligation, simply be courteous and let me know in advance. However, this should not be a frequent occurrence. Students who miss class, arrive late, leave early, or do not participate during class may earn reduced or no credit for attendance for that day.   Additionally, since entry/ exit is disruptive to the flow of lecture, if a student leaves and returns repeatedly during lecture, that student will lose attendance points. If an unusual circumstance arises, feel free to contact me and we’ll discuss options.
• Please contact a fellow student if you miss/skip lecture:  If you are not present for a lecture, please contact a fellow student to see what was missed. It is not logistically possible for me to re-lecture or type email summaries for each student who misses class. If, after speaking with another student, you have any remaining and specific questions, feel free to email me or see me during office hours. If you missed for an excused reason, you are certainly welcome to connect with me in my office, and I’ll support you in catching up.    

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is Friday, November 1, 2019.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-498-6207.

North Central Texas College is committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/student-services/office-students-with-disabilities.html  

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)________     

o         Communication

x        Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

o         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

o         American History

o         Government/Political Science

o         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

x          Critical Thinking

x          Communication

x          Empirical and Quantitative

o           Teamwork

o           Personal Responsibility

o           Social Responsibility

COURSE TYPE

STUDENT HANDBOOK

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

CAMPUS RESTRICTIONS