INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

All office hours will be held online this semester.  Students can schedule an appointment with their instructor by selecting the Cisco Webex option in Canvas 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.

**these dates and times will be adjusted after the start of the semester

GRADING CRITERIA

Grade Scale for MATH 1342: 90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C; 60 – 69% = D    Below 60% = F

Grade Scale for NCBM 0242: 70 – 100% = P;   Below 70% = F

• Cell phone calculators are not allowed on exams. Please try not to use these on your homework/quizzes. Scientific calculators or Graphing Calculators may be used on exams.

• Email is the quickest way to contact me. I do try to respond within the same day, except Friday evening to Saturday evening.

• Any student who accumulates in excess of 2 weeks of absence in the class may be dropped (attendance).  Please read the TSI Compliance and Attendance Policy in this syllabus.

• The grading policy may be amended during the semester at the instructor’s discretion.

Learning New Content:

• In this online class, your instructor will hold 1 or 2 webcasts each week to give an overview of the material you will be learning that week. The webcasts will be held in Canvas using Cisco Webex found in the course. If you miss a live webcast, you can watch the recording. The recordings will also be posted in the weekly modules. You are expected to participate in and/or watch the recordings of all webcasts.
• For additional information or details, you can also watch the section video presentations in MyStatsLab. These videos can be accessed from the Multimedia Library, Chapter Contents menu, or in the assignments list in MSL.
• The webcasts take the place of going to class in a traditional course. If you do not have a high-speed Internet connection, it may be difficult to log in to the webcasts or to view the recordings. The webcast recordings and section videos contain instruction on each objective that is to be covered in the course. If you don’t watch the recordings/videos it is equivalent to not coming to class, and will make the homework difficult to complete.

Homework:

• All homework is completed in MSL. The due dates are listed in Canvas and MSL, as well as the weekly schedule. You can complete the assignments until 11:59pm of the due date listed. The homework may be attempted multiple times in order to increase your grade, and your understanding. No late homework will be accepted. 

Quizzes:

• Most of the quizzes are completed in MSL. There are a few quizzes that will be completed in Canvas. Quizzes may be attempted 3 times. Only the highest score will be counted. Students should attempt the quiz multiple times in order to be prepared for the test.

Tests:

• Tests are proctored in Canvas Cisco Webex. I will post the testing date(s) and time(s) in the weekly schedule once the semester starts and I know the availability of most students. You will need to be logged into Canvas Webex, with your webcam on, in order to take the test. Anyone who cannot attend during the scheduled day/time will need to make an appointment with the testing center on the campus closest to you.
• There will be 4 regular exams during the semester. No individual make-up exams will be given. If you know you are going to miss a test in advance, you can make an appointment with me to take the test early.
• There will be one final exam. It is comprehensive and must be taken by all students. The lowest test grade may be substituted with the final exam grade.

Participation Tasks:

• Each week you will have 2-3 participation grades, which are based on you completing tasks that you are asked to do that week. This is an easy grade if you just follow directions and stay checked in from week to week. Participation tasks may include but are not limited to the following: weekly attendance, weekly check-ins in Canvas, attending webcasts.

Class Rules:

• Regular participation and attendance is VERY IMPORTANT in this class! You are enrolling in a FIVE HOUR math course, so expect to work on your Math work very frequently. Waiting to work on one day at the end of the week would be disastrous for this five-hour course!! Assignments will be broken up into two units each week. Failure to complete work in each unit will result in an absence– see below.
• An absence in this online course is defined as the following:
  • Our typical ‘week’ will be broken into two units: Monday to Wednesday, and Thursday to Sunday. All assignments for the week will typically open on Monday, and the first unit homework section(s) will close on Wednesday. The second unit homework section(s) will close on Saturday, and the weekly quiz closes on Sunday.
  • You must log in and complete required assignments at least once every unit (so at least twice a week) or you will be considered absent for the unit and/or week. Optional activities such as study plan or videos do not satisfy the attendance requirement. To be counted present, you must log in and complete at least ONE graded assignment per unit (e.g., homework, quiz, practice test, or test) with a score greater than 50%. If needed, seek help so that you can re-take quizzes or re-try homework in order to get your grade up.

• To be clear: from the first day of the semester, even if you are ahead of the due dates, you must log in at least twice every week and work on assignments unless you have completed all the assignments and taken the final.
• Please do not ask me to extend the due dates. Work ahead on the assignments instead (remember… if something can go wrong, it will).
• If you need additional help, please ask! Your instructor is available to help, and students also have access to free online tutoring through Canvas Upswing.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR MATH 1342

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR NCBM 0242

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.

At North Central Texas College, students who test but do not meet the passing scores in ALL sections of the TSI Assessment or any other THECB approved testing measurements are required by state law to obtain TSI advising and continuously enroll in a formal college preparatory studies (developmental) program every semester until all TSI requirements are satisfied. TSI program attendance is MANDATORY. Non-compliance with the rules of attendance can result in a student being WITHDRAWN from the college preparatory and the college-level math courses. Withdrawals are subject to college policies as set forth in the college catalog.

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 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. Valid reasons for absence, however, 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)

Testing may be administered in a variety of ways and the mode of testing may change during the semester as deemed appropriate by the instructor.  When possible, in-person proctored testing is preferred.  For in-person classes testing will occur during the designated class times.  For online classes in-person proctored testing may be required.  On site testing may be done in an NCTC testing center, at test locations provided by the math division, or at another authorized testing site.  If online testing is used students may be required to use a webcam while testing.  For online testing students will be required to scan and upload supporting documents.  Students may be asked to demonstrate knowledge/skills in a one-on-one conference if deemed necessary by the instructor. 

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Monday, April 5, 2021.

Students who need help with any math class can visit the NCTC Mathematics Lab to receive assistance. Sign up for an appointment or see the most current tutoring hours for all campuses at http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/student-success/tutoring/mathematics-lab.html. 

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. 93-112).   https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/student-services/office-students-with-disabilities.html

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook. https://www.nctc.edu/_documents/academics/student-handbook.pdf 

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 Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

1.  Zero on the assignment
2. Failing grade for the course

Potential Conversion of Onsite Classes to Online/Remote Format: North Central Texas College students should be aware that in the event of a college closure due to COVID-19, onsite classes will be converted to an online/remote format. Students should plan ahead to ensure they have access to the computer equipment (either PC, MAC, or tablet), webcam, and internet connectivity to continue their classes in an online/remote format. Please read all your official North Central Texas College student emails as the transition from onsite to online/remote might require a reorganization in your personal situation. Students will be granted a 72-hour transition and grace period. Online classes will continue as scheduled without disruption. Wear a mask, stay safe, and contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students must wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. Students without coverings, or those who do not comply with the rules relating to face coverings, will not be able to participate in on-campus classroom activities. To request an exception to this requirement, students should contact the NCTC HR Office of Enrollment Management (ccove@nctc.edu). Failure to comply with the face coverings requirement may result in the Instructor directing the student to leave the classroom. Any student asked to leave the classroom may be referred to the student conduct officer. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

Temporary COVID-19 Attendance Policy for Face-to-Face Meetings: We are facing an unprecedented situation in which all of us must be flexible and make prudent decisions in the best interest of our families, our campus, and our community. In light of this, North Central Texas College is temporarily establishing the requirement that faculty keep records of student attendance for face-to-face course meetings as well as a documented seating chart. In addition, students who are sick or need to quarantine should not attend classes. Students will not be required to provide formal documentation from a health care provider and will not be penalized for COVID-19 related absences when proper notification to campus health officials is made in accordance with the guidelines stated below.

Faculty will:

• Notify students about important course information and delivery changes through Canvas and campus email.

Students should:

• Provide notification to campus officials (via NCTC Daily Health Check protocol through Canvas) if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine so we can confirm reported absence with instructors, monitor, and assist the campus community.
• Notify instructors in advance of the absence.
• Connect with that class through Webex if the class session is being transmitted in a hybrid fashion.
• Keep up with and/or make up missed classwork or assignments.
• Submit assignments digitally through Canvas or other means as announced by your instructor.
• Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs, and other critical academic activities described in the course syllabus.
• Check Canvas and campus email daily to receive important announcements pertaining to the course.

During this period, faculty with face-to-face meetings will establish assigned seating/work stations to facilitate roll-taking, and, if necessary, contact tracing. Additionally, we ask all members of the College community to be attentive to their health, and safeguard others, by following the CDC’s guideline to “stay home when you are sick.” You should stay home if you have symptoms. More information on what to do if you are sick is available at the CDC’s website.

Additional NCTC information is available at http://www.nctc.edu/coronavirus/index.html

Tobacco-Free Campus:  NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco, on campus property.

Campus Carry: Effective August 1, 2017, a license holder may carry a concealed handgun on or about the license holder's person while the license holder is on the campus of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state. For more information, see the website at https://www.nctc.edu/campus-safety/campus-carry.html.

Parking Permits: The North Central Texas Community College District has managed traffic and parking regulations in order to ensure the safety of the campus community related to the operation and parking of vehicles on campus. These regulations apply to all operators of motor vehicles on campus. For parking permits and more information, see the website at https://www.nctc.edu/campus-safety/transportation-parking.html.