o             Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

X          Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o        WECM Course

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  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)]”. 

Academic Integrity:  I believe that education serves a higher purpose and as such take scholastic dishonesty very seriously.  I will penalize students who commit it with the full extent of NCTC policy.  I do not tolerate plagiarism because education is about “turning souls toward the truth,” as Plato explains in the Republic, and so my purpose is to open students to a higher truth, not to make sure they get a credit any way they can.  The mission of this course is to develop you, the student, as well as our community.   This course, and NCTC in general, is a public service aimed at educating citizens in this republic.  Plagiarism disrespects this important mission and cheating to merely get a grade also cheats the taxpayers of North Texas.  I, and many educators, believe that the role of education is crucial to a free republic and is about nurturing the intellect so that citizens can appreciate the arts of a freeperson – not just about getting people jobs. It is about helping people to think beyond the practical and to provide them with the knowledge base and cultural capital to maintain a democracy; it is not something to be simply gotten through as easily as possible.  For this reason, scholastic dishonesty demonstrates that one does not care for the true value of education but cares only for their individual interests.  So, to discourage this fraudulent behavior, I will not hesitate to enforce all available consequences in punishing instances of scholastic dishonesty.  You will receive a "1" (out of either 10) on the assignment  (as a code for me to recognize)  and I will submit a Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form (see the first module for the form) to inform the Registrar’s Office. 

Plagiarism is the appropriating of another person’s ideas or words without giving them credit.  Here is NCTC’s official definition: “Plagiarism” shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work.  Generally, in my courses, this has been copying and pasting passages from internet sources and submitting them in essays.  In this course I want you ONLY to use OUR TEXT.  You should not consult other sources except for supplemental purposes.  So, even if you do cite that places that you obtained passages from, and thereby do not plagiarize, I will still penalize the submission.  The point is this:  I want YOU to engage with the material, struggle with it, dialogue with me and others, and internalize the ideas so that YOUR mind grows.  I am not interested in your ability to google things.  In the same way that you cannot cheat your body by not doing the exercises that you are supposed to do, you cannot cheat your mind of its necessary exercises – to do so makes one weak, either physically or mentally.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

COVID-19 Specific Syllabi Statements Fall 2021

Syllabi statement regarding 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 or other health related crisis, 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. Contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 27, 2021 and are subject to change as conditions change.

Syllabi Statement Regarding Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students are not required to wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. In May, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott released an Executive Order prohibiting Government entities from mandating the use of masks. As a political subdivision of the State of Texas, NCTC will follow the Governor’s Executive Order for Government entities and effective immediately NCTC is no longer mandating the use of masks while on campus. This order does not mean that you cannot choose to wear a mask, rather it is no longer allowed to be mandated. These policies and procedures were updated on May 19, 2021 and are subject to change.

Return to Standard Attendance Protocol for Face-to-Face Meetings: In spring 2020, we faced an unprecedented situation in which all of us had to 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 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 the fall 2021 semester, 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