GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY

DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS

GRAMBLING ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM (GAP)

FYE 101 – FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE I

AN APPROVED SERVICE-LEARNING CLASS

COURSE SYLLABUS

A.COURSE: First Year Experience I (FYE 101), 1 semester credit hour.

B.REQUIRED TEXT(S): Grambling State University: Tools for Student Success 101 & 102. Littleton, MA: Tapestry Press (2014).

Common Read: Dave Eggers, D. (2013). The Circle. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

C.COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Part one of the First Year Experience – FYE 101 – is designed to assist first year students with their transition to the university community. This course will introduce the entering student to the university’s academic programs, general education requirements, student handbook, university catalog, financial aid and registration, as well as relevant policies and procedures. This course will help to foster self-esteem and positive motivation. It will also expose the first year student to the proud history of Grambling State University. Other topics covered will include college survival skills as: goal setting; time management; learning styles, personality and active learning; critical thinking; listening, note-taking, class participation; reading to remember; test-taking skills, writing and speaking for success. New technologies and various types of research including the use of the college library will be introduced. The course also requires that students participate in a service-learning activity which is important in society today.

D.FYE 101 TOOLS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS CHAPTER TOPICS

Chapter 1: Discover Grambling State University (Historical Milestones)

Chapter 2: Making the Classroom Work for you (Academic Success Skills)

Chapter 3: Becoming A Successful Student (Student Success Skills)

Chapter 4: Making Time Work for You (Time Management)

Chapter 5: Improving your memory and learningskills (Memory Skills)

Chapter 6: Listen Actively and Taking Good Notes (Listen Skills)

FYE 101 – Chapter 7: Developing Test-Taking Skills (Test-Taking Skills)

E.COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1.To assist students in selecting majors that are consistent with their future career choices.

2.To equip students with basic technology skills.

3.To help students fully develop their leadership skills for application in an ever-changing and complex world.

4.To assist students in developing the ability to weigh evidence without bias, tolerate ambiguity, and use ethical principles in their academic and personal lives.

5.To educate students about making healthy life style choices and understanding the consequences of those choices.

6.To expose students to the global society, thereby affording an appreciation for multiculturalism.

7.To encourage students to think critically about all issues that affects them and others.

8.To improve the students’ abilities to manage their time.

9.To engage students in a service-learning activity that develops reading, writing, and thinking skills as well as an appreciation for service to others.

10.To engage first year students and the GAP faculty and staff, join together to read a common book. This project is designed to help students join an intellectual community at GSU, allowing them to increase student engagement and success and to foster a common academic experience.

General Education Course Objectives:

  1. To effectively use information and communication technology
  2. To demonstrate knowledge of the history of Grambling State University
  3. To display knowledge of the importance of giving
  4. To demonstrate an understanding of knowledge of healthy living
  5. To provide evidence of integrity and ethical behavior in academic work and in extracurricular activities
  6. To show evidence of preparation for citizenship in a democratic society

F.COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Examinations will be given based on assigned readings, class discussions and general education learning outcomes for this course.
  2. There will be quizzes based on chapter information and discussions from previous class lectures and/or assigned readings. Be prepared each class period for a possible quiz.
  3. Each student must attend workshops sponsored by FYE and other University academic units. Examples of appropriate events and convocations will include Founder’s Day Program, Black History Month Convocation(s), etc. All events sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs to which students are invited are applicable.
  4. Students must complete the registration process and provide a validated schedule/bill (fee sheet) as evidence of completion to receive the maximum points allotted.
  5. Each student must submit a final journal/essay based upon assigned readings and discussions from the previous classes.
  6. Each student must participate in the assigned service-learning activity, which includes attending the Constitution Day Observance.
  7. Get to class on time daily.
  8. No talking, eating, drinking in class.
  9. Each student must show evidence of the textbooks and have related references.
  10. Each student must have scantrons for quizzes and exams.
  11. Must have Official University excuse for absences.
  12. Late Assignments: Students must have an Official Excuse when submitting late assignments PRIOR to the next class.
  13. Provide a valid e-mail address for class correspondences (GSU e-mail address required).
  14. In accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, Section 4.32 Student Dress Code, the University maintains the traditional notion that male students are prohibited from wearing hats, caps, and/or other head gear in classrooms, offices, assemblies, dining halls, any building, or other places where hats are not expected to be worn. Students must adhere to any special dress standard set by groups presenting social programs such as lyceum events, pageants, or vespers.
  15. Students must refrain from wearing sagging paints.
  16. All students MUST cover their bodies in class. No showing of your thongs, chest, lower back, and upper thigh tattoos, and abdomen jewelry.
  17. Female students refrain from wearing hair scarves, doo-rags, and hair nets.
  18. No wearing of pajamas and house slippers (male or female).
  19. No use of cell phones, IPods, MP3s or other social media devices in class. This will result in 25 points being deducted from each student. If accused student is non-compliant, instant removal from class and any or all assignments will not be accepted for a grade after dismissal.
  20. In accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, Section 4.10, Insubordination and/or Disrespect for Authority, students must comply with reasonable and lawful requests or directives by members of the faculty or staff and be respectful at all times.
  21. NOTE!!! STUDENTS MUST TREAT OTHERS RESPECTFULLY AT ALL TIMES– NO BULLYING!

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Grambling State University adheres to a policy of compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Therefore, it is the policy of the University to: Limit disclosure to others of personally identifiable information from education records without student’s prior written consent, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

G.EVALUATION CRITERIA

1.Examinations

2.Quizzes

3.Academic workshops, seminars, convocations, programs, etc

4.Computer lab experiences, evidence of book, appropriate convocation attire

5.Completion of registration for subsequent semester

6.Journal/Essay reflecting the First Year Experience

7.Participation in Service-Learning Project

8.Service-Learning Journal/Presentation

H.GRADING SCALE:

The final grade for the course will be calculated on the basis of the following scale:

90 – 100 % / A
80 – 89 % / B
70 – 79% / C
60 – 69% / D / – Student will not receive service-learning credit
0 – 59% / F / – Student will not receive service-learning credit

I.OTHER COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Class Attendance – Students must attend all classes and be punctual. Students may receive a failing grade after three (3) unexcused absences. Must have official written excuses for absences.
  1. Academic Honesty – Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct includes all forms of cheating, such as illicit possessions of examination or examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism. (Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another as one’s own work.)
  1. Official convocation attire:

a)Females (white, gold or black top with black slacks or black skirt – length no shorter than 4 inches above the top of the knee cap)

b)Males (button down shirt with black or khaki slacks and belt)

J.SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS:

Barefoot, B.O., Gardner, J.N., Cutright, Marc, Morris, Libby V., Schroeder, Charles C., Schwartz, Stephen W., Siegel, Michael J., & Swing, Randy L. (2005). Achieving and Sustaining Institutional Excellence for the First Year of College. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Upcraft, M.L., Gardner, J.N., Barefoot, B.O., & Associates. (2005). Challenging & Supporting the First-Year Student. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Assurance Statement

Grambling State University adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities should register with the ADA Student Services Coordinator and contact their instructor(s) in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.

If you need accommodations in this class related to a disability, please make an appointment as soon as possible. My office location and hours are listed on the first page of the syllabus.

Usage of cell phones, I pods, MP3s, and all other social/recreational devices are prohibited in this class and are subject to finds and or other disciplinary action.

Headgear (caps, hats, etc.) will not be worn in this class. The University still maintains the traditional notion that male students are prohibited from wearing hats, caps, and/or other head gear in classrooms, offices, assemblies, dining halls, and any building, or other places where hats are not expected to be worn. Students must adhere to any special dress standard set by groups presenting social programs such as lyceum

Syllabus is subject to change(s).