Gateway to Success/LA 1000113

Fall Semester ‘14

MW 1:30 – 2:25
Fine Arts, Room 124
COURSE SYLLABUS

Professor: James E. Allen

Phone: 245-7417
Email:
Office: Greer Museum, 2nd Floor
Office Hours: 2:30 – 4:00pm, Monday and Wednesday
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Gateway is a one (1) credit hour General Education course which is required of all entering students at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College. The course is designed to:
  • assist students with the choice of a college major and career life planning
  • examine the college experience and what it means to be a college student
  • develop an understanding of the learning process, acquire basic academic "survival skills" and utilize information technology skills
  • gain an appreciation for a variety of artistic expressions and topics of current interest, which includes cultural diversity, personal health and well being, and music, dance and theater
PREREQUISITES: None
CREDIT HOURS: 1
Required Materials:
Pocket Folder
Datebook/Planner(must be approved by instructor)
Handouts from lecture and presentations
Required Text:
University of Rio Grande Student Handbook- available online only; rio.edu, then to Student Services
University of Rio Grande Course Catalog– Currently online;student will receive further instruction.
Off To College(booklet)2014Edition
PROGRAM OUTCOMES--The following outcomes have been adopted for the degree program for which this course is required: The successful student will:
• Communicate effectively
• Think critically
• Develop a global perspective
• Develop an understanding of cultural diversity
• Develop a social and scientific understanding of human behavior
• Develop an appreciation of the Arts, Humanities and SocialSciences in expressing and analyzing
humanvalues and lifefrom multiple perspectives.
COURSE OUTCOMES: The following outcomes have been adopted for this course. All outcomes listed below have direct relevance to course material. Upon completion of thiscourse students are expected to:
  • Choose an appropriate college major
  • Utilize academic “survival skills”
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening
  • Use appropriate critical thinking skills to solve problems involving educational situations
  • Discuss the value of attending various events related to the arts (music, dance, and theater), cultural diversity, personal health & well-being
  • Use information technology, including email and web-based material

Grading System:
This is a letter-graded course. You must earn 70 % of all possible points to receive a passing grade of “C.”
Attendance/Participation (Attendance taken beginning 8/25) 14 classes
Attend3 LA100Events 3 eventsx 15pts.ea.Journals (9) 9journals x 10 pts. ea.
Outside Assignments (To be determined by the instructor) 3 x 15 pts. ea.
Reading Quizzes #TBD x 10 pts. ea.
“Who Am I?” Paper and PowerPoint 35=35 = 70 pts.
Final Exam(comprehensive) 50 pts.
*Students who miss five classes fail the course.
*Students who do not take the final fail the course.
Grading scale:
The following grading scale will be used to determine final grade:
Grade Percentage
A = 90-100%
B = 89-80%
C = 79-70%
F = 69% and below /No grades of “D” or “I” (incomplete) will be issued.
Late Assignments Policy:
Late work will not be accepted.Should you need to be absent, work may be submitted to me at my office, via e-mail if appropriate, or via my campus mail box,prior to/or on the date due.
Exams: Comprehensive final exam given on the last day of class.(December 9)
Quizzes: Pop quizzes may be given to reinforce material, and should be expected following guest
lectures.
Journal Assignments:
The purpose of the assignment is to:
  • Obtain more practice in writing and the use of e-mail
  • Communicate some problem you had or are having and how you did/did not solve it
  • Provide a medium of communication between you and your instructor
  • Serve as a means for you to reflect upon your experiences and what you learned from them
  • Utilize e-mail and your campus account
Successful completion of this assignment requires that you:
  • Submit nine(9) journals on topics assigned by your instructor; assigned on Mondays, due
by Thursday at 5pm. (same week).
  • Format is tobe one page, double-spaced typed.
  • If sent via email, must be sent as an attachment in the (above) format.
  • Journal entries are to be reactive; a recording of how you felt or what you thought or learned in specific situations. Must address the topic.
  • Complete all required assignments, and keep them in your folder for future class reference.
Lecture, Lab and Assignment Information: TBA
Classroom and Lab Behavior:

Cell phones and pagers are to be put on vibrate, and put away. No texting, cell phone or IPod use during class.Onewarning after which confiscation of the device, or dismissal from class may result, and the student deemed absent/unexcused.

Class Participation:
Expected. Be on time for class. Multiple incidences of lateness may/will result in the student being barred from the classroom, resulting in an absence.
Policies Involving Attendance:
  • Daily attendance is MANDATORY and weighs into the calculation of the final grade.
  • Students are permitted two absences with no deduction in final grade. However, absences three
and four will result in a deduction in grade, and five absences will result in failure of the course.
  • Attendance will be taken for each class meeting beginning August 25.
  • Doctors’ excuses are unnecessary.
  • Please notify the instructor in advance if you have plans to miss a class meeting.
  • You will be responsible for obtaining any handout material from missing a class meeting.
  • YOUare responsible for knowing where class is being held. We will not always meet in the
classroom.
Vocabulary: Student will receive several handouts throughout the course.
FERPA: The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College are committed to fully respecting and protecting the rights of students under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These rights generally include the right to inspect, review and seek amendment to the student's education records and the right to provide written consent before personally identifiable information from education records is disclosed. Under FERPA, students have the right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures to comply with FERPA. Please see the Student Records Confidentiality/Rights Under FERPA section of the Student Handbook for details and more information.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Universitypolicies, as described in the Student Handbook, apply.
WITHDRAWAL: Refer to Student Handbook; however, the withdrawal policy will be discussed at the first class meeting.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Aug 25 First Day of Class/Attendance Taken
Aug 29 Last Day to Add a Class/Drop with Refund
Sept 1 Labor Day/no classes
Sept 11 New Student Convocation @ 10:30 Mandatory!
Sept 30 Real World Exercise
Oct 10 Community Service Day/ no classes
Oct 13 Second 7 Weeks Classes Begin
Oct 27 Spring Schedule Available for Online Viewing
Nov 3 Spring Registration Begins
Nov 24-26 Fall Break
Nov 27/28 Thanksgiving
Dec 8 Last Day of Fall Classes
Dec 9-12Final Exams
Dec 12 End of Fall Semester

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