GFYE 0097 P: The Gordon College First-Year Experience Fall 2013

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Lorraine Armstrong
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1 GFYE 0097 P: The Gordon College First-Year Experience Fall 2013 Tu, Th 2:00 2:50 p.m. Instructor: Mrs. Valerie Calhoun Office: Academic 102 Mailbox: Academic 103 Phone Numbers: (678) : (678) Text: Office Hours: TU, TH TU, TH Academic Catalog for Gordon College 7:20 a.m. - 7:50 a.m. 11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. Course Description: A required course for all students entering Gordon College with one or more Learning Support requirements (Math, English (writing), and Reading) and optional for all other students. An introduction to college life and responsibilities meant to assist freshmen in making a successful transition from high school to college. The course emphasizes the programmatic development of academic literacy (improving study, time management, and interpersonal communication skills), enhancing awareness of college resources and policies, encouraging participation in the college community, and addressing college-related attitudes and practices. Students who are required to take the course must pass with a "C" or better, and they must repeat the course each semester of enrollment until they achieve a "C" or better. Course Objectives: By the end of the semester, you should be able to: * explain and use campus resources available to you as a student, * develop a sense of connectedness to the Gordon College community through attendance at or participation in campus activities and cultural events, * understand the lexical, behavioral, and philosophical underpinnings of the larger academic community, * appreciate the connectedness of your General Education courses with those in your chosen or eventual major, * develop confident interpersonal communications skills in your interactions with the students, faculty, staff and administration of Gordon College, * enhance your potential for academic (and career) success through the development of constructive study, work, and critical thinking skills, * expand your appreciation, understanding, and respect of ideas, creeds, and cultures different from your own. Course Meetings: This course meets two times a week for the first eight weeks of the semester, a total of 16 class meetings. Mid-term for this class is September 11, GFYE 0097 Requirement and Academic Credit: 1. This course, as a Learning Support class, is considered an Institutional Credit course, meaning that it does not count towards a student s GPA, nor do its credits apply to the Core Curriculum towards any degree program. 2. Students who are required to take the course must pass with a "C" or better, and they must repeat the course each semester of enrollment until they achieve a "C" or better. 3. A failing grade in this course could compromise a student s potential for receiving financial aid.

2 4. If you have Learning Support requirements and are concurrently enrolled in one or more Learning Support courses which meets your requirement(s) and in one or more college-level credit course, you may not withdraw from GFYE 0097 unless you also withdraw from all collegelevel credit courses (University System of Georgia policy). 5. Students who do NOT have LS requirements or are not enrolled in college-credit courses may drop the course with a W by the midterm date for an 8-week class. We encourage students to stay in the class, of course. Be aware that if you receive financial aid, withdrawing from a class means that a portion of your limited financial aid funds are wasted. Course Requirements: To receive a passing grade in this course, all of the following components must be completed and turned in according to deadline: Attendance (15%): You are expected to attend class. Class will begin at the appointed time. If you are not here when I check roll, you are welcome to come in the classroom, but you will counted absent for that class period. To keep disruptions to a minimum, please do not enter class more than 5 minutes late. Your attendance grade will be the actual percentage of classes for which you receive attendance credit (for example, if you are credited with 13 of 16 days attended, the percentage is 81%). I will not accept any excuses for missed days. Your attendance grade is worth 15% of your final grade. Exam over Catalog (20%): A test on the information for students provided by the Academic Catalog. This exam is worth 20% of your final grade. Academic and Career Target Plan (20%): This is a plan a student produces in consultation with an academic advisor to map out the courses needed to complete a fouryear degree in a chosen major. Your Target Plan should include an explanation of the major you are considering, a list of courses necessary to complete a 4-yr degree in that major, a consideration of three institutions that offer that degree and why each might be appropriate for you, and an explanation of three possible career paths or opportunities for further education that one might pursue after completion of that 4-yr degree. You will set up an appointment with Ms. Tonya Moore in the Student Success Center to create a career portfolio. This requirement is worth 20% of your final grade. Personal and Educational Financial Plan (20%): A plan produced by the student that will demonstrate their understanding of financial management principles as they relate to matters of personal finance and the management of educational costs while enrolled in college. This plan should include the following key areas: personalized educational costs analysis (i.e. tuition, transportation, housing, etc.) for the completion of a 2 year degree program, personal income and expense assessment (i.e. personal budget), and identifiable short and long term goals targeting debt-reduction and loan repayment. This requirement is worth 20% of your final grade. Classroom Assignments, Journals, and Online Assignments: (10%): These assignments will include time management assignments, note taking skills, learning styles worksheets, and journal essays on discussion topics concerning various topics we will discuss later in class. These assignments will be completed during class time, for homework, and also online using D2L. These assignments will be worth 10% of your final grade. Final Exam (15%): A cumulative exam covering key concepts and skills examined throughout the semester. This exam is worth 15% of your final grade.

3 Extra Credit Opportunities: There will be opportunities during the semester to attend workshops in the Gordon State College Student Success Center. I will announce the schedule of these workshops throughout the semester. Grading Numerical Equivalents: = A; = B; = C; = D; Below 60 = F Online Assignments All online assignments will be assigned using GeorgiaVIEW D2L. You can find the link to Georgia VIEW D2L from the Gordon College Homepage. Go to My Gordon and click on GeorgiaVIEW D2L. Then log on the same way that you check your Gordon College . Make sure you have the pop-ups unblocked and let any files download. Then you can find your grades, a copy of the syllabus, any upcoming assignments and forms you need, and any online assignments I will give you. The due dates for any online assignments will be given in class. Plagiarism: The Gordon State College Catalog Code of Conduct states: Plagiarism is prohibited. It is assumed that the written work submitted for evaluation and credit is the student's own unless appropriately acknowledged. Such acknowledgment should occur whenever one directly quotes another person's actual words, appropriates another's ideas, opinions, or theories even when they are paraphrased, and whenever one borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials unless the information is common knowledge. If you use phrases of an existing work or another student s work as part of your own words without giving the correct documentation, your will receive a failing grade for the assignment. If you copy an entire assignment, you will fail this course. Deadlines: All assignments are due on the date given. Late work will be accepted ONE class period following the deadline and will be penalized one full grade-level. You cannot turn in assignments in person OR online to me more than one class period late. You will receive a zero on any work not turned in by the next class time. Classroom Behavior: Turn off cell phones and other electronic devices before class begins. If your cell phone goes off in class, I will ask you to leave the classroom. Students who are interrupting class with talking, sleeping, and disrupting class will be asked to leave the class. I have the right and jurisdiction to remove you from this class (and deny your readmission) should I judge your classroom behavior disruptive or disrespectful. ADA Services: If you need academic accommodations for a disability, you must go through the process of receiving approved accommodations through the Student Counseling and Disability Services office, Student Center, Room 212, phone

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