COL 101 Dr. Stewart Goldberg
Freshman Seminar Fall 2012
Thursday 2:00-3:15pm Room ASHROK-106
SYLLABUS
COL 101 FRESHMAN SEMINAR
CRN 91949 – Thursday 2:00-3:15pm
Professor Dr. Stewart Goldberg
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Recommended Text:
Online Curriculum, no text required
The Elements of Style, 3rd edition, William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White, Handbook
Forrest Gump (pb.)
Required Text:
Suffolk Community College Student Handbook and College Catalog 2008-11
COURSE PURPOSE:
This course aims to familiarize students to the college environment. To introduce students to methods, techniques, and strategies that may help them to succeed as students. Within this course, you will have an opportunity to learn what it means to read, write, and think like a college student, as well as the necessary tools to successfully interact with other members of a higher education community.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students are expected to complete all assigned work on time, to attend class regularly, and to participate in class discussions and activities. Excessive absence is defined by the college as more than one class meeting. Excessive absence or lateness, whether excused or unexcused may result in a grade penalty and/or removal from the class roster.
STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE FOLLOWING:
· One campus activity event of the students choice
· Library Orientation
· Career Workshop
· Computer Center Orientation
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
ALL written assignments should be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 font with proper margins. If an assignment has excessive errors, it will be returned without a grade. The student is expected to correct such errors and the assignment resubmitted the next class meeting to receive credit. *ALWAYS* use spell check prior to printing.
Plagiarism and cheating are considered academic dishonesty and will be directed to the appropriate office for resolution. Please properly site when necessary. NEED HELP? Ask for assistance.
Plagiarism occurs when one does not give credit to another person’s ideas. It includes lifting paragraphs from a book, article, or the Internet, representing someone else’s work as your own, and failing to acknowledge the ideas of another person. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade for the course and/or serious disciplinary sanctions as outlined in the Code of Conduct. (See Student Handbook)
· Campus Activity Report: The Campus Activity report is a one page typed report of a scheduled campus event.
· Library Research Project: Students will use the SCCC library orientation to locate sources to be integrated with a class project.
· Major/Career Paper: This assignment will ask students to explore the various job opportunities available through their major. For those who are undecided about a major, it will provide an opportunity to investigate a possible future career and/or major.
· Learning Journal: Students may periodically be asked to submit journal entries regarding learned information, both in and outside the classroom, as well as reflections on personal and academic growth.
· Case Study: A psycho-social approach to analyze a subject’s behavior.
GRADING POLICY (1.5 CREDITS):
Your course grade will be a culmination of the following components:
ü Attendance in Class
ü Participation in Class
ü Major/Career Paper
ü Other Written Assignments (includes Library Research Project, Campus Activity Report, and Case Study)
ASSIGNMENTS/HANDOUTS TO BE DOWNLOADED:
To permit easy access to all documents for this class, I am providing you with a link to a website (see below). Please follow directions exactly as stated.
Type the following link into your web address bar and hit enter:
http://drgpsych.com
Click on the COL101 folder on the left.
You will now see more folders containing documents that can be printed or saved.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
· Examine the purposes of higher education and understand your place in a higher education setting.
· Explore personal and societal issues faced by first year students (i.e. alcohol and other drug use and abuse, sexuality, cultural diversity, etc.).
· Define short-term as well as long-term goals within the professional and educational environment (i.e. career development and academic advisement).
· Expand your knowledge of the resources and services provided by Suffolk Community College and the extended community.
· Understand time, stress, and personal resource management.
· Acquire academic survival skills to promote active learning.
· Become proficient in mastering electronic communication skills in utilizing the academic computer center.
· Acquire problem solving skills through analysis and critical thinking.
· Develop interpersonal skills through interaction in group activities.
· Become familiar with and learn to use SCCC’s library homepage and resources.
SCHEDULE:
Thursday, 8/30/12 – Introduction to COL101, text, requirements, and “Why Are We Here.” Discussion and assignment regarding the handouts: Learning Channels, Master Student, and Tackling My Fears. All handouts can be found by going to www.drgpsych.com.
Thursday, 9/6/12 – Computer Essentials Workshop in the Academic Computer Center. Check for location in your student handbook or on any map of the campus.
Thursday, 9/13/12 – Career Planning Workshop to be held in Nesconset Hall - Room 2. Career Assignment.
Thursday, 9/20/12 – Campus Activity – Case Study Presentation & Assignment.
Thursday, 9/27/12 – Writing & Research Skills. Library Workshop - Room Sagtikos-160.
Thursday, 10/4/12 – AIDS and related Healthcare Issues among college students – Guest Speaker from Suffolk County Department of Health.
Thursday, 10/11/12 – Time Management, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving & Decision Making
Thursday, 10/18/12 – Open
Thursday, 10/25/12 – Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Thursday, 11/1/12 – Depression/Suicide Workshop – Guest Speaker from Response.
Thursday, 11/8/12 – Financial Planning for college students – credit cards, debt, interest rates, budgeting, etc. – Guest Speaker.
Monday, 11/12/12 – Priority registration for Spring 2013 begins.
Thursday, 11/15/12 – Domestic Violence – Case Studies. Guest Speaker from VIBS.
Wednesday, 11/21/12 – Thanksgiving recess begins.
Thursday, 11/29/12 – Sexual Harassment on Campus – film.
Thursday, 12/6/12 – Bias - Film
Thursday, 12/13/12 – Open
Thursday, 12/20/12 – College make-up date for day & evening classes; if necessary.
TOPICS:
Established Topics to be Covered:
Ø College Resources
Ø Goal setting
Ø Time Management
Ø Library Orientation (1 session)
Ø Academic Computing Lab (1 session)
Ø Academic Survival Skills:
o Note taking/Study Skills/Reading
o Test Taking
Ø Communication/Relationship Building
Ø Diversity
Ø Memory
Ø Critical Thinking
Ø Learning Styles/Personal Inventory
Optional Topics:
Ø Money Management
Ø Health
EMAIL:
Subject: E-mail contact with students
There seems to be some confusion as to college and federal policy regarding communicating with students through e-mail. As long as the student contacts you through his or her SUNY Suffolk account you are permitted to reply. If a student contacts you through a private account, please ask the student to re-send through his or her college account.
Judith Travers, Ph.D.
Academic Chair, Dept. of Social Sciences & Criminal Justice
Ammerman Campus
Suffolk County Community College
(631) 451-4750
BEST PRACTICES FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
(09-09)
1. Absences/Attendance: "The college defines excessive absence or lateness as more than the equivalent of missing more than one week of class during the semester. An instructor may remove a student, at any time, when, in the judgment of the professor, absences have been excessive." (college catalog, p. 68)
The maximum number of absences and latenesses are to be stated in the course outline as well.
2. Withdrawals/Incompletes: The faculty member will make every attempt to limit the number of withdrawals and incompletes that are granted. Withdrawal necessitates the completion of the appropriate paperwork by the student prior to the completion of the semester. In addition, the withdrawal date without penalty should be clear.
Students who do not officially withdraw after the withdrawal deadline will receive the appropriate letter grade and will not be automatically be given a W.
In terms of incompletes, are required to prearrange incompletes and provide appropriate documentation when they are requesting one.
3. Extra Credit: If allowing extra credit, faculty limit the overall value of extra credit
assignments to no more than 5% of the student's total grade. Also, extra credit
cannot be used as a substitute for required assignments.
4. Use of personal electronic devices: All electronic devices should be out of sight
and on mute/vibrate mode during class.
5. Academic Integrity: It is suggested that the following statement be included on the
course outline and that faculty follow the following policy: The college code of
conduct expressively prohibits "any and all forms of academic or other dishonesty."
(college catalog, p. 69) Two forms of dishonesty are cheating and plagiarism:
Cheating: "Any form of cheating, be it on a formal examination, informal quiz, or other submitted material, is a violation of the college code of conduct" (college catalog, p, 69} and may result in a failing grade for the course and/or serious disciplinary actions/sanctions.
Plagiarism: "Students should realize that presenting the words and ideas of others as their own is dishonest." (college catalog, p. 69)
Examples of plagiarism include but are not limited to:
· Knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as your own
· Paraphrasing or copying materials from a source without appropriate citation
· Turning in another student's work
· Buying and/or downloading a paper from a research service or term paper mill
The department policy is that anyone who is caught plagiarizing or cheating will be given, at minimum, an F for the assignment. In addition, the name will be forwarded to the dean of student's office (Student Handbook, p, 120) so there will be a record that the F was given as a result of plagiarism or cheating.
6. Makeup exams: Makeup exams are not automatic and should not be encouraged. Make-up exams must be proctored by faculty in a secure college location.
REVISED LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR COL 101 AS A RESULT OF THE
FRESHMAN SEMINAR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF 4/22/10
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
A. Articulate the purposes of higher education and define their place in a higher education setting.
B. Examine personal and societal issues faced by first year students including alcohol and other drug use and abuse, sexuality, cultural diversity, etc.
C. Define short-term, as well as, long-term goals within professional and educational fields including career development and academic advisement.
D. Demonstrate familiarity with the resources and services provided by SCCC and the extended community.
E. Demonstrate understanding of time, stress, and personal resource management techniques.
F. Identify academic survival skills.
G. Demonstrate proficiency in electronic communication skills.
H. Solve problems through analysis and critical thinking.
I. Interact effectively in group activities
J. Access and utilize SCCC’s library homepage and resources.
4