University Seminar 1301

Fall 2012

Eating, Breathing and Beautifying Ourselves Sick

Instructor: Michelle Peña-Fuentes, M.S. Section: 16725MW12:00-1:20CRBL C204

Office: Academic Advising Center Building, 133

Office Hours:Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00-10:30 or by appointment

E-mail: Telephone: (915)747-6673

Peer Leader:Tillie AlvillarE-mail:

Office:UGLC 212Telephone:(915)747-6144

Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 10:30-11:30

Librarian:Virginia RassaeiTelephone:747-5687E-mail:

Required Textbooks: Borders: crossing into your future University Seminar 1301 Textbook, Fourth Edition (University Bookstore), and “Eating, Breathing and Beautifying Ourselves Sick” Article Reading Packet (will be posted on Blackboard for printout).

Course Description: We live in a very contaminated world and hear about it in the news every day. However, when we hear about contamination we only think about air, soil and water contaminants. We rarely stop to think about contaminants in the food we eat and in the everyday products that we use for beauty or cleaning our homes. Many would never imagine that those contaminants are what affect us most each and every day. Students in this course will not only analyze, read and investigate about the issues mentioned above, but they will also take into account issues that deal with their success in college. Amongst those success strategies are effective time management, note-taking, exam preparation, critical thinking and reading, and career guidance, amongst others. Also, students will participate in UTEP and community events, thus helping them become part of the greater UTEP/El Paso community.

Course Objectives:

  • Students will learn about and practice essential study skills needed to be successful in a university.
  • Students will establish contacts with professors, university staff and other classmates to create a positive environment and support group.
  • Students will learn to assess and understand more about their own interests, abilities and values in order to realize their academic, career and life goals.
  • Students will become involved in activities related to UTEP and also learn about the resources available to them through their campus.

Grading Criteria:

  • Daily grades (quizzes, short essays, and oral presentations): 70%
  • Description—
  • Quizzes: quizzes over the readings for the week.
  • Summaries: one to two pages long on documentaries presented in class.
  • Presentations: over campus events and/or campus resources; these will mostly be group presentations.
  • Learning Guides: learning guides over chapters and readings assigned for the week
  • Class Participation: 10%
  • Description—
  • Assistance is very important; therefore 10% of your final grade will be in class participation. Please see attendance policy.
  • Final Research, annotated bibliographyand documentary: 10%
  • Description—
  • Final research and short documentary on a specific course topic.
  • Annotated Bibliography on research topic APA style
  • Career Portfolio: 10%
  • Description—
  • A portfolio that will include short and long term goals, cover letter, resume and Choices activity.

Course Policies:

Attendance Policy

  • In order to be successful in University Seminar 1301, it is necessary to have good attendance. Part of this course includes learning to be successful in a university, and being responsible with your classes and assistance.
  1. After being absent for four consecutive days (2 weeks), you will be dropped from the course.
  2. After being absent for more than four non-consecutive days, you will lose the 10% of the class participation grade.
  3. Being late to class (10 minutes late or more), will count as a half-absence.
  4. Leaving class early will count as a half-absence.
  5. This policy refers to ALL kinds of absences (excused or unexcused)
  6. See instructor if you have extenuating circumstances regarding absences or missed work.
  • Quizzes will be givenonly at the beginning of class. If you are late and do not take the quiz with the rest of the class, you will earn a grade of a zero for the quiz.
  • There will be make-up quizzes and assignments only under extreme circumstances. Please contact instructor.
  • In case of an emergency, please contact the instructor or peer leader.
  • Extra credit will be given throughout the semester as different campus, city and environmental events are available.
  • You should turn off your cell phone when you are in class. In case it rings during class or you are found text messaging during class, you will give your cell phone to the instructor and you will lose 10 points from your next quiz. The cell phone will be given to you at the end of class.
  • All work turned in should be typed (12 pt. font, double-spaced), or it will not be accepted.
  • You will receive an email with an invitation to complete and online student feedback survey from the Entering Student Program at the end of November. You will need to complete this as part of a requirement for the course.
  • Copyright Statement:
  • Some of the materials in this course are copyrighted. Violation of US copyright law can result in civil damages up to $100,000 for each work copied. Copying of textbooks is not “fair use” under the Copyright Act. The “fair use doctrine” only permits non-commercial copying of part (in general, not more than 10%) of a copyrighted work. Do not bring a copied textbook to this class. Your cooperation is expected.
  • 1.3 Student Conduct (from the Handbook of Operating Procedures: Student Affairs)
  • Each student is responsible for notice of and compliance with the provisions of the Regents Rules and Regulations which are available for inspection electronically at
  • 1.3.1 Scholastic Dishonesty (from the Handbook of Operating Procedures: Student Affairs)
  • It is the official policy of the University that all suspected cases or acts of alleged scholastic dishonesty must be referred to the Dean of Students for investigation and appropriate disposition. It is contrary to University policy for a faculty member to assign a disciplinary grade such as an “F” or zero to an assignment, test, examination, or other course work as a sanction for admitted or suspected scholastic dishonesty in lieu of normally charging the student through the Dean of Students. Similarly, students are prohibited from proposing and/or entering into arrangement with a faculty member to receive grade of “F” or any reduced grade in lieu of being charged with scholastic dishonesty. Any student who commits an act of scholastic dishonesty is subject to discipline. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an exam nation for another person any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.
  • 1.3.12 Plagiarism (from the Handbook of Operating Procedures: Student Affairs)
  • Plagiarism means the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission of incorporation of it in one’s own academic work offered for credit, or using work in a paper or assignment for which the student had received credit in another course without direct permission of all involved instructors.
  • Syllabus Change Policy:
  • Except for changes that substantially affect the evaluation statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.
  • Policy for final exams(From the online Schedule of Classes)
  • Exemption from final examination may not be given. Final examinations are scheduled to be two hours, forty-five minutes in length and take place during the final examination period. It is the policy of the university not to administer a second final examination in the course. It is also university policy that students shall not have more than two final examinations in a single day. In the unlikely event that the examination schedule results in a student having three final examinations on a single day, the faculty member upon the request of the student shall reschedule the second of that student’s three examinations.

Students with Disabilities

  • If you need accommodations because of a disability or medical condition please meet with me and contact the Center for Accommodations and Support Services in Union East Room #106 (747-5148).

COMMUNICATION AND UPDATES WILL BE THROUGH BLACKBOARD AND FACEBOOK

  • You will access Blackboard by logging into
  • You will access our Facebook Page by having us add you to our class Facebook Page.
  • Through Blackboard and Facebook, you will communicate with your professor, peer leader, and access class information such as: the syllabus, calendar, and updates about the class.
  • Checking your Blackboard and/or Facebookaccount daily will be absolutely necessary in order to be successful in this course!!!

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

  • Labor Day (no classes): Sep. 3, 2012
  • Census Day: Sep. 12, 2012
  • Midterm grades are posted on Goldmine and e-mailed to Freshmen: Oct. 19, 2012
  • Drop Date: Nov. 2, 2012
  • Thanksgiving Holiday (no classes): Nov. 22-23, 2012
  • Last day of class: Dec. 6, 2012
  • Dead day (no classes): Dec. 7, 2012
  • Final Exams week: Dec. 10-14, 2012
  • Grades are posted on Goldmine: Dec. 24, 2012

Calendar

Week / Dates / Readings/Lectures
Week 1 / 8/27/12-8/31/12 / Borders: Introduction: Welcome to UTEP
Discussion in class for this week: introduction to the university, class syllabus and expectations, overview of Univ. 1301
Week 2 / 9/3/12-9/7/12 / Borders: Chapter 10 Campus Resources
Articles: “The Secret History”
Discussion in class for this week: campus resources, student clubs and organizations and article for the week
Week 3 / 9/10/12-9/14/12 / Borders: Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your University
Articles: “The Secret History”
Discussion in class for this week: Learning about your university, UTEP history, college organizational structure, degree plans, academic advising themes, and articles mentioned for the week
Week 4 / 9/17/12-9/21/12 / Borders: Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your University
Articles:“Fear Sells”
Discussion in class for this week: Learning about your university, UTEP history, college organizational structure, degree plans, academic advising themes, and articles mentioned for the week
Week 5 / 9/24/12-9/28/12 / Borders: Chapter 2 The Differences Between High School and College
Articles: “Fear Sells”
Discussion in class for this week: differences between high school and college , time management, calculating GPA, diversity, and articles mentioned for this week
Week 6 / 10/1/12-10/5/12 / Borders: Chapter 8 Career Planning
Articles: “Indecent Exposure”
Discussion in class for this week: career planning, career exploration, leadership and articles mentioned for this week
Week 7 / 10/8/12-10/12/12 / Borders: Chapter 9 Money Matters for the UTEP Student
Articles“Indecent Exposure”
Discussion in class for this week: Money issues for UTEP students, student loans, grants, and scholarships, credit card use and the articles mentioned for this week.
Week 8 / 10/15/12-10/19/12 / Borders: Chapter 3 Mining for Success I Preparing to Learn
Articles: “Not too Pretty”
Discussion in class for this week: active learning, learning styles, critical thinking and memory exercises and the articles mentioned for this week.
Week 9 / 10/22/12-10/26/12 / Borders: Chapter 4 Mining for Success II Making the Grade
Articles: “Not too Pretty”
Discussion in class for this week: study skills such as note-taking, test-taking, critical reading, public speaking, and writing skills together with articles mentioned for this week.
Week 10 / 10/29/12-11/2/12 / Borders: Chapter 5 Academic Resources
Articles: “Pinkwashing”
Discussion in class for this week: academic online resources, library visit, research skills and the articles mentioned for this week.
Tuesday, Oct. 30th: we will meet in library for library visit
Week 11 / 11/5/12-11/9/12 / Borders: Chapter 4 Mining for Success II Making the Grade
Articles: “Safer Food for a Healthier You”
Discussion in class for this week: study skills such as note-taking, test-taking, critical reading, public speaking, and writing skills together with articles mentioned for this week.
Week 12 / 11/12/12-11/16/12 / Borders: Chapter 7 Healthy Student Living
Articles: “How to become a statistic”
Discussion in class for this week: healthy student living, mental fitness, managing stress, depression, and articles mentioned for this week
Week 13 / 11/19/12-11/23/12 / Borders: Chapter 6 Avoiding Hazards Along the Way
Discussion in class for this week: avoiding hazards that will put students at risk of failure such as avoiding procrastination, excessive absenteeism, academic peril, academic dishonesty, hazing and sexual harassment.
Week 14 / 11/26/12-11/30/12 / Due: Entering Student Program Feedback Survey
Research and Preparation week for Final Documentaries
Thanksgiving: no class on Thursday 11/29 and Friday11/30
Week 15 / 12/3/12-12/7/12 / Final Research and Documentary Presentation
Discussion in class for this week: final presentations on different health, food and cosmetic themes
Week 16 / 12/10/12-12/14/12 / Week of Finals
Class Final: Friday, Dec. 14 1:00-3:45

*This calendar is subject to changes. You will be advised about those changes in advance.