COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2014
Aug. 25th – Dec. 5thLecture: M 2:30
Gateway to Success
LA10001 - sec. 22Music Majors only
Professor: Christopher Kenney
Phone: 7391Email:
Office: FA 154
Office Hours: MW 1:00-2:30
TTh 1:30-2:30
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a one (1) credit hour course required of all entering students at the University of Rio Grande. The course is designed to assist students with the choice of a college major and career life planning. It will also help students adjust to college, develop an understanding of the learning process, and acquire basic academic "survival skills." Students will gain an appreciation for a variety of artistic expressions and topics of current interest, which include cultural diversity, personal health and well-being, and music, dance, and theatre.
PREREQUISITES:
none
CREDIT HOURS: 1
TEXTBOOK AND OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS:
· University of Rio Grande Student Handbook
· University of Rio Grande Course Catalog
· Off To College (booklet) 2011 Edition
· USB Flash drive with at least 256Mb of storage space
· Pen, pencil, paper, etc. for notes
· A folder to collect, keep, and organize assignments
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 scientific understanding of human behavior
• Develop an appreciation of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in expressing and analyzing human values and life from 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 this course students are expected to:
· Communicate professionally at the college level via email and in person.
· Create a time-management plan, including class, work, study and social times.
· List and explain the various support services available on campus.
· Describe the academic structure of the institution.
· Describe the various parts of a syllabus, and how different college courses are structured.
· Demonstrate knowledge of what an e-portfolio is and is not.
· Demonstrate knowledge of what a résumé is and is not.
· Demonstrate knowledge of short and long term goals.
· Demonstrate knowledge of professional standards requirements.
· Demonstrate knowledge of computer technology used to build an e-portfolio.
· Be able to implement and practice continuous self-evaluation using reflective thinking.
· Be able to monitor and document your individual progress and growth through your academic program.
· Be able to organize appropriate selected materials.
· Be able to demonstrate your total college and/or professional experience to others.
· Be able to apply for a job, including writing a job application cover letter.
· Be aware of professional attitudes and behaviors.
· Be aware of appropriate collaboration with peers and faculty.
GRADING POLICIES/TESTING/ASSIGNMENTS/ATTENDANCE/EXPECTATIONS
Grade calculation % of Grade
Attendance 20%
Attend Mandatory New Student Convocation 10%
Weekly work 20%
In class presentations 20%
Portfolio 30% TOTAL 100% Scale:
A+ 97-100 A 90-96
B+ 87-89 B 80-86
C+ 77-79 C 70-76
D+ 67-69 D 60-66
F 0-59
Course Requirements:
This course is a seminar/discussion/practicum type of class. Therefore, students are expected to present written and/or oral assignments to the rest of the class for comments, criticisms and suggestions. Subsequently, based on these recommendations, students are expected to correct or otherwise improve their presentations. The final project is to create an e-portfolio to be used throughout the student’s academic career.
Evaluations:
Students will present each of their assignments to the entire class, including their up-to-date completed portfolio. The instructor and peers will collectively review and grade each portfolio. However, the instructor will determine all final grades.
Assignments:
· Create a weekly schedule that includes class, work, study, and social times. You will also create a semester schedule that includes all midterms, finals, paper due dates, last day to drop classes, etc. Both of these schedules should be formatted on a computer using a word processing or spreadsheet program. Print out a copy of each to keep in your folder.
· Attend the New Student Convocation on Friday, September 13th at 10:30 in the Fine Arts auditorium.
· Send an email to one of your instructors asking a class-related question using your Rio student email account. Use standard English, correct spelling and punctuation, titles, salutations, etc. Print both your email and the response and keep in your folder.
· List and explain the value of at least 10 support services available on campus. Print this list and put it in your folder.
· List and describe at least 10 clubs, social activities or extra-curricular opportunities available on campus. Print this list and put it in your folder.
· Type and print a brief description of the academic structure of the university. Make sure to name the chair, dean, provost and president as well as seven other staff members with different titles. Describe their roles, and why you would meet with each of these.
· Create an e-portfolio using Wordpress as your hosting site. Organize it as you would a professional resume, keeping your target audience in mind. You will need to keep your e-portfolio updated throughout your college career and present it to the Music faculty and students when before you graduate. (Music Education majors must have the correct “tabs” for the School of Education)
· Write your Philosophy of Music. Bring it to class for peer evaluation and suggestions. Make sure to put your final version in your e-portfolio as well as put a printed copy in your folder. (Philosophy of Music Education for Music Education students. It must be so-named, and needs to be sent to Diane Downard for approval and filing.)
· Write an essay about why you chose to be a music major. If you were thinking about another career path, you should write about your options and how you decided. Take this essay to the Jenkins Center and have it edited, then re-write it. Bring it to class for peer evaluation and suggestions. Make sure to put your final version in your e-portfolio as well as put a printed copy in your folder. Essays must be a minimum of 500 words.
· Write an essay about the various social, cultural, artistic events and opportunities that you have taken part in over the semester. Take this essay to the Jenkins Center and have it edited, then re-write it. Bring it to class for peer evaluation and suggestions. Make sure to put your final version in your e-portfolio as well as put a printed copy in your folder.
· Meet with your advisor, and schedule classes for next semester. Use Student Space to access and print your schedule, transcript and bill. Print each of these and put them in your portfolio.
· Write an essay about how you’re doing so far this semester. Include what’s going well, what is difficult and how you have overcome challenges this semester, who you went to for help, etc. Essays must be a minimum of 500 words.
For Music Education majors only:
· Response to Conceptual Framework: Get the framework from the School of Education; You must read it and write a one-page response and send a copy to Diane Downard for approval and filing, and keep a copy for your folder.
· Lesson Plans: Become acquainted with the URG “lesson plan format,” and the idea of “unit plans.” Write a beginning lesson plan, and send a copy to Diane Downard for approval and filing, and keep a copy for your folder.
· Application to the School of Ed: Go to the Secretary of the School of Education and apply to the School.
Attendance : Attendance and punctuality are both important. Your final grade will be lowered one letter grade for each successive absence after three. Three tardies equal one absence. It would be impossible to receive a final grade of A if you have more than three unexcused absences and/or are frequently tardy, even though you might rate superior in all other aspects. A student will fail the class because of poor attendance and excessive tardiness.
Cell Phones : All cell phones and other communication devices are to be turned off during class time. Anyone who texts, calls, or answers calls or texts during class will have their phone confiscated, to be returned to them after class. If the student is expecting an emergency call during class time, the student should talk to the professor before class.
ADA POLICY: If a student wishes to be identified as having a physical, mental, or learning disability, that may or may not require reasonable accommodation(s), he/she must register with the Office of Accessibility. These registered students should identify themselves to their instructors and provide a written statement from the Accessibility Office that indicates the appropriate accommodations. The process of a student self-proclaiming the need for accommodation should occur as early in the semester as possible. The Office of Accessibility phone is 245-7339 and is located in Rhodes Hall, Room 116, University of Rio Grande.
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: Standard university policies, as described in the Student Handbook, apply.
WITHDRAWAL: refer to Student Handbook
Weekly Schedule
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Week I
Week II
Week III
Week IV
Week V
Week VI
Week VII
Week VIII
Week IX
Week X
Week XI
Week XII
Week XII
Week XIV
Introduction, email, schedules
Campus Computing & Networking
Social, academic and support structure of the University
Personal Philosophy
Major choice
Cultural opportunities, Resume
Cultural opportunities, repertoire
Student Space, advising, registration
Introduction to Wordpress
Formatting and personalizing website
Adding content
Lesson Plans
Publishing media
Semester update
Keeping the e-portfolio current
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** This syllabus is not to be construed as a contract with the studentand may be subject to change**
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