SYLLABUS

INSTITUTION:GreatFallsCollegeMontanaStateUniversityCOURSE TITLE:Becoming a SuccessfulStudent

COURSENUMBER:COLS103NUMBEROFCREDITS:1SEMESTER/YEAR:2015

INSTRUCTOR:

I.COURSEDESCRIPTION:TograduatefromGreatFallsCollegeMSU,everystudentisrequiredtotakeCOLS103BecomingaSuccessfulStudent,ormeetitsequivalent.Thecourseemphasizesstrategiesforacademicandpersonalsuccess,includingacademicandcareerplanning,goalsetting,andacademicskilldevelopmentinareassuchasnote-taking,studyskills,test-taking strategies,andtimemanagementskills.Studentsareexpectedto enrollinthisclassduringtheirfirst semesterorpriortocompleting16semestercredits.

II.COURSEMATERIALS:

Textbook:Downing,SkipOn Course-StudySkillsPlus 2ndedition

USBflashdriveNotebook

Reliableaccesstoa computer and theinternet

III.COURSEOBJECTIVES:

1.Studentswillbeabletoapplypersonalizedlearningandstudyskillstrategiestodailycollegecoursework.

2.Studentswillbeabletounderstandtheirinterestsandvaluesanddeveloptheabilitytoestablishand worktowardshort-term andlong-termpersonal,academic, andcareergoals.

3.Studentswillbeabletoidentifyandutilizecampusresourcesandinterpretcollegepoliciesand procedures.

4.Studentswillbeabletoestablishgreaterself-awarenessanddevelopself-managementstrategies.

IV.COURSEOUTLINE:

Successjournals:Studentswillrespondto8journalpromptsinordertoexploretheirthoughtsandfeelings astheyexperiment withthe successstrategiespresented in thiscourse. (Objective4)

Readingquizzes:StudentswillcompleteareadingquizforeachOnCoursechapterinordertoencourage consistentandactive participation.(Objective4)

Syllabusanalysis:Studentswillreviewthesyllabusfromthisclasstobetterunderstand howtofind importantcourseinformationandplan theirstudytime. (Objective3)

BackupPlan:Studentswillconsidersituationsthatmightimpedetheirsuccessandwriteabackupplantohelpthemdealwith thesesituations.(Objective4)

Studyskillsplan:Students willcompleteapersonalstudyskillsplantodeterminethemosteffectivewayforthemtodeepen theirlearning in collegeandbeyond.(Objective 1)

Advisormeeting/registrationsheet:Students will meet with theiradvisors toestablisha connection, learn how to read the course catalog, learn how to register, learn what their course road map is,and discussfutureacademicand careerplans.(Objective2)

Policies/Procedures/8Abilitiesactivities:Studentswillparticipateinclassactivitiestobetterunderstand GreatFallsCollegepolicies,procedures,and the 8Abilities. (Objective3)

Researchactivity:StudentswilllearnbasicinformationaboutconductingresearchintheWeaverLibrary anddiscoverresourcestohelpthemcorrectlyuseand citesources.(Objective3)

Financialliteracy/scholarshipessay:Studentswilllearnaboutbasicprinciplesandresponsibleuseoffinancialaid.Studentswilllearnabout their financial picture, findingscholarshipsand/or future planning and demonstrate this through an essay or group assignment.(Objective1)

Wellnessactivity:Studentswilllearnstress-reductionstrategiesandcompleteanexercisetofocuson coping withandreducing stressin their lives.(Objective4)

V.COURSEEVALUATION:

Attendance/participation-80 points

SuccessJournals–80Points

  • Journal #1 pg.12
  • Journal #8 pg.67
  • Journal #10 pg. 105-106
  • Journal#13pg.144
  • Journal#17pg.200
  • Journal #24 pg. 257-258
  • Journal#25 pg. 288-289

Journal#33pg.375

Reading quizzes- 80 Points

  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7(essay)
  • Chapter 8

Activities–160Points

  • Smarter Measures- 10 Points
  • BackupPlan- 25Points
  • Studyskillsplan-25Points
  • Advisormeeting/registration sheet– 25Points
  • Researchactivity-25Points
  • Financial literacy/ scholarship essay-25Points
  • Wellnessactivity-25Points

TOTAL POSSIBLE:400Points

Gradingscale:

A = 90-100% B =80-89% C =70-79% D=60-69% F = 59%and below

VI.ATTENDANCEANDTARDINESS:

Studentsareexpectedtoattendandparticipateinallclasssessions.Studentswhoarrivepromptlyandremainforthe entire classsession havethebestopportunitiesforacademicsuccess.Pointsareawardedforclassattendance.Ifyoumustmissclass,youmaymake-upthesepointsbyoutliningtheChapterscoveredinclass(seesyllabus)andcompletingALLstudentexercisesatthe end of thechapter.

Remember,evenif youareabsent,youarestillresponsibleforthe materialcoveredinclassandfor anyassignmentsdue.

Ifyouaregoingtobelate,pleasetrytoletyourinstructorknowaheadoftime.Entertheclassroomquietly,withoutdisrupting classorotherstudents.

VII.ACCOMMODATIONS

Studentswithdocumenteddisabilities,whetherphysical,cognitiveorpsychological,areentitledtoreasonableaccommodationsintheirclasses.Ifyouwouldliketouseaccommodationsforthisclass,please contacttheDirectorofDisabilityandLearningSupport Servicesat406-771-4311orstopbytheDisability and Learning Support Servicesoffice(R261)to makearrangements.

VIII.ACADEMIC SUCCESSCENTER

TheAcademic Success CenterhelpsstudentssuccessfullycompletetheircoursesbyprovidingfreetutoringtoGFCMSUstudentsinavarietyofareas,includingwriting,math,science, accounting,andcomputers.TheAcademic SuccessCenteralsohelpsstudentsimprovetheirstudyskills.Noappointmentisnecessary.TutoringisavailableoncampusinR263andonline.Formoreinformation,includingacurrenttutoringschedule,go toorcall 406-771-5121.

IX.PLAGIARISMANDACADEMICINTEGRITY

300.14ACADEMICHONESTY

Theintegrityoftheacademicprocessrequirescreditbegivenwherecreditisdue.Accordingly,itisacademicmisconducttopresenttheideasorworksofanotherasone'sownwork,ortopermitanothertopresentone'sworkwithoutcustomaryandproperacknowledgmentofauthorship.Studentsmaycollaboratewithotherstudentsonlyasexpresslypermittedbytheinstructor.Studentsareresponsibleforthehonestcompletionandrepresentationoftheirwork,theappropriatecitationofsourcesandtherespectandrecognitionofothers'academic endeavors.

300.42DESCRIPTIONSAND EXAMPLES

D. Plagiarism

This is presenting theworkofanotherasone'sownwithoutproperacknowledgment.

Examplesofplagiarismincludesubmittingasone'sownworktheworkofanotherstudent,ghostwriterorcommercialwritingservice;directlyquotingfromasourcewithoutacknowledgment;paraphrasingorsummarizinganother'sworkwithoutacknowledgingthesource;orusingfacts,figures,graphs,charts orinformationwithoutacknowledging thesource.Plagiarismmay occurorallyorinwritingandmayinvolvecomputerprogramsandfiles,researchdesigns,distinctivefiguresofspeech,ideasandimagesorany otherinformationthatbelongstoanotherpersonand isnotacknowledgedassuch.Inadvertentorunintentionalmisuseorappropriationofanother'swork(suchasrelyingheavilyonsourcematerialthatisnotexpresslyacknowledged)isstillconsideredplagiarism.

Pleaseseethelinkbelowformoreinformationandtheentire

policy.VANCE_002.pdf

X.OUTCOMESASSESSMENTALIGNMENT

CourseObjectives / Alignswith the FollowingProgram/
Degree/Division Outcomes(FromCAS OrientationProgramStandards) / Type ofCourseObjective:Introductory,Reinforce,orEmphasize / AssessmentToolUsedto DetermineifCourse ObjectiveHasBeen Achieved / GreatFallsCollegeAbilities
Students will beabletoapplypersonalizedlearningand studyskillstrategies todailycollegecoursework. / Realisticself-appraisal:Focuseson areasofacademicabilityandinterestandmitigatesacademicweaknesses / introductory / -Personalstudyskillsplan
-Researchactivity / A7-CriticalThinking
Students will beabletounderstand theirinterestsand valuesand developtheabilitytoestablishandworktowardshort-termand long-termpersonal,academic,andcareergoals. / Personaleducationalgoals:Determinepersonaland academicgoalsandobjectives / introductory / -advisormeeting/registration sheet
-Successjournals / A7-CriticalThinking
Students will beabletoidentifyand utilizecampusresourcesand interpretcollegepoliciesandprocedures. / MeaningfulInterpersonalRelationships:Createsrelationshipswith fellowstudents, staff,facultymembers,academicadvisors, andotherinstitution stafftobeengaged withthe institutionina meaningful way
Social responsibility:Understandstherequirementsof thecodesof conduct; hasknowledgeof institution governancesystems / introductory / -Syllabusanalysis
-Policies/Procedures/8Abilitiesactivities
-Financial literacy/scholarship essay / A8-
EffectiveCitizenship
Students will beabletoestablishgreaterself-awareness anddevelopself-managementstrategies. / Clarifiedvalues:Analyzespersonal,work,and lifestylevaluesandexplainshowthey influencedecision-making in regard tocourseselection,courseload, andlevelofpersonalinvolvementin thecampuscommunity / introductory / -Successjournals
-BackupPlan
-Wellnessactivity
-Reading quizzes / A7-CriticalThinking

GFCMSU–EightAbilities:

ThefacultyandstaffofGreatFallsCollegeMSUhavedeemedthefollowingabilitiestobecentraltothepersonalandprofessional successofallgraduates:

A1–Communication:Theabilitytoutilizeoral,written,andlisteningskillstoeffectivelyinteractwithothers.

A2–QuantitativeReasoning:Theabilitytounderstandandapplymathematicalconceptsandmodels.

A3–InquiryandAnalysis:Theabilitytoprocessandapplytheoreticalandethicalbasesofthearts,humanities,naturalandsocial sciencedisciplines.

A4–AestheticEngagement:Theabilitytodevelopinsightintothelongandrichrecordofhumancreativitythroughtheartstohelpindividualsplacethemselveswithintheworldintermsofculture,religion,andsociety.

A5–Diversity:Theabilitytounderstandandarticulatetheimportanceandinfluenceofdiversitywithinandamongcultures and societies.

A6–TechnicalLiteracy:Theabilitytousetechnologyandunderstanditsvalueandpurposeintheworkplace. A7–CriticalThinking:Theabilitytounderstandthinkingthatisresponsivetoandguidedbyintellectualstandardssuchasrelevance,accuracy,precision,clarity,depth,andbreadth.

A8–EffectiveCitizenship:Theabilitytocommittostandardsofpersonalandprofessionalintegrity,honesty,andfairness.

XI.COURSECALENDAR

Thisscheduleissubjecttochangeatthediscretionofthecourseinstructortoaccommodateinstructionaland/orstudentneeds.

Moreinformation will beprovided in D2Las readingsandprojectsare assigned. Bringyour textbookandnotebookto everyclass.

Class
# / Day / In Class / Homework
WeekONE / Reading: Chapter1
Intro,expectations,icebreaker D2L,website,importanceofyour advisor,discusswisechoicesin college p.34-38 /
  • Chapter 1Quiz
  • Self-Assessment (do not send me scores, you need them for your Journal)
  • Journal #1 (page 12)
  • Smarter Measures
  • Optional: start working on Advisor Meeting Assignment

WEEKTWO / Reading:Chapter2
Team Building w/Marty
The college culture, victim vs. creator mindset /
  • Chapter 2Quiz
  • Back-UpPlan
  • Journal #8 (page 67-68)
  • Optional:startworkingonAdvisorMeeting Assignment

WEEKTHREE / Reading:Chapter3
Goal Setting
Study Skills /
  • Chapter 3 Quiz
  • Journal #10 (page 105-106)
  • StudySkillsPlan
  • Start working on Advisor MeetingAssignment

WEEKFOUR / Reading:Chapter4
Time management
(4quadrants)
Self-Management /
  • Chapter 4 Quiz
  • Journal #13 (page 144)
  • Optional:startworkingonAdvisorMeeting Assignment

WEEKFIVE / Reading:Chapter5
Resources, Policies, Procedures
Mission,VisionandAbilities /
  • Chapter 5 quiz
  • Journal#17 (page 200)
  • AdvisorMeeting AssignmentDUE

WEEKSIX / Reading:Chapter6
Reading, Writing, and Library Skills
Test Taking /
  • Chapter 6Quiz
  • Journal#24 (pages 257-258)
  • ResearchActivity

WEEKSEVEN / Reading: Chapter7
Learning Styles
Financialaid,scholarshipsand
$management OR Resumebuilding,coverletters,etc /
  • QUIZ: Learning PreferenceInventoryQuiz(page290-292)
  • Journal #25 (Pages 288-289)
  • Scholarship/Financial Essay OR MCIS Assignment/Resume Assignment

WEEKEIGHT / Reading: Chapter8 & 9
Wellnessactivity,stressreduction, & course wrap-up- card activity /
  • Chapter 8 quiz
  • Repeatself-assessment(do notsendmescores,you needthem foryourJournal)
  • Journal#33
  • WellnessActivity