Syllabus

/ ETSU 1020, Foundations of Student Success, Fall 2017
[section number]
[classroom]

Instructor

[name, office, email, phone]

Office Hours

Office hours are a chance to talk about the course, assignments or anything on your mind as a new college student. Please call or email me to schedule a time for us to meet.

What Is ETSU 1020?

ETSU 1020 helps students build a foundation for success in college and life after graduation. Succeeding in college requires the same abilities and attitudes as succeeding in your career.

In this course you will . . .

  • Gain knowledge and practice attitudes and skills that improve your ability to learn
  • Learn more about your major or a prospective major
  • Begin exploring your career goals
  • Broaden your experience of diverse people and ideas
  • Get to know your fellow ETSU 1020 classmates and your course instructor
  • Build a strong working relationship with your academic advisor
  • Become an active member of our ETSU community

Text

Stevenson, Bryan. (2015). Just Mercy: A Story of Redemption and Justice. New York: Spiegel & Grau.

D2L Site

Our course D2L site ( includes an electronic copy of this syllabus, other course materials, and drop boxes for submitting assignments. You can also find your grades on course assignments there. Log in with your ETSU username and password.

Grading

Your final grade is based on the total number of points you earn in our course. There are 180 possible points, and you'll earn them in two ways:

  • completing assignments and quizzes
  • attending class regularly

Assignments and Quizzes. I will provide instructions in class for each of the assignments listed below. You’ll also find the instructions in our course D2L site. The quizzes over our text, Just Mercy, are intended to make sure everyone’s read the assigned chapters by the day when we will discuss them. Each quiz has 10 multiple-choice questions, and you may use the book plus any notes you’ve created when you take them. In college we call this “open-book” and “open-notes.”

Assignment or Quiz / Due / Points
Email your instructor using appropriate style & format / Sept. 6 / 5
“Where I Come from” presentation / Sept. 8 / 10
Send confirmation of appointment with academic advisor / Sept. 13 / 5
First meeting with your Buccaneer Involvement Guide (BIG) / Oct. 4 / 5
Report on meeting with academic advisor / Oct. 11 / 15
Quizzes on readings (6 @ 10 points each) / See course schedule / 60
Send confirmation of appointment with faculty member / Oct. 18 / 5
Completion of Transit personal finance training / Oct. 23 / 10
Major Exploration presentation / Nov. 10 / 15
Second meeting with your BIG / Nov. 13 / 5
Complete bucket list activities / Nov. 22 / 10
“My Life this Semester, in a Song” presentation / Nov. 27 / 20
Questions for “My Life . . .” presenters / Nov. 27-Dec. 4 / 5
Attendance
No more than two (2) unexcused absences* / 10
TOTAL / 180

*See attendance policy.

Attendance. Because I expect you to attend class regularly, you’ll start the term with 10 points for excellent attendance. You'll keep all of those points if you have no more than two unexcused absences. Further unexcused absences will lower the points you earn for class attendance and could result in failing the course:

Unexcused Absences / Points Earned
0-2 / 10
3 / 7.5
4 / 5
5 / 2.5
6 / 0
More than 6 / F in course

Grading scale. Your final grade is based on how many points you earn of the 180 points possible.

Final Grade / % of Points Earned / Final Grade / % of Points Earned / Final Grade / % of Points Earned / Final Grade / % of Points Earned
A / 100-92% / B+ / 89-88% / C+ / 79-78% / D+ / 69-68%
A- / 91-90% / B / 87-82% / C / 77-72% / D / 67-60%
B- / 81-80% / C- / 71-70% / F / below 60%

For instance, if you earn 160 of the 180 possible points in the course, that’s 89%, and you'll earn a B+. I will record your points in the D2L grade book, so you can follow your progress throughout the semester.

Class Policies

Excused absences. The following absences will not lower your attendance grade:

  • Absences due to participation in activities sponsored by a department or student organization officially recognized by ETSU. Students who will miss class due to an approved university activity must give the instructor documentation of the activity prior to missing class.
  • Absences due to illness of oneself or a dependent, death in the family, or emergencies. I may require documentation of the reason for the absence.

Making up in-class work. If you have an excused absence, as defined above, and miss a presentation or quiz, I will permit you to make it up. It is your responsibility to make arrangements with me to make up the work.

Late assignments. I will accept assignments turned in after they are due only if you have an excused reason for the lateness, as defined by the excused absences policy.

Extra credit. If I give an extra-credit assignment, it will be available to everyone in the class.

ETSU Honor Code and Pledge

ETSU students pledge to act with honesty, integrity, and civility in all matters. Students found to be in violation of policies on plagiarism, cheating or fabrication will be held accountable for their actions. Any knowledge of academic misconduct should be reported.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

It is the policy of ETSU to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal law, state law and the university's commitment to equal educational opportunities. If you have a documented disability and need accommodations (e.g., arrangements for exams or seating placement), please inform your instructor at the beginning of the course. To receive a Faculty Accommodation Letter, visit the office of Disability Services in room 326, Culp University Center, call (423) 439-8346 or go to

Course Schedule

Day / Date / Topic / Assignment Due/Quiz
M / 8/28 / Welcome
W / 8/30 / Email, GoldLink & D2L
F / 9/1 / How to ask a question
M / 9/4 / Labor Day
W / 9/6 / Your (Buccaneer) Life: Don’t Miss Out On It / Email to your instructor
F / 9/8 / “Where We Come from” presentations / “Where I Come from” presentation
M / 9/11 / Instructor’s choice
W / 9/13 / Using time wisely / Confirm appointment with advisor
F / 9/15 / Academic integrity
M / 9/18 / Academic integrity
W / 9/20 / Study smarter:The science of learning
F / 9/22 / Boost your creativity
M / 9/25 / The effort effect
W / 9/27 / Note-taking
F / 9/29 / Your Buccaneer knowledge/Study check-in
M / 10/2 / Exploring careers
W / 10/4 / Exploring careers / First meeting with BIG
F / 10/6 / Exploring careers
M / 10/9 / Exploring careers
W / 10/11 / Exploring careers / Report on meeting with academic advisor
F / 10/13 / Just Mercy, Introduction, Chapters 1-2 / Quiz on Just Mercy, Introduction, Chapters 1-2
M / 10/16 / Fall break
W / 10/18 / Instructor’s choice / Confirmation of appointment with faculty member
F / 10/20 / Just Mercy,Introduction, Chapters 1-2
M / 10/23 / Spending money well / Completion of Transit personal finance training
W / 10/25 / Spending money well
F / 10/27 / Just Mercy, Chapters 3-5 / Quiz on Just Mercy, Chapters 3-5
M / 10/30 / Academic advising, Schedule Builder DegreeWorks
W / 11/1 / Just Mercy, Chapters 6-8 / Quiz on Just Mercy, Chapters 6-8
F / 11/3 / ETSU success stories
M / 11/6 / Just Mercy, Chapters 9-11 / Quiz on Just Mercy, Chapters 9-11
W / 11/8 / Just Mercy, Chapters 9-11
F / 11/10 / “Explore a Major” presentations / Major Exploration presentation
M / 11/13 / “Explore a Major” presentations / Second meeting with BIG
W / 11/15 / Just Mercy, Chapters 12-14 / Quiz on Just Mercy, Chapters 12-14
F / 11/17 / Instructor’s choice
M / 11/20 / Just Mercy, Chapters 15-16, Epilogue & Prologue / Quiz on Just Mercy, Chapters 15-16, Epilogue and Prologue
W / 11/22 / Just Mercy, Chapters 15-16, Epilogue & Prologue / Completion of bucket list activities
F / 11/24 / Thanksgiving holiday
M / 11/27 / “My Life this Semester, in a Song” final presentations / “My Life this Semester, in a Song” final presentation
Questions for speakers
W / 11/29 / “My Life this Semester, in a Song” final presentations / Questions for speakers
F / 12/1 / “My Life this Semester, in a Song” final presentations / Questions for speakers
M / 12/4 / “My Life this Semester, in a Song” final presentations / Questions for speakers
W / 12/6 / Course wrap up