Course Syllabus
Lincoln University
Course Syllabus – Fall 2020
GE 101: University Seminar
GE 101-37 TH 12:00 – 12:50pm
Founders Hall 238
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Name: Amber Bell, PhD, MSW
E-mail: bella@lincolnu.edu
Office Hours: available via Bookings:
Monday: 9:15 AM to 10: 15 AM and 1 PM to 5 PM
Tuesday: 9: 30 AM to 10: 30 AM and 12:15 PM to 2: 15 PM
Thursday: 9: 30 AM to 10: 30 AM
Friday: 9: 15 AM to 10: 15 AM
Office Location: 11 Founders Hall
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to explore the fundamentals of college success through academic topics such as setting short-term and long-term goals, developing non-cognitive skills for success, learning to learn, decreasing the negative effects of stress, and creating an academic and financial plan for completing college. This course is open to all first-year students and required for all first-time freshmen students during their first enrollment period.
University Seminar fulfills the institutional requirement of general education. General education courses promote the ability to address real-world problems and find ethical solutions for individuals and society. In addition, they provide a small class learning environment to facilitate engagement in academic study at the collegiate level, make a connection to the university, and reinforce the importance of written communication skills.
COURSE RESOURCES:
Required texts: College Success (OpenStax) . This is a FREE text available at the link below:
https://openstax.org/details/books/college-success (Links to an external site.).
Additional Software: Students are eligible to have access to Microsoft Office products free of charge through a wi-fi connection. Students must submit all assignments using a Microsoft product, such as Word or PowerPoint, or PDF file. I am unable to read Google products. Assignments sent to me using a Google product will not receive credit. Assignments may be uploaded to Canvas for credit using Microsoft products or as a PDF. If you use Mac/Apple products, these do not always convert on Canvas either. It is in your best interest to convert to a PDF file.
Office 365 Education:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office (Links to an external site.)
Additional Platforms:
Students may be asked to sign up for access to additional educational platforms to complete assignments throughout the semester. Specific information will be given when the work is assigned.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
After completing the course, students will forge meaningful connections to their peers, to their emerging academic futures, and to Lincoln University by
- Explaining college expectations.
- Applying skills, attitudes, and metacognitive habits that encourage academic success and persistence.
- Explaining the physical, social, emotional, and academic benefits of campus resources.
- Identifying strategies to decrease the negative effects of stress.
- Developing relationships with faculty, staff, and peers.
- Developing information literacy skills; and,
- Creating short-term and long-term academic goals.
COURSEWORK:
Each class session will consist of a lecture presentation and instructor-led class discussion to create a structured, yet interactive, learning experience. In-class activities will be provided to reinforce information presented during the lecture. Additional readings for the assigned chapters will be uploaded on Canvas or a link will be provided. Please look under Modules in Canvas to see your coursework for the semester.
COURSE GRADING POLICY:
- LU’s grading scale: A=90%-100%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F=below 60%
- Your performance in this class will be measured by
- Unit Assignments
- Discussion Boards
- Unit Content Quizzes
- In-Class Activities including group and individual activities and reflections
- You will be able to keep up with your grades by
- Monitoring your gradebook in Canvas. Graded work will be returned to you in a timely manner for you to view.
COURSE-SPECIFIC POLICIES:
- Attendance Policy:
As with any class, attendance is crucial to learn and understand presented material. Six unexcused absences will result in a drop in letter grade by one letter. For example, you have a 76%, or C, in the class and have a total of 7 absences. Your grade will be lowered to a D. Equal to attendance in this class is participation, as group discussion and individual insight will benefit the class and the instructor to receive a more rich, diverse viewpoint. Those students that regularly contribute to class discussions, ask questions or add to presented material and otherwise engage their fellow classmates will receive five points, to be added to their overall grade, at both the midterm and final grading periods. Students who voluntarily enroll in the course must visit their academic advisor to withdraw from the course.
- Tardiness Policy:
Students who are late may miss crucial information about the course. Arriving to class more than 15 minutes late will be regarded as an absence. Please be respectful of the other students if you arrive late.
- Cell Phone Policy:
Unless instructed to use your cell phone in class, turn off cell phones and other electronic devices and remove headphones before entering the classroom; put away all electronics in your backpack or out of sight.
- Late Work Policy:
All in-class assignments are due during class and cannot be made up if you are absent. All out-of-class assignments are due on the day indicated on the syllabus. Not attending class is not an excuse for not submitting assignments on time. Out-of-class assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. on the day they are due and must be emailed to me unless other directions for submission are given. Late work will not be accepted without a valid excuse. A valid excuse includes the following: illness documented by a medical excuse, participation in University events documented by faculty/staff excuse and emergencies that are properly documented.
-
General Classroom Policies:
- Arrive to class on time. Do not prepare to leave class until the instructor signals dismissal.
- Be accountable for timely submission of all academic work.
- Recognize that increasing diversity in the classroom demands increasing efforts to maintain mutual respect, tolerance of differences, and reasoned discourse.
- Ask your instructor's permission before recording a lecture.
- Arrive in class with all materials including your book(s), binder, paper, and pen.
HELP AND ASSISTANCE:
- Your Instructors—know their office locations and office hours!
- Tutoring Services—Ground floor of Page Library and Dawson Hall; please check Canvas for current hours.
- Academic Success Workshops—please check Canvas for more information.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES:
- Disability Accommodations Policy:
Students are hereby notified that Lincoln University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in admission or access to its programs and activities. Questions that may arise in regard to the University's compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act should be directed to the Coordinator for Access & Ability Services, Thompkins Student Health Center, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0029. For more information, contact the Coordinator of Access & Ability Services at: 573-681-5162, email: aasstudent@lincolnu.edu.
- Academic Integrity Policy:
Each student must fulfill his or her academic obligation by an honest, independent effort. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students who are found to be guilty of academic dishonesty, such as cheating and plagiarism, are subject to the policies and procedures outlined in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Any student guilty of cheating will be reported in writing to the department head and the dean of the college of the course involved and to the department head and the dean of the college in the student’s major. Any student found guilty of cheating may receive, at the discretion of the instructor, a failing grade in the course. Disciplinary action for cheating may include suspension for one or more semesters, exclusion from selected programs of study or permanent expulsion from Lincoln University. Plagiarism, claiming the work of another writer, professional or student, as your own, is not tolerated in this class or at Lincoln University. See the Student Handbook for information on the University’s policy, and, please, ask me if you are experiencing any kind of difficulty in completing an assignment.
- Building Emergency Policy:
The Rave Guardian app is available for download and will give provide you with up-to-date information regarding emergency situations on and around campus.
- Face Mask Policy:
Per University protocol, masks/face coverings are required inside all University buildings. Unless students have been granted an accommodation through the Office of Access and Abilities, faculty and staff have the authority to request students wear a mask/face covering. If a student refuses to wear a mask, students can be referred to the Student Conduct System under “Failure to Comply” which is listed in the Student Handbook as “failure/refusal” to comply with a verbal or written request/directions from a University official. The same applies for refusal to practice social distancing whenever possible.
- Title IX Disclosure Policy:
Lincoln University prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, in education programs and activities. Title IX protects individuals from harassment connected to any of the academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic and other programs, activities, or employment of schools, regardless of the location. Title IX protects all individuals from sexual harassment by any school employee, student, and a non-employee third party. This policy applies equally to all students and employees regardless of the sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression of any of the individuals involved. No officer, employee, or agent of the institution participating in any program under this title shall retaliate, intimidate, threaten, coerce, or otherwise discriminate against any individual for exercising their rights or responsibilities under any provision of this policy. Questions, concerns, and/or complaints can be addressed to the Title IX Coordinator, Zakiya Brown, 304B Young Hall, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri 65101; 573-681-5003; titleix@lincolnu.edu
- Course Evaluation Policy:
Student evaluations of a course and its professor are a crucial element in helping faculty achieve excellence in the classroom and the institution in demonstrating that students are gaining knowledge. Students may evaluate courses they are taking by logging in to the Canvas course shell and clicking on Course Evaluations on the left-hand side.
I look forward to a great semester with each of you! Remember, this is Lincoln, we are proud Lincolnites and together we can accomplish greatness!
Weekly Topics – See Canvas for Assignments and Readings
Week 1 – Exploring College
Week 2 – Reading and Notetaking
Week 3 – Studying, Memory, and Notetaking
Week 4 – Knowing Yourself as a Learner
Week 5 – Knowing Yourself as a Learner
Week 6 – Managing Your Time and Priorities
Week 7 – Thinking
Week 8 – Thinking
Week 9 – Communication
Week 10 – Understanding Civility and Cultural Competency
Week 11 – Planning Your Academic Pathway
Week 12 – Planning Your Future
Week 13 – Understanding Financial Literacy
Week 14 – Thanksgiving Break
Week 15 – Engaging in a Healthy Lifestyle
Week 16 – End of Semester Reflection
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|