FYE 101-37

Fall 2013

Class Meets

Monday/Wednesday

@ 1 pm

CC 164

Instructor Sara Hillis

PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY CONTACTING YOUR INSTRUCTOR

NAME: Sara Hillis

OFFICE: CC 107D

EMAIL: shillis@pct.edu

PHONE: 570-320-2400 x 7450

OFFICE HOURS: Mondays

2-3 p.m. or by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION • Overview of strategies and practices to ensure a positive first-

semester experience and continuing success for students new

to Penn College.

• Lectures, discussions, and activities, in and out of class, will

help clarify the conventions of college culture; explain college

policies, procedures, resources, and expectations;

• Provide you with tools for strengthening academic and critical

thinking skills; and provide an informational foundation that

promotes understanding and encourages participation in the

college community. 1 Credit (.5 Lecture – 1.5 Lab)

REQUIRED TEXT: FYE 101: First Year Experience – Custom Edition

for Pennsylvania College of Technology taken from Sherfield, Robert

M. and Moody, Patricia G. (2011). Cornerstone: Creating Success

through Positive Change (Concise 6th ed.). Pearson: New York, and

Facione, Peter. (2011). Think Critically. Pearson: New York.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Folder or binder, loose leaf notebook paper,

pen or pencil.

Fall 2013 FYE 101-37 Page 2 of 11

Discuss and apply skills related to

personal life, including managing

stress, time, responsibilities, financial

resources and their

health and well being.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (What you’ll be able to do upon successful completion of this course!)

Discuss and effectively apply

academic skills and strategies to

enhance activities such as note

taking, listening, reading, test

preparation, test taking,

concentration, memory skills, time

management and teamwork.

Set personal and academic goals for

the college experience and practice

proactive strategies to meet

those goals.

.

Identify and discuss significant

college policies and processes

relevant to their success, especially

those associated with academic and

residence life.

Explain concepts of critical thinking

and use critical thinking skills to solve

problems and make decisions.

Identify, locate and discuss campus

and community resources including

academic support services, residence

life, counseling and career services,

student affairs, student and co-

curricular activities, etc.

Discuss the value of diversity and the

benefits of living in a diverse learning

and social community.

Information Literacy is the ability to seek information from a variety of sources and use it. This course is designed to

encourage you to regularly check and respond to your Penn College email, use the myPCTportal to

access information, use the great features in your SIS account (like the GPA calculator!), and how to

read and use a course syllabus. Developing strong information literacy skills will help you navigate the

college environment.

Fall 2013 FYE 101-37 Page 3 of 11

Grading System and Procedures:

There are 1000 points available this semester. Your grade will be based on the number of points you

earn as that number falls on the following scale. l do not round grades up, and I will not “curve”

grades.

Grade Percentage Assessment

A 90.00% to 100% Superior

B 80.00 to 89.99% Good

C 70.00 to 79.99% Acceptable

D 60.00 to 69.99% Needs Improvement

F 0.00% to 59.99% Unacceptable

Attendance and Participation (300

points) 30%

Outcomes Log (Five, 100 points each)

50%

MAP Works Survey (2 surveys, 50 points

each) 10%

Final Exam (100 points)

10%

How Your Grade is Determed

Fall 2013 FYE 101-37 Page 4 of 11

Course Completion and Withdrawal Policy:

FYE101 is a required course in all certificate and degree programs at the College. In accordance with

the College course repeat policy, a student must pass the course within three attempts. If the

student does not pass the course within three attempts, he or she will be dismissed from the

institution.

A student may not drop or withdraw from the course. If a student experiences extenuating

circumstances (medical/severe personal or family issues) that make it impossible to complete FYE

101, the student may appeal to the Dean of Academic Services and First Year Programs to be

withdrawn from the course.

In accordance with the College attendance policy, if a student is absent for more than the equivalent

of one week of class, the professor may withdraw the student from the course. Withdrawal will be

counted as one of the three attempts to pass the course.

Establish dialogue. “Dialogue” means “talking through,” and the way to dialogue is to exchange ideas without trying to change the other person’s mind.

Exchange ideas.

Don’t argue.

Don’t interrupt.

Listen carefully. Focus entirely upon whoever is speaking. It sounds elementary, but it is difficult at first. It takes practice.

Clarify your thinking. To do this, you must first suspend untested assumptions. We will discuss how to do this in class. Check your assumptions about everything and try to maintain an unbiased view.

Be honest. Say what you think, even if your thoughts are controversial. Once people believe they know what you really think, they will usually be more comfortable and open around you.

Course Policies and Procedures:

Attendance and Late Arrivals: To master the course objectives requires more than reading the text

and turning in the assignments. It also requires attending and participating in class. Regular

attendance can help you develop professional attitudes and behaviors, improve social and

communications skills, practice working in a collaborative setting, obtain information that I present

only in class, learn to effectively participate in academic discussions, and achieve a higher grade. For

these reasons, I expect you to come to class – every class.

In fact, 30%,or 30 points, of your grade will be based upon your attendance and class participation.

Fifteen points for attendance and participation will be awarded for the first 8 weeks of the semester

and another fifteen points will be awarded for the second eight weeks for the semester. You are

expected to participate in class and that will determine the final number of points you earn for

participation and attendance. However, based on your attendance, the MAXIMUM amount of points

you will be able to earn during each 8-week portion is as follows:

CLASS DISCUSSION GUIDELINES

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Attendance MAXIMUM points awarded

Misses 1 or fewer class meetings 15 Points

Misses 2-3 class meetings 10 Points

Misses 4-5 class meetings 6 points

Misses 6-7 class meetings 3 points

Misses 8 or more classes 0 points

In accordance with Penn College policy, except in cases of serious and documented illnesses or

emergencies, I may and will withdraw you if you miss more than the equivalent of three weeks of

class (six classes). If you are excessively absent from class I will contact you via email before I

withdraw you from the course. Failure to respond to my email within one week will result in you being

dropped from the course. You are “present” only when you are in attendance, awake, and

responsive in class. Because I start and end class at the scheduled times and because all of the

content and activities of the course are important, I expect you to arrive on time and to remain in

class for its entirety. If you arrive late or leave early, I will “dock” you 1/4 of an absence. You are late

if you walk into the room after I have started class, and you have “left” if you start packing up before

I end class. Remember, though, that it is better to be late than not to come to class at all, and only

repeated absences will have a significant effect on your overall grade.

If you must miss class, it is your responsibility to determine what you have missed. Normally, you can

figure this out by looking at the course outline included with this syllabus or by visiting the ANGEL

site for the course. I also recommend that you get the phone numbers and email addresses of at

least two other people in class so that you can get copies of any notes you miss.

Religious or Cultural Observances: In accordance with College policy (3.03.31), students may be

excused for the observance of religious holidays. You may be excused from classes with prior

notification to the instructor. Students missing classes for the purposes of observance of religious

holidays will be given reasonable opportunity to complete work missed in class. A list of acceptable

religious holidays may be accessed through the Vice President for Student Affairs Office.

Class Cancellation: If I cancel class, I will notify you via your Penn College email account. I will try to

give as much advance notice as possible, but you should get into the habit of checking your email

first thing in the morning.

If the College is closed or opening is delayed, you will be notified via the media (local television

stations) and the Penn College website. Additionally, you may sign up for text alerts to be notified of

closures and delays. Obviously, if the College is closed, you should not come to class. If the opening

is delayed, you should go to the class you would normally attend at the time the College opens. For

example, if the College opens two hours late on a Monday, you should go where you would normally

be at 10:00 on Monday.

Class Participation: Attending class and actually participating are two different things. Attendance

demonstrates your presence in class, but participation demonstrates your engagement with the

activities. I expect and require active and engaged in-class participation from all students. This

course is designed to provide you with information essential to your transition to Penn College;

Fall 2013 FYE 101-37 Page 6 of 11

however, much of your learning will come from the shared experiences with your classmates. In

order to facilitate the greatest amount of peer interaction, many class exercises will utilize small

group discussions, discussions about readings, and thoughtful conversations about issues arising

during your first semester at Penn College. It is no accident that class participation contributes up

30% of your final grade.

I will base your participation score upon your willing contribution to class discussions and activities,

your completion of in-class exercises, and your preparedness for class. I will award credit according

to the following guidelines:

Outstanding: Does not miss class. Comes to class prepared; contributes readily and

voluntarily to discussion but doesn’t dominate; makes thoughtful contributions that advance

conversation; shows interest in and respect for others’ views; participates actively in small

groups.

Excellent: Misses very few classes and comes to class prepared; contributes readily and

voluntarily to discussion but doesn’t dominate; makes thoughtful contributions that advance

conversation; shows interest in and respect for others’ views; participates actively in small

groups.

Good: Comes to class prepared; makes thoughtful comments when called on and contributes

occasionally without prompting; comments may be less developed; shows interest in and

respect for others’ views; participates actively in small groups.

Acceptable: Comes to class prepared; does not voluntarily contribute or provides minimal

responses when called on; shows interest in discussion, listens attentively, and takes notes;

participates more actively in small groups.

Needs Improvement: Comes to class usually prepared; participates in discussion grudgingly

or in a problematic way; may talk too much, make tangential comments, ramble, interrupt,

bluff when unprepared, or radiate negativity; may dominate discussion, ignoring cues of

annoyance from classmates and/or instructor.

Poor: Usually comes to class unprepared; appears on the margin of the class; doesn’t

participate in discussions for any number of reasons including because he or she hasn’t read

the material; may participate occasionally in small groups; often misses class or radiates

negativity when in class.

Unacceptable: Comes to class unprepared; may attempt to affect class negatively; may be

disruptive, radiate negativity, appear hostile or bored; frequently misses class.

Assigned Readings: I expect you to complete the assigned reading before coming to class. In some

cases, we will talk about the reading. In other cases, the reading will be the starting point for our

class discussion, and you will not be able to participate if you have not completed the reading.

Whichever may be the case, I do not intend to lecture from the textbook, but I do expect you to know

what is in the textbook. You should also bring your book to class every time we meet. We will often

refer to the text, and in many cases we will do exercises from the text.

Midterm and Final Exams: We will not have a midterm exam. We will have a final exam. The final

exam will consist of at one essay question and several objective questions that assess your mastery

of the seven course outcomes. This exam will contribute up to 20 points toward your final grade.

PLATO: All course assignments are to be submitted via PLATO. You are responsible for logging into

PLATO during the week to check assignments. While I provide a copy of the course schedule in the

syllabus, the most up-to-date course calendar will be in PLATO. It is my expectation that you become

Fall 2013 FYE 101-37 Page 7 of 11

familiar with PLATO. Should you have any technical issues, you should contact me and the Student

Help Desk immediately.

Cell Phones and Other Personal Electronic Devices: You should turn off your cell phone or other

electronic device prior to the start of class. If you use your device during class – even for texting – I

will ask you to leave class, and reduce your participation grade accordingly since you cannot

participate if you are fumbling with a cell phone. There may be limited opportunities to use your cell

phone or other portable device during class. You will directed to utilize your cell phone or other

device only at these times. I know some of you, for many reasons, may need to keep your phones on.

If that is the case, silence the device and leave the room before answering it. Please let me know in

advance that you are expecting a call.

The use of laptops is not permitted in class. I may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis. You

should discuss with me in person if you would like to request an exception.

Special note on texting: It is NOT appropriate to text during class, and I do notice. As noted above, if

you are texting during class, I will have you leave class and your grade will reflect your lack of

attention and participation and your disregard for the standards of conduct in a college classroom.

Mutual Respect: The free and open exchange of ideas is a keystone of the academic environment,

but it is possible only when all participants feel free to express themselves without the threat of

ridicule or recrimination. For this reason, I will not tolerate hateful, threatening, defamatory,

disrespectful, or hurtful language or conduct in classroom discussions, online postings, or formal

papers. Comments attacking a person’s sex, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, level of

education, or physical abilities are disruptive and discourage participation. They are, therefore,

inappropriate for the academic setting. This does not mean that you cannot believe what you choose

and freely express those beliefs. In fact, I encourage you to develop your own reasoned opinions and

to share those that are relevant with the class. But all of us must present our ideas in a mature and

respectful manner that is appropriate for the diverse audience our classroom represents.

Class Preparation: The College expects that both you and I will come prepared to class. To ensure a

quality learning experience for everyone involved, it is vital that everyone be up to date on class

assignments. This includes readings, out-of-class involvement, and written assignments. We can only

progress through this learning experience if we travel together. It is also necessary to be prepared for

class so that you can more fully participate in an educated manner in the class discussions.

Retaining Original Work: You should keep all of your work – whether electronic or hard copy – until

the end of the semester. If questions arise regarding the grades you receive, this practice will ensure

that we can answer those questions to everyone’s satisfaction.

Late Submission of Work and Assignments: In the workplace, failure to complete work on time

results in reduced productivity, increased costs, and often the loss of business and jobs. Poor

planning, illness, computer crashes, and the like are never appropriate excuses for failing to meet

deadlines, and it is no different in this class. Except in cases of serious and documented illnesses or

emergencies, I will accept no late work. Unless I indicate otherwise in writing, all work is due

midnight on the date specified in this syllabus and should be uploaded to PLATO. You will not be

allowed to submit work to me after the due date. Failure to submit an assignment by the specified

time, regardless of technical or personal difficulties, will result in your receiving a zero for the

assignment. You will not be allowed to “revise” any assignment for which you receive a zero.

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That being said, I understand that life sometimes disrupts our best intentions. If you know that

something is coming up that could interfere with your work, you should let me know in advance so

that we can work out an appropriate plan. If an emergency arises preventing you from submitting an

assignment on time, you should email me as soon as you can and make an appointment to speak

with me when you return to school. I may (or may not) grant an extension, and I may (or may not) ask

for documentation of your emergency. If you expect me to accept late work as a matter of course,

you should keep in mind that “not having enough time to complete the assignment” is NEVER an

acceptable reason for failing to complete your work on time. Additionally:

I do not accept computer problems as an excuse for late work.

I do not accept that computer labs are full as an excuse for late work.

I alone will determine if a reason is sufficiently serious to justify late submission of an

assignment.

I alone will determine whether or not your documentation or explanation is appropriate.

Make-up Tests and Quizzes: Except in cases of serious and documented illnesses or emergencies, I

will allow no make up tests or quizzes. This applies even to the final exam.

Student Audio/Video Recording of Class: Unless you are recording this class as an accommodation

about which you have informed me in advance, you may not record this class without my express,

written permission. To do so may be a violation of copyright laws. Additionally, I will consider your

recording of any portion of this class without my permission to be academic misconduct, subject to

an appropriate sanction up to and including failure of the course.

Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty: Academic Dishonesty may take many forms including copying

computer programs written by other students, creating fake laboratory data or other records and

misrepresenting them as descriptions of actual observations, or any other form of intentional

misrepresentation for the purpose of receiving a higher evaluation than is merited or causing

another student to receive a lower evaluation than is merited. Academic dishonesty is a violation of

College policy.

To plagiarize means to pass off the ideas or words of another as your own, or to use a "created" work

without crediting its source – whether or not the inappropriate, unethical, or illegal use of the

material is intentional. Plagiarism does not apply only to quoted materials. It is possible and indeed

easier to plagiarize ideas. Plagiarism is a violation of college policy.

I will not tolerate plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty. If I suspect you of academic

dishonesty, I will vigorously investigate and report the infraction. If you have, in fact, plagiarized your

work or otherwise participated in academic dishonesty, you will fail the course and may be subject to

additional disciplinary action by the college. This policy applies to individual and group work. By

submitting any work to me, you attest that you understand the college’s policy on plagiarism and

academic dishonesty and that you have adhered to all requirements of the Catalog in preparing and

submitting your work.

Students with Disabilities: Penn College and I, in compliance with federal guidelines, are committed

to assuring otherwise qualified students with disabilities enjoy full participation in the College’s

programs and activities available to students without disabilities. Disability Services coordinates

accommodations for students with documented disabilities upon student request. The College

promotes self-advocacy; therefore, enrolled students are required to initiate contact with Disability

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Services staff through an assessment interview prior to receiving accommodations for every

semester. For further information contact the staff at 326-3761, ext. 7803.

If you have a learning, emotional, or physical disability for which you are authorized

accommodations, please advise me as soon as possible. Only with appropriate documentation can I

provide accommodations for such challenges. Without documentation, I cannot make

accommodations. Regardless of your specific challenge, I will hold you to the same academic

standards as your classmates.

Student Support Services: Penn College offers one of the finest academic success programs I have

ever seen, including a tutoring center, a writing center, online tutoring at smarthinking.com, a

mentoring program, and a regular and full series of study and enrichment skills workshops. All

services offered by the Academic Success Center are free, and I encourage you to take advantage of

all services that can help you achieve your academic goals. If you use any of the services offered by

the Academic Success Center, especially tutoring services, you should keep in mind that you – and

not the tutor or other Academic Success Center representative – are responsible for the quality and

correctness of your work. Blaming errors on a tutor will not fly. Furthermore, tutors are not

proofreaders, editors, or mind readers, so you must take a copy of the assignment description

whenever you see the Academic Success Center for help in a specific class. I receive reports each

time you visit a tutor for this class, and I will consider your use of this service when determining your

participation scores.

Course Methods:

This course is designed to offer a blend of individual and small group work that appeals to a variety

of learning styles. While I will need some time to lecture this semester, I will do my best to keep this

an active and engaging classroom. Our course work will include readings, exercises, discussions, and

significant work outside of class – including keeping a journal and writing two major papers. All of

these activities will explore some aspect of your transition to Penn College and will help you become

a more proficient student. Most students can expect to spend approximately two hours outside of

class in addition to the time that we spend in class.

Falling behind in the assigned readings, journal entries, or other homework assignments is one of

the quickest and surest ways of falling behind in class. Because I will not lecture about all of the

material in the textbook (though I will add to it), it is important that you keep up with the required

reading. Even if we fall behind in our discussions, you should stay on schedule with the readings and

exercises. We will catch up, and the readings will help you perform better on all class work. I expect

you to complete all assigned readings prior to coming to class. Only then will you be able to

understand, appreciate, and contribute effectively to our discussions and activities. To help ensure

that you take notes and read the text and handouts, I will give regular, but unannounced quizzes on

these assigned readings.

If you apply yourself and take this course seriously, it will help you discover and apply strategies that

can help you be successful this semester and every semester until you complete your degree.

Additionally, the skills developed in this class correspond to the precise skills employers are looking

for in new employees: communication skills, time management skills, the ability to think both

creatively and critically, and the ability to work in groups and with different types of people.

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A Final Word:

When you finish this class, you should be able to intelligently and thoughtfully navigate the rest of

your college career. The course is designed to help you succeed and to ensure that every person has

an equal opportunity to make an A or to make an F. The decision really is yours alone. You will detect

in this course and throughout the College a recurring theme of personal responsibility. As you heard

in Connections, the responsibility for your success or failure, when all is said and done, is yours.

Remember, though, you are not alone in this challenge. If you have difficulty understanding any idea,

concept, technique, or assignment from class, call, email, or come see me. Please, do not hesitate to

ask for help. I realize that it is impossible to accomplish the course objectives if you don’t understand

what is expected or you don’t understand the strategies to meet those expectations.

While this syllabus and course outline are my plan for the semester, and though I do not expect it,

the schedule, policies, or assignments in this course may change due to currently unforeseen

circumstances. If the syllabus does change, I will be sure to provide timely notification to enrolled

students.

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Date Topic/Description Assigned Readings Assignments Due

1

Aug 19 Introduction to FYE Aug 21 Syllabus Review

2

Aug 26 Welcome to Penn College CH 1: Change Aug 28 Class in LIB 102 CH 2: Engage

3 Sept 2 NO CLASS - Labor Day Sept 3: OL1A due

Sept 4 Goal Setting

4 Sept 9 Time Management CH 5: Prioritize

Sept11 Map-Works Survey 1 5

Sept 16 Personality Assessment CH 6: Learn Sept 18 Learning Styles Outcomes Log 1 due

OL2A due

6 Sept 23 How to Use A Text Book CH 7: Read

Sept 25 Study Skills Inventory 7

Sept 30 Study Skills & Memory

Oct 2 How to Use Class Notes CH 8: Record Outcomes Log 2 Due 8

Oct 7 No Class OLA3 due Oct 9 Note Taking*

9 Oct 14 Managing Your GPA*

Oct 16 Financial Literacy* CH 10:Prosper

10 Oct 21 Financial Literacy Part 2 Outcomes Log 3 Due

Oct 23 Scheduling and Advising OLA4 due 11

Oct 28 Personal Communication & Conflict CH 3: Communicate

Oct 30 12

Nov 4 Diversity CH 4: Think Map Works Survey 2 Nov 6 Outcomes Log 4 Due

13

Nov 11 Critical Thinking OLA5 due

Pgs. A3-A13, Purposeful Reflective Judgment Nov 13

14

Nov 18 Problem Solving Pgs. A15-25; The “Able” in “Willing and Able” Nov 20

15 Nov 25 Outcome Log 5 Due

Nov 27 No Class – Thanksgiving Break 16

Dec 2 No Class – Thanksgiving Break

Dec 4 Preparing for Final Exams Finals Week

Dec 9 Final Exam 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., LIB 202