First Year Experience

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE

SYLLABUS

FALL 2013

COURSE NUMBER: CAS 100.504 CRN 12800

COURSE TITLE: First Year Experience

MEETING TIME: Wednesdays 6:00 pm to 7:40 pm

LOCATION: Humanities 0112

COURSE CREDIT: 2 semester hours

FACULTY: Dr. Timothy J. Slattery

Office: University Commons Bldg. 1110

Telephone: 460-7150

Email: Slattery@southalabama.edu

PEER LEADER: Tyler Hanks

Email: tmh1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Wed, 12:30-1:30; 3:30-5:30 or by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A course for first-year students majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences that assists with maximizing the student's potential to achieve academic success and to adjust responsibility to the individual and interpersonal challenges presented by college life. Taught in small groups, the course provides an introduction to the nature of higher education and a general orientation to the functions and resources of the University.

COURSE PRE-REQUISITES/CO-REQUISITES

There are no pre-requisites or co-requisites to CAS 100.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

· Demonstrate information literacy

· Practice written and verbal communication so students can convey their ideas to others

· Demonstrate skills and habits necessary for academic success, including submitting work on time, study skills, note-taking, test-taking, written and oral communication

· Demonstrate the ability to utilize technology (including PAWs and our LMS) in support of learning

· Identify and practice appropriate academic behavior

· Practice critical thinking OR apply critical thinking strategies to a seminar project or activity

· Explain the importance of peer review and group work and apply both practices

· Distinguish and apply various paradigms for generating knowledge

· Develop effective time management skills

· Explain and be able to access appropriate campus resources

COURSE FORMAT

This course is taught as a lecture with a web-enhanced component. You will need to access Sakai at https://ecampus.southalabama.edu/xsl-portal for course material and class discussions.

COURSE MATERIALS

Carr, N., Carr, P., Thomas, C. A., Gibbs, D., & Brochu, S. (2014). The U Revolution. Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McnNeil, LLC.

USA 2012-2013 Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletin (find at Admissions in Meisler Hall)

The Lowdown 2012-2013 (found at http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/)

Various assigned reading – handouts and web references

You are expected to have read assigned materials in advance of the designated class period.

Bring to Each Class

1. Syllabus & Class Schedule

2. Calendar or daily planner

3. Textbooks/Additional readings on days with assigned readings.

EXAMINATIONS

A mid-term and final examination will be given.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

Academic Advisor Appointment, Calendar, Extracurricular Activity Attendance, Group presentation, Library Assignment, Service Learning Activity

Course assignments include library activity, extracurricular activities, group presentations, academic advisor appointment, and online discussions. All assignments, with the exception of the online discussions, turned in after the date they are due will not receive the full number of points allowable for that assignment.

Library Activity:

You must complete and submit the library activity provided by USA’s University Library.

The assignment is available by following the Freshman Seminar link on the University Library homepage, or at this URL: http://libguides.southalabama.edu/libresearch.

Extracurricular Activity Attendance:

You are required to attend one extracurricular activity. You must choose from the following:

    • Women’s Athletic Event
    • Men’s Athletic Event
    • Music or Dramatic Performance on Campus
    • Event Sponsored by Jaguar Productions

Group Presentation

You will be required to participate in an oral presentation. The class will be divided into groups. Groups are encouraged to present the information in creative ways. Presentations will be graded by your fellow classmates and the instructor.

Mandatory Meeting with Academic Advisor

You must make an appointment to meet with your Academic Advisor sometime during the Semester. Contact the major department secretary for the name of your advisor.

DETERMINING FINAL GRADE

GRADING SCALE

90-100% (270 + pts) = A

80-89.99% (240 - 269 pts) = B

70-79.99% (210 - 239 pts) = C

60-69.99% (180 - 209 pts) = D

Below 60% (less than 180 pts) = F

IMPORTANT DATES

See the University Academic Calendar online at http://www.southalabama.edu/academiccalendar.html

Last Day to add/change to audit: Wednesday, August 21ST (5:59 pm)

Last Day to drop: Friday, October 25th (4:59 pm)

Final Examination: Wednesday, December 11th, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (http://www.southalabama.edu/registrar/dates.htm#final)

Holidays: September 2 – Labor Day

October 7 & 8 – Fall Break

November 27 – December 1 – Thanksgiving Break

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance and Assignments

Participation grade will be based on involvement and contributions in open class discussions and activities. You are required to attend all class meetings. You will receive 5 points for each class you attend, participate, and when appropriate, submit a question for the midterm or final exams. This will count for a total of 80 points.

Academic Disruption Policy and Class Demeanor

Disruptive academic behavior is defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or interferes with any educational activity or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges of others, results in or threatens the destruction of property and/or is otherwise prejudicial to the maintenance of order in an academic environment.

During the course of the semester, we will be having several guest lecturers and attending presentations outside of this classroom. Various faculty and staff members are doing these presentations because they want you to succeed. In many cases, they are taking time away from their primary job responsibilities and must make up the time they spend with you at night or on weekends. They deserve your undivided attention and respect. At no time will side conversations during these presentations be tolerated. Points will be deducted from your class participation score and I will contact the parties individually.

Changes in Course Requirements

Not all classes progress at the same rate thus course requirements might have to be modified as circumstances dictate. You will be given written notice if the course requirements need to be changed.

Student Academic Conduct Policy

As a community of students and scholars, the University strives to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All members of the community are expected to exhibit honesty and competence in academic work.

Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty and must be avoided. Plagiarism is using somebody else’s ideas in your writing without correctly identifying such sources. As one resource for helping students avoid plagiarism, your written work in this class may be submitted to Turnitin.com, or a similar detection service, or require you to do so, for an evaluation of originality and proper use and attribution of sources. Assignments submitted to Turnitin.com will be included as source documents in a restricted access database solely for the purpose of detecting possible plagiarism in such documents. As part of this process, you may be required to submit electronic as well as hard copies of your writing. You agree that by taking this course all assignments are subject to submission for originality review.

Students with Disabilities

If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations, please notify the instructor/professor and provide certification from the Office of Special Student Services, which is located at 5828 Old Shell Road at Jaguar Drive, (251-460-7212).

Cellular Phones:

Cellular phones must be turned off and placed out of sight during class. Cellular phones are disruptive to the class and interfere with your fellow students’ ability to hear and concentrate.

Sakai

Course material will be available at USA Online through Sakai. You are required to login to Sakai to access the material. You can access the syllabus, handouts, additional instructions, and the grade book on this site. Go to https://ecampus.southalabama.edu/xsl-portal to login and begin using USA Online.

How to log into Sakai

    1. Go to the Sakai home page (https://ecampus.southalabama.edu/xsl-portal).
    2. In the Username field, enter your Jag Number.
    3. In the Password field, enter your Jagmail account password.

JagAlert

The JagAlert (http://www.southalabama.edu/academicsuccess/jagwelcome.shtml) early alert program is designed to ensure students receive the support and assistance needed to be successful. In the fifth week of the term, I will assess whether your performance and attendance in the class have been satisfactory. If for some reason I or another one of your instructors indicate that you are having problems, the program will provide a variety of resources and strategies to help you improve your chances for academic success.

Operational Disruptions

Events outside of the control of the University, such as natural disasters, may cause a disruption to the formal in class setting however every effort will be made to continue with class activities via eCompanion during such times of crisis. Please become familiar with the USA web site for special announcements and or procedures to be followed during such events. You can find the USA Emergency and Weather Hotline information at http://www.southalabama.edu/emergency.html or call (251) 460-6999.