Your commitment, as a student, to learning is evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University.  The academic integrity policy and Student Code of Conduct requires you to be honest in all your academic coursework. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Affairs - Student Conduct.  

Each student in this course is expected to conduct themselves with academic integrity.  Any work submitted by a student in this course for academic credit will be the student's own work. You are encouraged to study together to discuss major concepts covered in the lecture. However, this permissible cooperation should never involve one student having possession of a copy of all or part of work done by someone else, in the form of an e-mail, an e-mail attachment file, a diskette, a hard copy, or in any other format. 

Students are expected to submit college-level original work, with proper credit and in-text citations given to external sources using American Psychological Association (APA) current edition style guide. A list of references must also be provided for each typewritten assignment. For more information on proper citations in APA format, visit www.apastyle.org.

Should copying occur, both the student who copied work from another student and the student who gave material to be copied will both automatically receive 0 points for the assignment. Penalties can also be extended to include University disciplinary action. 

Examples of Plagiarism can be found on the following Library's website.

Please join the "official waitlist" if you want to let me know that you wish to enroll. 

• How to add a class: Adding a Class

• How to join an official waitlist: Waitlisting

If you are not able to join the official waitlist, you may send an email with your request. Be sure to tell me exactly which course, course section, and date/time of the class you are trying to add, as I teach many different courses. I cannot guarantee that space will be available. Sometimes the online system says there is space, but I may have already issued a permission number to another student. You are welcome to email me up until the last day to add the course, to inquire about space being available to join the class. If you join the class late (late enrollments), I will work with you to ensure you are aware of what was missed before you became enrolled. Please visit my office hours to go over what you have missed. I typically do not approve Petitions for late adds post-Census, as an entire month of class has been missed by that date. It would not be to your benefit to start the course so far behind. 

As your instructor, I acknowledge the value that using technology can bring to the classroom. In this course, I want to emphasize practicing self-discipline in relationship to our academic integrity policy and the ethical use of resources, which includes the responsible utilization of AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and other similar resources. While these tools can offer valuable assistance and insights, it is important to ensure that their use aligns with the principles of integrity, authenticity, and learning.

Guidelines for Using ChatGPT and other AI Resources:

• Supplementary Assistance: It is permissible to use ChatGPT and similar AI resources to seek supplementary assistance in understanding concepts, generating ideas, or obtaining insights related to course material. However, the primary responsibility for learning and understanding the material lies with you as the student. Be aware that some data may be inaccurate, outdated, or otherwise incorrect. As a learner, I expect you to examine content carefully against other sources of information to improve accuracy.

• Attribution and Originality: If you incorporate ideas, phrases, or content obtained from ChatGPT or other AI resources into your work, it is crucial to attribute the source appropriately. Plagiarism, which includes failing to acknowledge the use of external resources, is strictly prohibited. An example of how to properly cite information gained from A.I. is below: 

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat 

For additional guidance on proper citation, please read the APA Style Blog (article dated April 2023, by Tim McAdoo).

• Assignment and Exam Work: Unless explicitly stated by me, all assignments, projects, and exams are expected to reflect your own understanding and efforts. While seeking help from AI resources is allowed for general understanding, the work you submit must demonstrate your own synthesis, analysis, and application of course concepts.

• Collaboration: Collaboration with peers in understanding concepts and solving problems is encouraged. Study groups are encouraged. However, when using AI resources, ensure that the work submitted under your name is your own work product and that it has not been copied directly from AI-generated responses.

Consequences of Violation:

Violations of academic integrity, including the inappropriate use of ChatGPT and AI resources, will be treated seriously and may result in consequences ranging from receiving a reduced grade on an assignment to failing the course. University policies on academic integrity will be strictly enforced.

Embracing Ethical Learning:

Our goal is to foster a learning environment that nurtures critical thinking, creativity, and authenticity. While AI resources can be beneficial tools, remember that the true value of education lies in your ability to engage with and understand the material. Use AI resources ethically, responsibly, and as supplements to your own learning journey.

By enrolling in this course, you acknowledge and agree to abide by these guidelines and principles of academic integrity, including the ethical use of AI resources.

😀This course policy was generated with the help of A.I. 😄

OpenAI. (2021). ChatGPT: Example conversation about referencing. [ChatGPT]. https://www.openai.com/chatgpt 

University Attendance Policy

University Policy F15-12, Attendance and Participation

Students are expected to attend all meetings for the courses in which they are enrolled as they are responsible for the material discussed therein, and active participation is frequently essential to ensure maximum benefit to all class members. In some cases, attendance is fundamental to course objectives; for example, students may be required to interact with others in the class. Attendance is the responsibility of the student.

Participation may be used as a criterion for grading when the parameters and their evaluation are clearly defined in the course syllabus and the percentage of the overall grade is stated.

Online Synchronous Courses

Missing a Zoom class is the equivalent of missing an in-person class. Your ability to engage with the instructor, your classmates, and get questions answered in real time are all benefits of coming to class regularly. I strongly encourage your attendance and participation in our scheduled Zoom lectures.

Online Asynchronous Courses

Attendance in online asynchronous courses is measured by logging into Canvas on a regular basis, reading and reviewing all assigned course modules, watching films, and submitting assignments in a timely manner. Absence from the online course for more than 7 days is indication of lack of engagement. Missing 2 consecutive weeks can significantly impact your overall course grade as you will have missed various deadlines and/or failed to participate in weekly discussions with classmates. While an asynchronous course has the benefits of being more flexible in where and when you study, asynchronous courses typically require more time management skills and discipline to stay engaged. 

What if I am sick?

If you are sick, or have to care for ill family members, please do not attend class. While online courses can reduce the likelihood of spreading illness, I believe it is important to demonstrate and practice self-care. We cannot do our best work when we are not feeling well. Therefore, take the day off and join class again when you feel better! If you are ill for an extended period of time, please talk to me during office hours so you can get caught up when you return. 

Please DO NOT email me death notices, pictures of car accidents, photos of your injuries, hospital reports/discharge papers, obituaries, death certificates, photos of your medications, etc. 

My commitment to you as an enrolled student is that I am dedicated to making the class accessible to all students. This includes things like providing captioning on recorded videos, offering various options for how student work may be submitted, allowing for flexible deadlines, encouraging creativity for different types of learning styles, and providing access to students who have disabilities or specialized learning needs. 

If you require specific disability accommodations, please contact the SJSU Accessible Education Center (AEC). AEC will send me a notification of all the agreements to help you be successful in the course. 

1. Please be respectful of the instructor and other students in the course, by refraining from using profanity, racism, sexism, homophobia, threats, and any other offensive comments on the discussion forums and in your electronic communications. 

2. If a behavioral disruption arises on Zoom, I will remove the student from the class session for the remainder of that meeting session. If issues escalate, the Office of Student Conduct may implement penalties, such as a student being suspended from attending class. 

3. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please be sure to review the Academic Integrity Policy, and the Artificial Intelligence Use Policy. College rules regarding discipline for academic integrity violations will be followed, including notifying the Psychology Department Chair and the Dean of Social Sciences, and/or the Office of Student Conduct. The university uses a reporting system called Maxient. 

4. I expect students to take risks, try hard and do their best. Having a positive attitude will go a long way! 

5. TIME MANAGEMENT is important. Taking an online course often requires additional discipline. We won’t have the luxury of daily reminders and in-person interaction. I will do my best to send email reminders, or post Canvas reminders online. However, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to manage time wisely, study in a progressive manner (as opposed to cramming), and take the time to submit all assignments by their stated deadlines. 

6. Special reminders about email etiquette

   1. Please use kind words and maintain a respectful tone in your emails to me. 

   2. Please try to avoid emailing me when you are upset or frustrated. 

   3. Please avoid accusatory language, the use of emoticons, or any other language that may be interpreted as rude, condescending, harassing, or inappropriate to the instructor. 

   4. If your email is disrespectful, discriminatory, demeaning, or disruptive, I may refer it to the Psychology Department Chair and/or College Dean for support.

I understand and appreciate that we represent a rich variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Therefore, I am committed to providing an atmosphere for learning that respects diversity. While working together to build this community I ask all students to:

• share their unique experiences, values, and beliefs

• be open to hearing the views of others 

• appreciate the opportunity that we have to learn from each other

• value each other’s opinions and communicate in a respectful manner

• keep confidential discussions that the community has of a personal (or professional) nature 

• use this opportunity together to discuss ways in which we can create an inclusive environment in this course, on campus, and in our communities

As the student, you are responsible for making sure that your registration is accurate.

• Dropping a Class

• Instructor Drops

• Late Drop Petitions

If you no longer plan to stay enrolled in my course, please take the necessary steps to DROP the course from your registration. During the early part of the semester you can drop the class without a grade of "W". Once the "W" period begins, if you drop the class, it will appear on your transcript. 

If you do not drop the class, but simply "disappear" from participating, you remain responsible for the assignments due, and are subject to the grading requirements of the class. In cases where students remain enrolled but do not complete the work, you will receive an "unauthorized withdrawal" grade which computes as a F for GPA. 

Review the Fall 2025 Registrar Calendar for dates to add, drop, withdraw from classes.

I do not offer extra credit in my courses. At my sole discretion, if extra credit options become available, they will be announced to all students using Canvas and will not result in more than 15 points added to the overall grade at the end of the semester.

The final exam period for each course is determined by the University. We will follow the University's final exam schedule for all courses.

For courses that have a final project instead of an exam, please follow the details outlined in our course syllabus and on Canvas. The due dates will correspond with the University's final exam schedule.

• Fall 2025 SJSU Final Exam Schedule

Final Grading for all Courses

Students will be assigned a letter grade based on the percentage they earned in the course. Letter grades on the Canvas website are not considered official grades. If you have questions about their progress in the course, I strongly encourage you to meet with me during office hours. The table below demonstrates the minimum percentage for each letter grade:

A plus 97%

A 93%

A minus 90%

B plus 87%

B 83%

B minus 80%

C plus 77%

C 73%

C minus 70%

D plus 67%

D 63%

D minus 60%

Fail Below 60%

Credit 70% or better

No Credit Below 70%

Determination of Grades

• Final letter grades are not rounded up. Percentages on Canvas are not the official grade until the end of the semester and after all assignments have been graded by the professor. Students should refer to this syllabus for the percentage assigned to each letter grade.

• Except in the case of an instructor clerical error, all grades submitted to the University Registrar are final and cannot be changed after the semester ends. 

• Petitions for INCOMPLETE are only approved in the rare circumstance of which a student, who is currently passing the class, has completed over 80% of the coursework, and is unable to finish due to an unforeseen emergency.

• counseling at the Wellness Center

• mentoring and tutoring through Peer Connections

• food, shelter and safety at SJSU Cares

• computers, printing, and more at Student Technology Resources

• writing assistance at the Writing Center

I believe that all students should have equitable opportunities to be successful in my courses. Therefore, I do not enforce a late policy that deducts points from assignments. All assignments will be graded based on thoroughness. 

• I do not accept late work by email. ALL assignments for the class should be submitted through Canvas.

• Late work will be accepted up to 7 days after its original deadline. 

• In-class assignments (e.g. breakout rooms/ discussion groups) must be completed on the date of that class meeting.

• Once an assignment is locked on Canvas, it will not reopen or accept any additional submissions.

Please DO NOT email me death notices, pictures of car accidents, photos of your injuries, hospital reports/discharge papers, obituaries, death certificates, photos of your medications, etc. 

All course material has been carefully selected to enhance the educational experience, and is not intended to traumatize or harm students. However, there are topics that we will cover that might be difficult to hear about, view films or witness others’ experiences. There may also be some material that has the potential to be retriggering of past trauma. I strongly suggest that you “put your safety mask on first” – which means, take good care of yourself as you take this online course, take breaks when needed, and regularly practice self-care, as well as solicit mental health services (if needed) as you pursue the course content. 

• If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please dial 911 or go to your nearest hospital.

SJSU Counseling and Psychological Services 

The most wonderful building on campus is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. However, the library is also available to you 24 hours a day virtually. 

The subject librarian can help you with choosing a topic, researching topics, writing support, and brainstorming ideas for your assignments.

• Christa Bailey is the PSYC subject librarian.

• Estella Inda is the AFAM subject librarian. 

• Office hours are a great way to ask questions that you forgot to ask during class.

• Office hours help you get to know your professor better.

• Office hours are a great time to discuss private matters, like your grades in the course, personal help with an assignment, or receive mentoring or advising support.

• You may schedule meetings with me using my online calendar: Google Appointments. 

• I will not physically be available to meet on the SJSU campus, however I am happy to have face-to-face video appointments with you using ZOOM, a video conferencing service. 

• I expect students to meet me for office hours as soon as they realize they are having difficulty in a course. 

• If my office hour times do not work for you, please email me your availability so we can try to schedule an alternative.

All course exams are open book and open notes. I provide a study guide for classes that have exams. My recommendation is that you take the time to make a notes page of key information before taking the exam. 

• The exams are on Canvas and are timed for 1 hour, unless otherwise noted. 

• The date/time of the exam is posted and all students must take the exam within that specific timeframe.

• If you have disability accommodations, please have AEC office send me the paperwork so I can program your exam accordingly.

15 rules of Netiquette for Online Discussion Boards

“Netiquette” refers to rules of etiquette that apply to online communication.

Follow these 15 rules of netiquette to make sure you sound respectful, polite, and knowledgeable when you post to your class’s online discussion boards.

1. Before posting your question to a discussion board, check if anyone has asked it already and received a reply. Just as you wouldn’t repeat a topic of discussion right after it happened in real life, don’t do that in discussion boards either.

2. Stay on topic – Don’t post irrelevant links, comments, thoughts, or pictures.

3. Don’t type in ALL CAPS! If you do, it will look like you’re screaming.

4. Don’t write anything that sounds angry or sarcastic, even as a joke, because without hearing your tone of voice, your peers might not realize you’re joking.

5. Always remember to say “Please” and “Thank you” when soliciting help from your classmates.

6. Respect the opinions of your classmates. If you feel the need to disagree, do so respectfully and acknowledge the valid points in your classmate’s argument. Acknowledge that others are entitled to have their own perspective on the issue.

7. If you reply to a question from a classmate, make sure your answer is accurate! If you’re not 100% sure when the paper is due, DO NOT GUESS! Otherwise, you could really mess things up for your classmates and they will not appreciate it.

8. If you ask a question and many people respond, summarize all answers and post that summary to benefit your whole class.

9. Be brief. If you write a long dissertation in response to a simple question, it’s unlikely that anyone will spend the time to read through it all.

10. Don’t badmouth others or call them stupid. You may disagree with their ideas, but don’t mock the person.

11. If you refer to something your classmate said earlier in the discussion, quote justa few key lines from their post so that others wont have to go back and figure out which post you’re referring to.

12. Before asking a question, check the class FAQs or search the internet to see if the answer is obvious or easy to find.

13. Check the most recent comments before you reply to an older comment, since the issue might have already been resolved or opinions may have changed.

14. Be forgiving. If your classmate makes a mistake, don’t badger him or her for it. Just let it go – it happens to the best of us.

15. Run a spelling and grammar check before posting anything to the discussion board. It only takes a minute, and can make the difference between sounding like a fool and sounding knowledgeable.

RULE OF THUMB: If you wouldn’t do or say something in real life, don’t do it online either.

Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct

Please review all university policies, academic standards, complaint procedures, code of conduct and other relevant processes before remaining enrolled in my courses. We will follow all University guidelines as stated in the Catalog. 

Please visit the centralized University syllabus information page which details all relevant policies for students enrolled at SJSU.

1. • You are required to have an electronic device (laptop, desktop, or tablet) with a camera and built-in microphone. SJSU has a free equipment loan program available for students.

   • Please make sure you have access to reliable Wi-­Fi during tests. If you are unable to have reliable Wi-­Fi, please inform me as soon as possible or at the latest one week before the test date to determine an alternative. See Learn Anywhere website for current Wi-­Fi options on campus.

For synchronous (live Zoom) courses, please connect with a classmate who will share their notes with you. I do not plan to record my lectures. Slides and other course materials will be available on Canvas.

For fully online (asynchronous) courses, attendance is expected by students engaging on Canvas multiple times per week. The professor will have the ability to monitor Canvas engagement through the activity report. This view shows the professor how often the student is logged into our course and interacting with the assignment and materials. I expect students will be able to manage their own time. Since this is an online class, I expect students to develop their own learning schedule, ensuring that they adhere to the deadlines as much as possible. However, I will accept late work without a lengthy explanation. All assignments have a 1-week grace period. Thereafter the assignment will lock out and no further submissions will be accepted.

 
If you no longer plan to stay enrolled in my course, please take the necessary steps to DROP the course from your registration. If you do not drop the class, but simply "disappear" from participating, you are subject to the grading requirements of the class. In cases where students remain enrolled but do not complete the work, you will receive an "unauthorized withdrawal" grade which computes as a F for GPA. 

If you need to leave the University or drop ALL your classes in the semester, please speak with a major advisor, GE advisor, and review the policies in the SJSU Catalog: Cancellation of Registration or Withdrawal From the Institution

The San José State University Writing Center offers a variety of resources to help students become better writers, and all of our services are free for SJSU students. Our mission is to enhance the writing skills of SJSU students so they can communicate clearly in any setting (informal, academic, or professional). We accomplish this goal through creating original writing resources, offering workshops, and conducting one-on-one and small-group tutoring sessions.

The SJSU Writing Center conducts scheduled appointments on the second floor of the MLK Library. We also offer online tutoring sessions using the Zoom web conferencing platform. All writing appointments can be made online.

All our writing tutors have gone through a rigorous hiring process, and they are well trained to assist all students at all levels within all disciplines to become better writers. In addition to tutoring services, the Writing Center also offers workshops every semester on a variety of writing topics. To make an appointment, register for a workshop, or to refer to the numerous online resources offered through the Writing Center, visit the Writing Center website at http://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter. 

1. • Mute Your Microphone: To help keep background noise to a minimum, make sure you mute your microphone when you are not speaking. Use the "raise hand" feature, or send a chat message to the instructor if you want to talk during class lecture. 

   • Be Mindful of Background Noise and Distractions: Find a quiet place to “attend” class, to the greatest extent possible. 

     1. Avoid video setups where people may be walking behind you, people talking/making noise, etc.

     2. Avoid activities that could create additional noise, such as shuffling papers, listening to music in the background, etc.

   • Position Your Camera Properly: Be sure your webcam is in a stable position and focused at eye level.

   • Limit Your Distractions & Avoid Multitasking: You can make it easier to focus on the meeting by turning off notifications, closing or minimizing running apps, and putting your smartphone away (unless you are using it to access Zoom).

   • Use Appropriate Virtual Backgrounds: If using a virtual background, it should be appropriate and professional and should NOT suggest or include content that is objectively offensive or demeaning.

   • If you are attending Zoom class in a public space (e.g. library, shared study space), use headphones, a headset, or earbuds to avoid disrupting others whom you are sharing the space with.

At my sole discretion, this course or portions of the course (i.e. lectures, discussions, student presentations) may be recorded for instructional or educational purposes. If recordings will be available to enrolled students in the class through Canvas. The recordings will be deleted at the end of the semester. If you would prefer to remain anonymous during these recordings, please speak with me about possible accommodations (such as turning off your camera, or temporarily changing your name and profile picture, prior to the recording beginning). 

As a student, you are not allowed to record any portion of our class without the instructor's permission. 

Students are prohibited from recording class activities (including class lectures, office hours, advising sessions, etc.), distributing class recordings, or posting class recordings. All materials created by the instructor for the course (syllabi, lectures, lecture notes, etc.) are copyrighted by the instructor. University policy (S12-7) is in place to protect your privacy as a student, protects all students in the course, and helps to maintain academic integrity through reducing instances of cheating. Students who record, distribute, or post these materials will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. Unauthorized recordings may violate university and state laws. It is the responsibility of the student that requires special accommodations or assistive technology due to a disability to inform the instructor after meeting with the Accessible Education Center (AEC).