I know this is a tough time for many of us -- we're working harder, longer hours, and earning less than we have in more than a generation. ChattState students' lives are complicated. Many of you have kids, parents you take care of, jobs, and other challenges in your lives.

I'm here to be your champion -- during this class, and afterwards. I will do my best to be flexible, understanding, and compassionate. I TRUST YOU. I will believe you when you tell me that something went wrong, and I will work with you to get you back on track. I know you can be successful in this class.

Any time you need someone to talk to, about school or life or anything, I will listen. I may not be able to solve every problem or challenge, and I'm definitely not a therapist, but I know what it's like to feel alone and exhausted. I'll try to understand.

• You're in a 7-week fall semester course that begins on August 15 and ends on September 30, 2022.

• You have two required books: Fault Lines in the Constitution (by Sanford & Cynthia Levinson) and Just Mercy (by Bryan Stevenson). Other short readings and activities are available in eLearn. (Find tips on getting these books on the cheap in eLearn as well.)

• This is not a self-paced course, although you can work ahead on most assignments if you choose.

• We have one-week modules (that means you have deadlines each week), ending at 11:59 pm on Sundays. (The only exception is in the final week, when work is due by 11:59 pm on Friday.)

• Each week, you will engage with 3-4 learning activity choices on your own. There is a content library with more than 200 options available. If you don't see something that looks appealing to you, ask! After you engage with each item, you should write a short (1-2 paragraph) reflection (NOT summary) sharing what you got out of it. These can be submitted in our class Discord channel (preferred) or in a weekly eLearn Dropbox (if you prefer).

1. Stay informed. Log in to our course at least 2-3 times per week to check for News items, see what's happening on the Discussion Board, or mosey over to our Discord channel. Make sure you know what deadlines are coming up.

2. Stay in touch. The biggest reason students don't pass this class is that they disappear after a few weeks. I know that life happens, and I won't think less of you if you get behind or have an emergency. Let me know what's happening so that we can ensure you stay on track to pass. I promise, I'm on your team.

3. Chase your curiosity. This course is designed to give you a lot of freedom around what you learn (and how). Let yourself get distracted by a topic that captures your interest. Don't worry what everyone else is choosing; find things that you think sound especially interesting. Make this class meaningful and valuable for you.

4. Get started on your project right away. The #1 thing my former students say they wish they'd done differently -- not waiting to get started. If you do a little bit at a time, you'll find the semester project to be interesting, easy, and relevant to this course. If you procrastinate, it'll be less of all those things. Break it up into small chunks.

5. Don't worry about looking "dumb." This might be the first time you've taken a government class, or it might be the third or fourth. No matter what, trust that I won't think you're stupid because you asked a basic question. Instead, I'll think you're brave for speaking up. I respect those who take control of their education by figuring out what they don't know.

6. Spend some time with me. I have a number of virtual office hours (some drop-in, many more by appointment) each week. During those times, I'm probably literally sitting at my desk, staring at my empty Zoom room, wishing someone was there to talk to. I'm not especially extroverted, but I adore working with students. I will learn as much from you as you'll learn from me -- and I'm honestly not just saying that. So swing by, even if it's just to talk about what your dog just did that was funny, or what your son/daughter/niece/nephew said that made your jaw drop, or how you LITERALLY CANNOT EVEN with the world right now. It's a total win-win -- you get to connect with someone, I get to know you better, and everyone is happier.