Course Policies & Expectations

• Students should regularly check their ETSU email account as the instructor will use that address to send out information if needed.

• Students must use their ETSU email accounts to send messages to the instructor. Always include your name and the course number in emails to the instructor.

• Dr. Blackhart will attempt to respond to email within (24-48 hrs) and will expect students to respond to emails within that same timeframe if a response is requested.

Attendance in this course is required. This includes attending weekly meetings as well as being mentally present and on time for class. If you are not able to attend a class meeting (e.g., you are ill, you are attending a research conference), you must notify the instructor as soon as possible that you will not be in attendance.

This course is a seminar-type course (in contrast to a lecture-based format). Each of you has a unique and valuable perspective that will contribute to our class discussions. For each class we will meet and discuss the various topics at length. Therefore, it is imperative that you read all of the assigned readings prior to class meetings and come prepared to discuss the assigned readings. Participation points will be assigned for each class meeting; thus, meaningful contributions to relevant discussions will be applied toward this portion of your grade for the course.

You will receive a grade between 0-10 for participation in each class meeting (with the exception of practice lecture days) based on the criteria below:

• 0 – Failure to participate in class discussion.

• 5 – Minimal participation and/or lack of thoughtful, meaningful comments or questions during class.

• 10 – Asked thoughtful questions and/or provided thoughtful, meaningful comments on the topic of discussion during class.

• Students should arrive in class on time and not leave until dismissed. If there are extenuating circumstances, please discuss with the instructor in advance or as soon as is possible.

• Some weeks require more time for readings/assignments than others; plan accordingly.

• Always ask Dr. Blackhart for clarification if you have a question.

• Be respectful toward your classmates and instructor.

• If you use laptops, tablets or smart phones in class, they should be used only for coursework during the class period. It is a distraction to other students and to the instructor if you are surfing the web, sending emails, doing statistical analyses, writing a manuscript, etc. You will be asked to put your device away if you are unable to use it for coursework only.

• Assignments turned in to the D2L dropbox must be turned in to the correct dropbox for the assignment or the assignment will NOT be graded.

• If any course information or links do not work, please let the instructor know ASAP.

• If you find a helpful link or resource, let Dr. Blackhart know so that it can be shared with other students.

• If there are any extreme circumstances that prevent you from coming to class and/or from completing assignments/exams on time, you should contact Dr. Blackhart as soon as possible so a possible solution can be discussed.

• Cheating/Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

What are your expectations for your fellow students? What expectations do you have for Dr. Blackhart as the instructor of this course?

All students will conduct themselves in a courteous and polite manner fitting the classroom. Disruptive behavior (e.g., cell phone calls, text messaging, unnecessary chattering or whispering, arriving to class late or leaving early, offensive language, harassment of instructor or other students, repeated outbursts, etc.) will not be tolerated. Any student engaging in disruptive behavior will be asked to leave the classroom.

Students who use laptop computers, tablet computers, or smart phones in class must do so exclusively for the purpose of taking notes during lectures. Surfing the web, playing games, visiting social networking sites, sending text messages, emailing, etc., conveys disrespect to the instructor and to your fellow students. If it is discovered that you are engaging in such behavior, you will be asked to put away your device, will no longer be allowed to use this device in class, and may be asked to leave the classroom.

I consider this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect and I welcome individuals of all ages, backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities, genders, gender identities, gender expressions, national origins, religious affiliations, sexual orientations, ability – and other visible and non visible differences.

All members of this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment for every other member of the class. In addition, I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun.

Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.

All students are expected to comply with the University’s regulations on academic misconduct. The ETSU academic honor code holds each student responsible for 1) upholding the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own work, 2) refusing to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the University community, and 3) fostering a high sense of integrity and social responsibility. Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic misconduct will not be tolerated.

Any act of academic dishonesty will automatically result in a zero for the affected work, and will be reported to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs within the College of Arts and Sciences (per Tennessee Higher Education Commission policy effective January 1^st, 2012). Punishment for such misconduct is in accord with the THEC policy. For more information regarding the University’s academic misconduct policy, refer to the ETSU Student Handbook website.