CSU 1022--University Foundations

Fall 2007

Instructor: Dr. Todd Janke

Office: A&S-105 D

Phone: 678.466.4718

webpage: http://a-s.clayton.edu/tjanke

Catalog Description

University Foundations helps new students make a successful transition to Clayton State University and prepares them to meet the challenges of higher level learning and the demands of their chosen field. The course connects students and faculty who share a common interest by building a community of learners committed to achieving excellence. University Foundations refines academic goals, encourages a greater sense of personal responsibility, creates intentional learners, and provides the information and support that students need to earn a college degree. This discussion-based seminar helps students to learn how to improve their basic skills in areas such as written communication, oral communication and critical thinking. (Institutional credit only; counts in GPA)

Required Texts

Gardner, J. N., & Jewler, A. J. (2006). The essential college experience with readings (6^th ed.). Boston: Thomson Learning.

Lewyn, Bert. (2005) Holocaust Memoir: On the Run in Nazi Berlin . The author is scheduled to speak on campus on Wednesday, October 24, at 12:30.

Learner Outcomes

The general learning outcomes of the course and learning community program include:

· strengthening students’ abilities to read, write, and speak effectively,

· improving students’ abilities to analyze, interpret, and communicate information in a systematic way,

· developing students’ knowledge of their goals, abilities, and interests in conjunction with practices that contribute to success in college and in their chosen field, and

· building connections between students with similar interests and between students, faculty and the university.

Policies

Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities The link below is to the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities from Clayton State's online Academic Catalog:
http://a-s.clayton.edu/BasicUndergraduateStudentResponsibilities.htm. Please familiarize yourself with these responsibilities as part of your contractual relationship with Clayton State University.

University Attendance Policy Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Computer Policy. All students at Clayton State are required to have access to a laptop computer and to use that computer actively in all courses for e-mail access, electronic submission of papers, and other uses.

Midterm Grade Statement. Midterm grades will be posted before the deadline for withdrawal without academic penalty. They will be calculated by a formula for each student’s graded work at that time.

Classroom Attendance and Participation. This class requires student involvement and participation. In order to learn as much as possible in this class and to make one’s share of contributions, students are required to participate. Roll will be taken during each class meeting. In the event that students are not able to attend class due to illness or other emergency, they should contact the instructor before the class meets.

Cheating. Academic integrity is vital for true teaching and learning to take place in a scholarly community. Any form of cheating is a serious violation and will be addressed in accordance with university policy.

Plagiarism. Using another person’s ideas without giving due credit is plagiarism. Quotation marks should be used to denote words that are directly copied, and the original source must be cited when other people’s exact language is used or their ideas are paraphrased. University policy will be followed in the event that plagiarism is detected.

Disruptive Behavior. Teachers and students are engaged in scholarly pursuits. Students who do not respect others in the classroom or who act in ways that disrupt the learning process will be asked to leave.

Evaluation

Writing Assignments. Writing assignments are required. These assignments will consist of some combination of short papers, essay tests, journals, activity reports, and book reviews.

Group Presentations. Students will develop and participate in group presentations. One such presentation will be on a topic related to materials in the textbook. Students will be required to do research for this presentation and will use MS PowerPoint to communicate their information. A second group presentation will involve leading a discussion on an outside reading.

Final Exam. The final exam will be a written paper requiring students to reflect upon what they have learned in this course during the semester. Student may also be required to take quizzes or other tests.

Student Enrichment Activities (SEAs). Students will learn about campus service providers, attend campus events, and/or participate in campus or community service activities.

Assignments/Projects. Students will complete assignments and/or projects.

Approximate Percent of Final Grade

Writing Assignments 40%

Group Presentation(s) 20%

Final Exam(s) 10%

SEAs 10%

Assignments/Projects 10%

Participation 10%

Accommodations

Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations need to register with Disability Resource Center (DRC) in order to obtain their accommodations. Students can contact the office by calling 678-466-5445 or by e-mailing disabilityservices@clayton.edu. If a student is already registered with DRC and is seeking accommodations for this course, he or she may make an appointment with Nicole Palazzo to discuss his or her specific accommodation needs for the course and assure that the faculty member receives the accommodations letter.

Course Outline for CSU 1022: University Foundations

Week Topics/Reading Assignments Assignments

Week 1: The Purpose of College (Chap 1) Email Journal #1

Week 2: Setting Priorities (Chap 2) Weekly Timetable

Using Technology at CSU

Week 3: Software Support Visit (September, 6) Email Journal #2

Week 4 Learning Preferences (Chap 3) Writing Assignment #1

Week 5: Learning Strategies/Reading Techniques (Chaps 4/7) Email Journal #3

Week 6: Taking Notes/Taking Tests (Chaps 6/8) Writing Assignment #2

Week 7: Selecting Classes/Choosing Majors Writing Assignment #3

Academic Advising Process/General Education

Week 8: Research and College Libraries (Chap 10) Research Assignment

Week 9 Outside Reading (On the Run) Reading Notes/Responses

Week 10 Outside Reading (On the Run) Reading Notes/Responses

Week 11: Critical Thinking (Chap 5) Writing Assignment #4

Week 12: Communication Skills (Chap 9) Research Paper Due

Week 13: Diversity (Chap 13)

Week 14: Alcohol, Drugs (Chap 14), Stress/Health (Chap 15) Team Presentations

Week 15: Team Presentations

Week 16: Team Presentations

Exam Week Final Exam