Syllabus
- 2. INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION Dr. Courtney Cullison E-mail: ccullison@uttyler.edu (best contact method) Phone: (903) 566-7163 Office: BUS 224 Office Hours: By appointment (please email to schedule an appointment) I am guaranteed to check email frequently during in- person office hours, though if I am with a student responses to email may be delayed during this time period. For any email sent outside of office hours, you should expect a response within 48 hours (excepting Sundays).
- 3. EMAIL POLICY Per university request, I will only communicate with students via your Patriot email accounts. The university has had several problems reaching students with vital questions or information because they do not check their Patriot email, and they have asked faculty to require that students use their Patriot email accounts. All responses to student email will be sent only to your Patriot email account (even if you send the email from some other account). After June 12 (the census date), email sent from any non-Patriot email account will not be answered.
- 4. REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS The Challenge of Democracy (8th Edition, Essentials) Janda, Berry, Goldman, and Hula ISBN: 9781111341916 This text is available from the campus bookstore in print or as a NOOKStudy ebook from Barnes & Noble (a free 7 day trial of the eBook is available if you wish to try it or need immediate access to the book as you wait for yours to arrive).
- 5. COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES This course is an examination of the United States political system, including its intellectual foundations and the design of the Constitution. Includes study of the major institutional factors, the impact of interest groups and the media, and the processes of policy-making. May be taken in fulfillment of statutory requirements for a baccalaureate degree. The primary goal is to successfully complete a required course with minimal pain and suffering while gathering useful information. To that end, after successfully completing this course, students should be able to demonstrate: familiarity with terminology used to study political science and American government basic knowledge of the historical evolution of American governmental structures an understanding of the constitutional, institutional, political and legal processes and structures of the United States comprehension of the interrelationships of American governmental institutions awareness of basic values of American political culture
- 6. COURSE STRUCTURE This course will be conducted in Unit 1: Chapters 1, 2, and 3 five units and there will be one Availability: July 9 to July 16 exam over the material in each Exam One: July 16, 2:00-10:00 PM unit (note: there is no comprehensive final exam in Unit 2: Chapters 4 and 5 this course). All units will be Availability: July 17 to July 20 available for a limited period of Exam Two: July 20, 2:00-10:00 PM time, and you may work through Unit 3: Chapters 6, 7, and 8 them at you own pace so long Availability: July 21 to July 27 as you complete all required Exam Three: July 27, 2:00-10:00 PM materials for each unit before the exam for that unit begins. Unit 4: Chapters 9, 10, and 11 The units will close (no longer Availability: July 28 to August 6 be available) at the beginning of Exam Four: August 6, 2:00-10:00 PM the exam period for that unit. Unit 5: Chapters 12 and 13 Exams will be available for an 8 Availability: August 7 to August 10 hour period, and once you Exam Five: August 10, 2:00-10:00 PM begin you will have 1 hour to complete the exam.
- 7. GRADING Your grade in this class will consist of three components: Reading Quizzes (100 points) –There will be a syllabus quiz and one quiz for each learning unit. Your quiz scores will be averaged – no quizzes will be dropped from this average, and it is the average that will count toward your course point total Exercises (100 points) – for each unit there will be two or three assigned exercises to choose from. They may be quizzes, short writing assignments (about one page), or participation exercises. Scores on all exercises will be averaged – no scores will be dropped, and it is the average that will count toward your course point total. Exams (200 points) – there will be five exams (one over each unit), each worth 50 points. Your lowest exam grade will be dropped.
- 8. FINAL COURSE GRADES Final course grades will be assigned as follows: A 400 – 360 points B 320 – 359 points C 280 – 319 points D 240 - 279 points F 239 points or less Please note that your points will not be converted to percentages and rounded up – final grades will be assigned based solely on your total points accumulated (not your point total divided by 400).
- 9. LATE & MAKE-UP WORK As all quizzes and assignments are available online for some period of time, they cannot be made up if they are not completed before the unit closes. Since exams are available for an 8 hour period, individual exams may not be made up. If a student misses one exam, that exam score (a zero) will be dropped from their course point total. A second missed exam will stand as a zero. No make-up exams will be offered.
- 10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY The UT Tyler community regards cheating as an extremely serious matter and deals severely with those who violate the standards of academic integrity. Examples of academic dishonesty include (but are not limited to): Copying from another person’s test paper During a test, possession of materials not authorized by the person administering the test Discussing the contents of an examination with another student who will take the examination or the divulging of examination contents to another when an instructor has allowed the exam to be kept by the student Working with others in taking tests or preparing academic assignments when not authorized by the course instructor Obtaining by any means another person’s work and submitting that work as one’s own. This included the downloading of academic papers or the purchase of papers written by others.
- 11. PENALTY FOR ACADEMIC DISHONESTY If a student is suspected of academic dishonesty, the classroom instructor may ask the student to meet with him or her to discuss the incident. A student may admit to allegations of academic dishonesty, waive the right to a hearing and accept penalties imposed by the instructor. The student may also deny all allegations and ask to see the Dean of Student Affairs. An accused student may accept the decision of the Dean of Student Affairs or ask for a hearing before an impartial hearing officer appointed by the university. Witnesses may be called and evidence presented. The hearing officer will consider all evidence and make a decision. The decision of the hearing officer may be appealed to the President by either the student or the Dean of Student Affairs. For a discussion of possible penalties, please see the Guide to Student Conduct and Discipline.
- 12. IMPORTANT DATES Classes Begin July 9 Census Date July 12 Drop Date July 27 Exam One July 16 Exam Two July 20 Exam Three July 27 Exam Four August 6 Exam Five August 10
- 13. UNIVERSITY POLICIES Student Rights and Responsibilities To know and understand the policies that affect your rights and responsibilities as a student at UT Tyler, please follow this link: Student Rights and Responsibilities Disability Services In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodation must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Services counselor. If you have a disability, including a learning disability, for which you request an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services office in UC 3150, or call (903) 566-7079.
- 14. UNIVERSITY POLICIES Census Date The Census Date is the deadline for many forms and enrollment actions that students need to be aware of. These include: Submitting Grade Replacement Contracts, Transient Forms, requests to withhold directory information, approvals for taking courses as Audit, Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit. Receiving 100% refunds for partial withdrawals. (There is no refund for these after the Census Date) Schedule adjustments (section changes, adding a new class, dropping without a “W” grade) Being reinstated or re-enrolled in classes after being dropped for non-payment Completing the process for tuition exemptions or waivers through Financial Aid
- 15. UNIVERSITY POLICIES Grade Replacement/Forgiveness and Census Date Policies Students repeating a course for grade forgiveness (grade replacement) must file a Grade Replacement Contract with the Enrollment Services Center (ADM 230) on or before the Census Date of the semester in which the course will be repeated. Grade Replacement Contracts are available in the Enrollment Services Center or at http://www.uttyler.edu/registrar. Each semester’s Census Date can be found on the Contract itself, on the Academic Calendar, or in the information pamphlets published each semester by the Office of the Registrar. Failure to file a Grade Replacement Contract will result in both the original and repeated grade being used to calculate your overall grade point average. Undergraduates are eligible to exercise grade replacement for only three course repeats during their career at UT Tyler; graduates are eligible for two grade replacements. Full policy details are printed on each Grade Replacement Contract.
- 16. UNIVERSITY POLICIES State-Mandated Course Drop Policy Texas law prohibits a student who began college for the first time in Fall 2007 or thereafter from dropping more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career. This includes courses dropped at another 2-year or 4-year Texas public college or university. For purposes of this rule, a dropped course is any course that is dropped after the census date (See Academic Calendar for the specific date).Exceptions to the 6-drop rule may be found in the catalog. Petitions for exemptions must be submitted to the Enrollment Services Center and must be accompanied by documentation of the extenuating circumstance. Please contact the Enrollment Services Center if you have any questions.
- 17. UNIVERSITY POLICIES Student Absence due to Religious Observance Students who anticipate being absent from class due to a religious observance are requested to inform the instructor of such absences by the second class meeting of the semester. Student Absence for University-Sponsored Events and Activities If you intend to be absent for a university-sponsored event or activity, you (or the event sponsor) must notify the instructor at least two weeks prior to the date of the planned absence. At that time the instructor will set a date and time when make-up assignments will be completed.
- 18. UNIVERSITY POLICIES Social Security and FERPA Statement: It is the policy of The University of Texas at Tyler to protect the confidential nature of social security numbers. The University has changed its computer programming so that all students have an identification number. The electronic transmission of grades (e.g., via e-mail) risks violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; grades will not be transmitted electronically. Emergency Exits and Evacuation: Everyone is required to exit the building when a fire alarm goes off. Follow your instructor’s directions regarding the appropriate exit. If you require assistance during an evacuation, inform your instructor in the first week of class. Do not re-enter the building unless given permission by University Police, Fire department, or Fire Prevention Services