Success & Study Skills – Term
ACA 115 (Section
) Syllabus
Meeting days/times
Hybrid Class Alternating
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Student Conference Hours:
Course hours:
Lecture: 2
Lab: 0
Credit: 1
Course prerequisites/corequisites: None
Course description: This course provides an orientation to the campus resources and academic skills
necessary to achieve educational objectives. Emphasis is placed on an exploration of
facilities and services, study skills, library skills, self-assessment, wellness, goal-setting,
and critical thinking. Upon completion, students should be able to manage their
learning experiences to successfully meet educational goals.
Textbook: Staley, Constance C. (2012). FOCUS on College Success, 2nd edition. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage
Learning.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. understand the behavioral expectations and
academic requirements for college students.
2. apply self-assessment strategies to identify
academic and career preferences.
3. understand and apply academic goal-setting
strategies.
4. identify and apply time management
strategies.
5. identify effective classroom listening
strategies.
6. demonstrate effective note taking skills.
7. define and explain strategies for effective
studying.
8. identify and describe test-taking strategies.
Course Grade:
60 %
15%
15%
10%
9. identify strategies for effectively using college
textbooks.
10. identify and locate various campus resources,
services, and facilities.
11. access and utilize campus library resources.
12. locate and utilize academic tutorial services.
13. access and utilize a campus course
management system such as Blackboard or
Campus Cruiser.
14. develop a semester-by-semester plan of study
through degree completion.
15. apply critical thinking skills.
16. identify strategies that promote physical and
mental health while in college.
6 Core assessments (10% each)
Attendance
Assignments, Journal, homework, and/or
quizzes
Final Project
Grading Scale:
90%-100%
80%-89%
70%-79%
60%-69%
Below 60
A
B
C
D
F
Student Conduct:
Cheating and
Plagiarism:
Students at Nash Community College are expected to conduct themselves as
responsible adults in accordance with generally accepted standards of morality and
decency at all times. The Conduct Code is printed in the NCC catalog and the NCC
Student Calendar. A violation of any of the listed behaviors will warrant immediate
disciplinary action and may result in suspension from the College.
Nash Community College upholds the integrity of the academic process. Academic
dishonesty undermines that integrity. Academic dishonesty includes cheating and
plagiarism. Cheating is any attempt to use unethical or dishonest means to perform
work for a course. These may include, but are not limited to, copying the work of
others, bringing unapproved sources of information during tests or other work
(“cheat sheets,” the use of information stored on electronic devices, the use of others’
work on out of class assignments, etc.), and any other covert means to complete work
without the approval of the instructor. Cheating encompasses both those giving and
receiving aid.
Plagiarism is the undocumented use of information or the work of others presented as
one’s own. Nash Community College recognizes two types of plagiarism - accidental
plagiarism and deliberate plagiarism.
Accidental plagiarism occurs when a student attempts to cite their sources, but does so
improperly or incompletely. Nash Community College treats accidental plagiarism as
poor work, and it will be graded as such.
Deliberate plagiarism occurs when a student copies the work of others or purposefully
uses information from sources with no attempt to document it and presents it as their
own. Nash Community College treats deliberate plagiarism as academic dishonesty.
Academic dishonesty is dealt with as follows:
1. For a first offense within a course, the student will receive a zero for the work in
question. The student will be counseled by the instructor. An Academic Dishonesty
Report form will be forwarded to the Dean of Instruction and maintained on file.
2. For a second offense within a course, the student will receive an F for the course. An
Academic Dishonesty Report form will be forwarded to the Dean of Instruction and
maintained on file.
3. Repeated offenses may lead to the recommendation of additional actions and
penalties, including suspension or expulsion from the College in accordance with the
Student Dismissal, Suspension, or Expulsion Authority procedure.
Classroom Rules
of Conduct:
Students will refrain from behavior in the classroom that intentionally or unintentionally
disrupts the learning process. Electronic devices that are not related to the current
assignment should not be visible during class time. Such devices include cell phones,
PDAs, MP3 players/IPODs, or laptops for internet access. You may use your laptop for
note taking and assignments; however, it may not be used for quizzes or tests. If
students are using laptops inappropriately, the instructor reserves the right to ban the
use of laptops in class. If you have an emergency situation for which having your cell
phone accessible is absolutely necessary, please inform the instructor and set the phone
to vibrate. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom shall result in a directive to leave
class.
Attendance, Tardiness,
Early Exit Policy:
Attending class, arriving for class on time, and remaining in class until the end of the
class period are fundamental to academic success. Arriving on time for class and
remaining in class until the end of the class period shows respect for your instructor,
fellow classmates, and/or any guest speakers. In the hybrid environment, “attendance”
includes completion and submission of online assignments by the posted due date.
Attendance is worth 15% of the total course grade and will be determined as follows:
1) Each face-to-face class attended without a tardy is worth 10 points
2) Each face-to-face class attended with a tardy (arriving late or leaving early)
is worth only 5 points per class.
3) For online weeks, students will likewise receive 10 attendance points for
satisfactory completion of both the weekly assignment and the discussion
assignment or 5 points for satisfactory completion of only one assignment.
4) Unexcused absences (25% of class) constitute a failing grade of WA.
Late Work:
Timely submission of assignments is critical to success both academically and
professionally. To be regarded on time, work must be submitted at the class session it is
due. If you will be unable to attend class, it is still your responsibility to turn in the work
by making other arrangements such as sending it electronically or having it delivered by
another person. If you know in advance that you will miss an assignment day, make
prior arrangements with the instructor.
No Questions Asked
(NQA) Coupon:
Balancing academic and personal priorities can be a challenge. In order to ease some of
that burden, you may use a NQA coupon if you are unable to turn in an assignment on
the day it is due. Each coupon is worth a one class extension with no penalty. Coupons
will be accepted for major course assignments except the final project. Coupons WILL
NOT be accepted for Blackboard weekly assignments and discussions which are part of
the attendance grade. You may use no more than two coupons in a semester. (I keep
track!) It is possible to combine your two coupons on one assignment thus equaling a
two class period extension. However, you can never use more than two coupons in a
semester. As an incentive to keep on track, each unused coupon at the end of the
semester will be worth 5 bonus points added to the “Assignments, Journal, Homework”
grading category.
ACA 115 No Questions Asked Coupon
Used by:_______________________ Date:_____________
Assignment Used For:_____________________________
Good for one class session extension with no penalty
Attach to assignment. Valid for the following class session. Coupons can be
combined. No more than 2 coupons accepted per semester per student.
Not valid on final project
Special Needs:
Students with special needs as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may
contact Jim Hartsell in Student Development, office 2002, 451-8260.
CampusCruiser:
Students are advised to access CampusCruiser to obtain student e-mail and campus
information. Students will receive e-mail notices from the instructor through
CampusCruiser.
NC LIVE:
NC-Live (North Carolina Libraries for Virtual Education) is a partnership of North
Carolina’s libraries that provides access to a vast world of informational and educational
resources. Students may access NC-Live via the Internet. Your instructor will provide the
password at the beginning of the semester or you may contact the NCC library staff at
252-451-8248 for assistance.
Safety Information: Nash Community College is committed to providing a healthy, safe, and secure
environment for all members of the campus community. Faculty, staff, and students
should review the campus Emergency Plan for Nash CC posted in each classroom. The
Emergency Plan may also be accessed on the College website under the About
NCC>Visit NCC>Campus Security Tab. Students are encouraged to e-mail any safety and
security concerns to NashCCSafety@nashcc.edu or contact the Campus Security &
Safety Director at 252-451-8313.
Please come to class prepared to share and to learn. Regular attendance and completed reading and
assignments will increase knowledge and encourage class participation. Being comfortable with the material
and engaging in class discussions will ultimately influence your overall enjoyment of and success in this course.
The tentative course schedule located below serves as a framework for the course; due dates and grading are
subject to change. Attending class will ensure awareness of specific weekly requirements.
ACA 115 Tentative Schedule-Hybrid
Session
1
Date
Class
Content
Introduction to the Course
Getting the Right Start
Activity: Welcome to College Game
Assign: Scavenger Hunt
Exploration of Campus and Resources
Developing Technology Skills
Assign: Pretest and Core Assessment 1:
CampusCruiser/Blackboard
Building Dreams, Setting Goals
Activity: Form Success Teams; In groups complete “Envision
Excellence” and “Goal-setting” worksheets; (Late Paper case
if time permits)
Assign: Core Assessment 2-Part 1: Tutorial Services
Learning about Learning
Activity: Learning Game & VARK Assessment
Assign: Core Assessment 3: Study Skills
Managing Your Time, Energy and Money
Activity: Self Management Game; Complete Calendar
Assign: Core Assessment 4: Goal Setting
Reading and Studying
Assign: Core Assessment 5-Part 2: Reading Note-taking
Work Due
Engaging, Listening, and Note-taking
Assign: Core Assessment 5-Part 1: Lecture Note-taking
Activity: Focused Multi-tasking Activity
Developing Your Memory
Activity: Memory Games
Taking Tests
Activity/Assign: Core Assessment 6: Test-Taking
Core Assessment 5Part 2: Reading Notetaking
2
Online
3
Class
4
Online
5
Class
6
Online
7
Class
8
Online
9
Class
10
Online
11
Class
12
Online
Building Relationships
13
Class
14
Online
Creating Your Future
Activity: Motivating Students to Dream Big; Affirmations or
After Math case study (as time permits)
Choosing a College Major and Career
Activity: SWOT Analysis
15
Class
16
Online
Developing Technology, Research, and Information Literacy
Skills
Assign: Core Assessment 2-Part 2: Library
Thinking Critically & Creatively (as time permits)
Activity: Who Stays? Or Late Paper
Assign: Final Project
Final Project
Activity: Graduate Game (as time permits)
Assign: Post-test, First Year Initiative
Creating Your Future
Reference
Syllabus,
Chapter 1
Scavenger Hunt
(return to instructor
during the week)
Core Assessment 1:
CampusCruiser/
Blackboard
Objectives
1, 10,11
1,2,10,13
Chapter 2
1,2,3,15
Chapter 3
2,7,11,12
Chapter 4
2,3,4,14,
16
Chapter 9
6,7,9
Chapter 7
5,6
Chapter 8
7,8
Core Assessment 5Part 1: Lecture Notetaking
Core Assessment 6:
Test Taking Tip Sheet
Chapter
10
7,8
Chapter 6
10,11
1. Core Assessment
3: Study Skills
2. Core Assessment 4:
Goal Setting
Core Assessment 2,
Part 1: Tutorial
Part 2: Library
Chapter 5
15
Chapter
11
15,16
Chapter
13
2,3,14
Chapter
12
2,3,14
Bring copy of
syllabus/calendar
from all classes
Final Project
First Year Initiative
Assessment; Post test
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,
8,15
Chapter
13
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,
8,9,10,11,12,
13,14,15,16