AGRI 320
Syllabus
Dr. Mari Loehrlein
Summer 2014
MM-Loehrlein@westernonline.wiu.edu
2 credits
AGRI 320 IS AN ONLINE COURSE
WESTERN ONLINE: Go to http://wiu.edu, drag down menu for TOOLS, select WO
(Log-in using your e-com student id and password, these are the same as you used to get your
WIU e-mail account.)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Agriculture 320 is designed to assist students in developing
adaptive and transferrable skills that aid them in being successful upon graduation. Topics
include resume preparation, letter writing, interviewing, appropriate attire and etiquette, and
personal finance.
RESOURCE: The Career Development Center
(http://www.wiu.edu/student_services/career_development_center/) at WIU will be your go-to
resource for information, materials, and advice. They will conduct a mock interview with you,
including a resume review.
WEEK 1
June 2-6
Make an appointment with Michelle Howe at the WIU Career Development Center
(309.298.1838; Email: careers@wiu.edu) for a Resume Review and Mock Interview.
Michelle Howe is a School of Agriculture graduate and is particularly familiar with Agriculturerelated jobs, so she is the preferred person for you to interview with. If she is unavailable for
your time slot, someone else will be available.
Please note the following tips and requirements concerning your Resume Review and Mock
Interview:
 Your interview may take place in person, or by phone or Skype.
 You must submit a Resume, Cover Letter, and Job Description for a job for which you
are applying to Your Interviewer at CDC in advance – including the name of
Company/Organization to whom you are applying.
 You must “CC” me, Dr. Loehrlein, when you email your Resume, Cover Letter, and Job
Description to the Career Development Center.
 Your interviewer will make corrections on your resume and “CC” me their suggested
changes when they email it to you.
 Please conduct a Company Profile in advance of your interview.
 You must fill out a Mock Interview Feedback Form at the end of the interview. Please
solicit this feedback from your interviewer. The Mock Interview Feedback Form is on
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WesternOnline. You will submit the Feedback Form with your Mock Interview SelfAssessment Assignment.
 Allow at least half an hour to 45 minutes for the Interview process.
 Your Resume/Cover Letter Review and Mock Interview should be completed no later
than June 18 – your Final Resume, eRecruiting Profile, and Mock Interview SelfAssessment are all due no later than June 20.
COMMUNICATION:
Email is the preferred form of communication. Use the EMAIL feature under
COMMUNICATION in WesternOnline to email me.
I will communicate with the class on WesternOnline throughout the course. If there is pertinent
information that I must convey, I will use the NEWS feature, which appears on the HOME
PAGE of the course. I may also email class members using the WesternOnline email feature.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Construct a professional resume and cover letter
2. Research a specific company prior to an interview
3. Utilize resources to obtain a desired position
4. Identify professional jobs and expected salaries for their chosen profession
5. Interview for a position using proper interview etiquette
6. Develop an E-Recruiting profile with WIU Career Development
7. Research and understand proper dining etiquette and professional attire
8. Calculate a budget using the expected starting salary
COURSE ASSIGNMENT BREAKDOWN*
Graded Items and Assignments
Points
Assignments
Job Descriptions
Resume – 1st draft
Company Profile
Cover Letter
Thank You Letter
STAR Interviewing
Etiquette Report
Mock Interview Self-Assessment
eRecruiting
Final Resume
Tax Form
Take-Home Pay
Budget
TOTAL
20
20
30
25
25
20
25
20
15
50
10
10
10
280
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AGRI 320
Discussion Posts
Introduce Yourself
Job Site
Post Company for Profile Assignment
Salaries
TOTAL
5
5
5
6
21
Quizzes
Quiz 1 – Resume
Quiz 2 – Letters
Quiz 3 - Salary, Dress, Etiquette
Quiz 4 - Personal Finance
TOTAL
20
20
20
20
80
GRAND TOTAL
381
*Subject to change with notice at the instructor’s discretion.
PLEASE refer to individual assignment handouts for all the details.
Assignments are due on the day specified.
Assignments turned in one day after the due date will be receive 50% of the grade, those
received two days late will receive 10%, and after that they will be graded as ZERO. NO
EXCEPTIONS!
Grade Scale:
A = 93 - 100%
A- = 90 – 92.99%
B+ =88 – 89.99%
B = 83 – 87.99%
B- = 80 – 82.99%
C+ = 78 – 79.99%
C = 73-77.99%
C- = 70 – 72.99%
D+ = 68 – 69.99%
D = 63 - 67.99%
D- = 60 – 62.99%
F = <59.99%
Western Online: Students are required to use the course website at:
www.westernonline.wiu.edu and all assignments will be submitted through the website. Course
notes, handouts, and additional material will be posted throughout the semester on this website.
Written Assignments:
 Should be typed using 12 pt. font, double-spaced, 1 inch margins, unless otherwise
specified. Resumes may be formatted differently – please refer to course resources for
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details.
 Assignments submitted on Western On-line should be submitted as a Microsoft Word
document, unless otherwise specified.
ATTENTION EDUCATION MAJORS
You are required to receive a grade of a "C" or better in this course in order to meet new
requirements. With the new university +/- grading system, receiving a "C-" or below will
require you to retake this course or find a substitute course to meet School of Agriculture
graduation requirements.
ADA COMPLIANCE
“In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic
accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an
accommodation. For the instructor to provide the proper accommodation(s) you must obtain
documentation of the need for an accommodation through Disability Resource Center (DRC) and
provide it to the instructor. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the
instructor's attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of
students. Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire,
tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such
an emergency. Contact Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 298-2512 for additional services.”
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