HRDV Syllabus Template
Course Name (e.g., Introduction to Human Resource Development)
Course Code and Section Number (e.g, HRDV 2301 D01)
Semester (e.g., Fall 2015)
Name:
Office Location: (if you have an office on campus please list it, if not please say “Virtual”)
Office Hours: Please least at least 2 hours when you can meet on campus or virtually and add
the statement “or by appointment” (e.g., Mondays from 10 am – Noon or by appointment)
Email: please list your ttu address
Backup Email: (optional) it can be nice to provide a backup email in case the student is having
issues with the Tech system
Preferred Contact Method: please provide an estimate of your response time (e.g., I will
respond to all student messages within 24 hours during on weekdays and within 48 hours on
weekends and/or holidays)
Required Textbook(s):
Course Description: Please use the official description from the catalog
(http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/courses/HRDV.php)
Expected Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
Methods for Assessing Expected Student Learning Outcomes:
The expected learning outcomes for this course will be assessed through: (list all class
assignments here as well as any other methods used to assess student learning)
HRDV Syllabus Template
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS/GRADING INFORMATION:
Online Discussion (worth up to __ points or __% of overall grade in the course)
Each Substantive Discussion Question is worth __ points each. The Introduction Discussion
Question and the Wrap Up Discussion Question are worth __ points each. For each DQ, you
will be graded on (1) your response to the question and (2) your responses to classmates’
discussion of that same discussion question
The Online Discussion component of this course is comprised of weekly Discussion Questions
(DQs) and is an important part of class. Each week there will be discussion related to the
course material. The faculty member posts weekly main discussion questions for the class to
discuss. Students are expected to respond to ALL Main DQs. As a general rule, Main DQ
responses should be at least 150 words in length.
Online discussion is a very important part of online learning. Through your responses to weekly
Main DQs, you will learn to integrate class material into your thoughts and learn more about
how others view business research. Additional discussion with classmates and the professor
help us all learn more about the material. As such, each week you are also expected to make
at least 2 thoughtful and substantial responses to classmates.
I suggest that class members participate in the online discussion at least two times per week. It
is a good idea to check in early in the week and again closer to Sunday (the last day of each
week of class). This assures that you are an active member of the class throughout the week
and have ample opportunity to interact with other class members. Weekly Discussion will be
closed at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday nights.
Weekly Online Discussion Will Be Graded as Follows:
Responses to Main DQs should:
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be made in a timely fashion that gives others an opportunity to respond
include accurate information and be on topic
be thoughtful, organized, and analyze the information and/or question
demonstrate an understanding of the question and the course material
contain more than just your opinion; justify your statements using course materials
Incorporate and cite information from the textbook, outside academic sources, credible
websites, etc.
utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling
Responses to Classmates’ Postings should
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for each Main DQ, include at least 2 response to classmates
be constructive
add to the overall value of the discussion (simply posting a statement of "I thought this week's
ideas were neat" or “I agree”) will not count towards your participation points
utilize appropriate language, grammar, and spelling
Please list all other assignments in the following manner:
HRDV Syllabus Template
Name of Assignment (worth up to ___ points or __% of the overall course grade)
Please provided a detailed description of the assignment here. It is important that we clearly
describe what the students need to do in order to successfully complete each assignment. If
extra materials are posted in Blackboard, please explain where this information is posted in the
Blackboard course.
If you use a rubric to grade this assignment, please include it in “Rubrics” folder in Blackboard
OR list it at the end of the syllabus!
Please do not list due dates here – it can be too difficult to remember to update them each
semester.
Summary of Assignments
Assignment 1 name
Assignment 2 name
Assignment 3 name
Continue until you have listed all of the
assignments
points
points
points
points
points
1000 points available in the course
* All HRDV classes should be on a 1000 point scale
Grading Criteria for Student’s Final Grade in the Course
A = 900-1000 points (90%-100%)
B = 800-899 points (80%-89%)
C = 700-799 points (70%-79%)
D = 600-699 points (60%-69%)
F = 0-599 points (0%-59%)
HRDV Syllabus Template
Course Technology:
Required Hardware
• Computer available for download/installation of software and plug-ins
• Speakers / Sound card
Required Software
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Blackboard (see note below)
• Internet access - regular, dependable
• Access to email
• Web browser - a current version of one of the following - Internet Explorer, Mozilla
Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Opera, or Microsoft Edge. Downloads for the newest
browser versions are available free of charge.
Recommended Software
• Microsoft Lync (see note below)
• The latest version of Java Available here
• The latest version of Adobe Flash Available here
• The latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader Available here
Use of Microsoft Lync
Availability of Lync on your computer gives you an opportunity to communicate with the
instructor and your classmates via chat, free call or free video call. In addition, students have
to have Lync installed on their computers to be able to participate in live discussions. Please
follow the instructions below to securely download Lync from the Texas Tech website:
-Log on to www.eraider.ttu.edu with your eRaider credentials
-Click on “Software Download” in the left-hand side menu
-Choose platform suitable for your computer (Mac or Windows)
-Select “Lync 2011” (for Mac) or “Lync 2013” (for Windows)
-Follow instructions to download the program.
Once downloaded, you should be able to find the instructor and classmates by last names
within the TTU system and be able to contact them when available.
Blackboard
Blackboard is an electronic learning resource that is designed to provide students with
information requirements related to the courses. This includes up-to-date announcements,
course information, assessment, assignments, deadlines and the like. For this resource to
function to its full potential, it is important that students log on regularly. Students will post
their responses to assigned readings on Discussion Forums weekly through
Blackboard. Students can also monitor their progress in this class through the Grade Center
on Blackboard.
Blackboard can be accessed via an Internet web browser at:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/lms/
Technical Support
If you have any questions or need assistance, Texas Tech University Service Desk is
available for all supported technology needs (806.742.HELP).
HRDV Syllabus Template
What To Do If You Experience Technical Problems:
If you are unable to submit an assignment, complete a quiz, or otherwise participate in our
course because Blackboard is down, it is your responsibility to notify me via email when the
problem occurs. Please notify TTU IT Help Central (742-HELP) for assistance and to document
of your attempts to resolve the problem. In addition, take a screenshot to document your
problem and submit this with your email to me. If Blackboard outage is verified by the Division of
Information Technology, I will work with you to make alternative arrangements. However, you
are responsible for your technology and ability to submit work. I strongly recommend that you
submit your work early to avoid last minute problems. I also strongly recommend that you save
a copy of your assignments and contributions to the course in case of technology disruption.
I generally only make alternate arrangements in case of Blackboard outages or outages
due to severe weather issues; not all technological failures.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE
Blackboard
This class will utilize Blackboard. You can access Blackboard 9 at www.blackboard.ttu.edu.
You will log on using your eRaider username and password. If you need technical assistance
with Blackboard, please call IT Support at (806)742-HELP.
Free Software Downloads for Texas Tech Students
Texas Tech has agreements with some software vendors that allow the University to distribute
software at greatly reduced prices. Here is a link to those software/site licenses:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/itts/software/index.php
CLASS POLICIES:
Academic Honesty
The Texas Tech University Code of Student Conduct Part IX, Section B, Item 3 states that
“Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying
academic records, misrepresenting facts and any act designated to give unfair academic
advantage to the students”. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course.
Cheating in any form will be addressed according to the rules enumerated in the Student
Handbook. It is your responsibility to be familiar with these rules.
American Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy
Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet
course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any
necessary arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student
Disability Services during the instructor’s office hours.
Please note: instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student
until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided.
HRDV Syllabus Template
For additional information, please contact Student Disability Services in West Hall on the
Lubbock campus or call 806-742-2405.
Absence Policy
Students are expected to attend class. If you cannot attend class, please contact the faculty
member in a prompt manner (prior to the absence if possible). It is always the student’s
responsibility to make up coursework or information that is missed as a result of the absence.
Graded work may be made up for excused absences only.
An absence may be excused if:
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The absence is due to religious observance (see page 64 of the University Catalog)
You are required to participate in an official University activity (documentation required)
You are under a doctor’s care (documentation required)
There is a death in your immediate family (documentation required)
Other circumstances as deemed appropriate by the faculty member.
Absence due to religious observance: The Texas Tech University Catalog states that a student
may be excused from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for
the observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose. A student whose
absence is excused for this purpose may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed
to take an examination or complete an assignment from which the student is excused. A student
who intends to observe a religious holy day should make that intention known in writing to the
instructor prior to the absence. A student who is absent from classes for the observance of a
religious holy day shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment
scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence. (pg. 64)
Absence due to officially approved trips: The Texas Tech University Catalog states that the
person responsible for a student missing class due to a trip should notify the instructor of the
departure and return schedule in advance of the trip. The student may not be penalized and is
responsible for the material missed.
Always document any absences when they occur. In the event of a student’s absence because
of an approved university event, documentation from an authorized university official will be
required. Notice is to be given to the instructor prior to the scheduled absence. A physician’s
note will be required for a student’s hospitalization. In the event of a family member’s death, an
obituary announcement will also be required. Students will be responsible for missed work upon
return to class.
Late Assignment Policy
Please note that it is the students’ responsibility to plan ahead to submit assignments on time. I
do not typically grant extensions. If you are traveling, etc. and are unsure of your access to the
internet, it is strongly recommended that you plan ahead and submit assignments and take
quizzes early. If for some reason the Blackboard system is down and the class has trouble
accessing the quiz (this is rare but has been known to happen) I will work with the class to
create a new due date. The key is this: internet access is required for this course, if you are
HRDV Syllabus Template
unsure of your potential access submit early! Generally, lack of internet access and computer
issues are not acceptable excuses for late assignments.
At times, extraordinary circumstances may occur in student’s lives that impact their assignment
submission. In these circumstances, course assignments (e.g., discussion postings, written
assignments, etc.) might be granted an extension from the instructor. Extensions are granted for
extraordinary circumstances such as death in the family, illness, etc. If you feel your
circumstance may warrant an extension, please contact the instructor within one week of the
original assignment due date to request an extension. Please note that failure to plan ahead and
allow time to complete a project does not usually warrant an extension. You are welcome to turn
the assignment in late, it will just have a late penalty (please see the following paragraph for
more information on the course late policy).
All assignments are considered late if they are not submitted by 11:59 PM CST on the day they
are due. For each week that assignments are late, a 10% deduction in the overall grade for that
assignment will be enforced. Assignments will not be accepted after two weeks past the
original due date, except with instructor permission. Instructor permission will be granted at the
instructor’s discretion only for extraordinary circumstances, provided the student contacts the
instructor within one week of the original discussion post due date to request the extension.
Assignments will not be accepted after the last official day of class.
Discussion Board Late Submission Policy
Late responses to the main discussion questions will be accepted for up to two weeks past the
original due date. For each week that the discussion posting is late, a 10% deduction in the
overall grade for that assignment will be enforced. After two weeks the discussion posting will
not be accepted for credit.
Late submissions of comments to classmates’ postings will not be accepted late.
Discussion postings will not be accepted after the last official day of class.
Emailed Assignments:
Assignments and Discussion Posts must be submitted through Blackboard; assignments and
discussion posts turned in via email or other means outside of the designated dropboxes or
discussion forums in the Blackboard online classroom will not be accepted without Instructor
permission. Permission will only be granted at the Instructor’s discretion for extraordinary
circumstances.
Civility in the Classroom
Texas Tech University and the University College endeavor to foster a classroom climate of
mutual respect among students and between students and instructor. Mutual respect means
that we should be tolerant of different ideas and varying opinions about topics of discussion
between students; we address each other respectfully and without interruption; and we do
not engage in disruptive behavior.
HRDV Syllabus Template
Instructors are authorized to take necessary steps to address disruptive or disrespectful
actions. Instructors may take additional action for continuous and/or serious disruptive
behavior which includes beginning discipline proceedings. (Refer to Code of Student
Conduct, available in the Student Handbook.)
Violations of the Code of Student Conduct may result in serious sanctions up to and
including expulsion. In addition, instructors have the right to limit discussions in order to meet
the education objectives of the class lesson(s).
Week
Week One
Tentative Course Outline
Course Topics
Assignments (all assignments are
due by 11:59 PM CST on Sundays
unless otherwise noted)
Weekly Topics:
Readings:
Assignments:
If possible, please cut and paste copies of any rubric that is used in the class at the end of the
syllabus.
Please convert this to a pdf file before posting in your online class or emailing it to students.
PDF files are compatible with most screen reading software programs, so posting pdfs instead
of Word files helps make the class accessible.
HRDV Syllabus Template
Appendix A – Course Communications & Community
ANNOUNCEMENTS will be posted in Blackboard on a regular basis. They will appear on your
Blackboard dashboard when you log in and/or will be sent to you directly through your preferred
method of notification (usually your Texas Tech email address). Please make certain to check
them multiple times a week, as they will contain any important information about upcoming
projects or class concerns or any potential changes to the course schedule or assignment due
dates.
EMAILING YOUR PROFESSOR When submitting messages, please do the following: • Put a
subject in the subject box that describes the email content with your name, course number,
week and message subject. For example: YOURNAMEHRDV#WK2ASSIGNMENT. • Send
emails to the email address listed on the first page of this syllabus. • Please give details about
your questions or concerns so I have all the information I need to best answer your question.
COURSE QUESTION AND ANSWER (Q&A) FORUM In online courses it is normal to have
many questions about things that relate to the course, such as clarification about assignments,
course materials, or assessments. Please post these in the Course Questions and Answers
discussion area which can be found on the course homepage. This is an open forum, and you
are encouraged to give answers and help each other.
DISCUSSION BOARDS Discussion Boards are a way for you to engage with each other about
the course content. Each lesson module will have a question that links to a forum. You can also
access each forum by clicking on the DISCUSSIONS button in the course navigation links. In
order to get full credit for each discussion, you will need to post a thoughtful, well-written
response to the question and respond to two of your classmates’ answers.
VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS Twice a week I will be available for virtual office hours. I will also
be available by appointment.
HRDV Syllabus Template
APPENDIX B – EXPECTATIONS
What I expect from you & student success tips:
An Online Course requires you, the student, to be in control of your learning. In a face-to-face
(F2F) course, faculty can play a much bigger role in actively directing your learning, since we
see you in person weekly. In an online course, a lot more work involves designing an
appropriate learning environment, so that you can learn at your own pace, at your convenience
sitting in your pajamas. (-: Since you are in control, you need to be disciplined enough to stay
up to date with the course.
The following tips will help you succeed in the course:
Blackboard Login: Our class weeks always start on Monday. Students should plan to log in to
class every Monday to view announcements, assignments, etc. You should also plan to log in
several times each week to participate in discussion and generally be a part of class. It is
strongly recommended to set aside specific time each week to “attend” class by logging in just
as you would to attend a lecture-style class.
Manage your Time: Online learning requires good planning. Good planning allows you to plan
for the unexpected sickness, travel requirements, Internet outages etc. Students should plan to
spend 8-10 hours per week on this course, which would mean about 2 hours per day for 4 to 5
days of the week. This time is spent reading and reviewing course materials, composing
discussion board responses, responding to classmates, and working on large assignments.
Syllabus: The Syllabus contains important class policies, assignment information and due
dates. Please review it carefully and note all important due dates and refer back to it often
during the semester. You are responsible for knowing the information in the syllabus and I do
not allow for extensions for assignments for which the due date or information was listed in the
syllabus.
Keep track of due dates: Use the calendar tool on compass to keep track of due dates. Print
out the schedule at the end of the syllabus, and review weekly announcements for updates.
Hints for Discussion Posts:
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An understanding of the question and course materials. Base your answer on the
material you have read in the book and lecture notes. Show me you have read and
understand the material in your answer. Feel free to use outside research but I do want
to see you show me an understanding of the course materials rather than just basing
your answer on information you "googled".
Justify and explain your answers, don’t just state them.
A thoughtful response that shows an analysis of the question and analysis of the course
concepts in answering the question.
Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Thoughtful responses to your fellow students' posts that extend the discussion or
respectfully questions the response. You need to post more than "Great answer!" types
of responses. Show an analysis of their post in your response.
HRDV Syllabus Template
Hints for Readings
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Review the summaries or learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter so you
are aware of the important concepts to be discussed in the chapter.
Before you read the chapter, review the discussion questions so you can look for the
concepts you will need to use to answer them.
As you read the chapter, take notes and pay extra attention to the highlighted terms and
important concepts
After you read the chapter, review the supplemental material on Blackboard to make
sure you understand the important concepts.
Then review the key terms or questions to see if you know the key terms or could
answer the questions to make sure you have understood what you have just studied.
What your peers expect from you:
Netiquette: In any social interaction, certain rules of etiquette are expected and contribute to
more enjoyable and productive communication. The following tips for interacting online, in emails, and/or Discussion Board messages are adapted from guidelines originally compiled by
Chuq Von Rospach, Gene Spafford, & Mark Morales: http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ia_nq.htm
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Remember that the person receiving your message is someone like you, someone who
deserves and appreciates courtesy and respect.
Avoid wordy messages. Succinct, thoughtful messages have the greatest impact.
Your messages reflect on YOU. Take time to make sure that you are proud of their form and
content, sentence structure, grammar and spelling.
Use descriptive subject headings in discussion subject headings and e-mail messages.
Think about your audience and the relevance of your messages.
Be careful with humor and sarcasm; without the voice inflections and body language of faceto-face communication, Internet messages can be easily misinterpreted.
When making follow-up comments, summarize the parts of the message to which you are
responding.
Avoid repeating what has already been said. Needless repetition is ineffective
communication.
Cite appropriate references whenever using someone else’s ideas, thoughts, or words.
Giving Feedback to Classmates: This course is designed along the principles of synergy and
collaborative learning. Therefore, it is important that all students understand how to provide
quality feedback to their peers. Here are a few tips for providing, positive, constructive, and
useful feedback to peers:
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Be empathetic and remember that this environment is a safe place for making mistakes.
Use nonjudgmental language and phrases that do not attack an individual. One way of
doing this is to ask the individual to discuss his/her process for making the final decision.
Use specific questions, examples, and references to research as a way of making your
point.
Make your feedback useful by providing suggestions that the individual can understand
and use to improve her/his work
HRDV Syllabus Template
What you can expect from me
As your instructor, I am committed to providing a quality learning experience through thoughtful
planning, implementation, and assessment of course activities. I am also committed to being
readily available to students throughout the semester by:
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being available by appointment,
replying to questions in the forum/email within 24 to 48 hours
returning graded course work with feedback within one week of each assignment's due
date.
Within our Discussion Board, it is the instructor's job to initiate thoughtful, on-topic discussions,
encourage student-to-student communication, and mediate when necessary. Therefore, it is not
the instructor will not to respond to every post, but encourage students to take ownership of the
learning process by responding to each other.