Syllabus College & Career Planning GUST 1270
Houston Community College
Spring 2011
Prof. Thomas E. Agnew, B.S., M.S., Doctoral Candidate
thomas.agnew@hccs.edu
713-718-8417
Office Hours:
FAC 306 Wednesday 2:00 - 4:00 and by appointment
FAC 306 Thursday 2:00 - 4:00 and by appointment
CLASSMATE’S NAME:
PHONE:
EMAIL
CLASSMATE’S NAME:
PHONE:
EMAIL
CLASSMATE’S NAME:
PHONE:
EMAIL
CLASSMATE’S NAME:
PHONE:
EMAIL
Required Materials:
1. Cornerstone, Sixth Edition
2. Access to Thinkwave.com Online
3. Email Access
Course Prerequisite: None
Course Purpose
This is a hybrid course. Class meets once per week to reinforce and prepare for online activities
in blackboard and projects done off campus.
Students learn and apply strategies for success in college and life-long learning. Major topics
include setting academic, career and personal goals; effective communication; study strategies;
critical thinking; self-discovery; learning styles and self-mastery. Students develop educational
and career plans utilizing college resources.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to provide an opportunity for you to learn about college resources
and adopt methods that support your success in school and life.
Learning Outcomes
1. Develop an academic/personal/professional Action Plan, to include long-term goals, with
detailed emphasis on time spent at HCCS:
1.a
Have a Degree Plan on file, and signed off by your professor. (application)
1.b
Write and prioritize short-term and long-term goals related to your
academic/personal/professional development related to your time at HCC. (analysis)
1.c
Write an Action Plan for those priority goals related to your HCC experience.
(analysis)
1.d
Explain the difference between a job and a career, and the purpose of and
preparation for each. Clarify which of the two brings you to HCC. (analysis)
1.e
Explore career options, incorporating the use of career related search tools.
(application)
1.f
Relate the characteristics of a Life-Long Learner, and how you can develop such
characteristics in your own life. (synthesis)
1.g
Demonstrate that you are capable of being an Independent Learner. (application)
2. Identify and use various student services at HCCS:
2.a
Discuss your educational/career plans with a counselor and relate other services
available through the counseling office. (application)
2.b
Access system publications, including the student handbook, college catalog, and
semester schedules. (application)
2.c
Select classes for the next semester using a degree plan and on-line registration.
(application)
2.d
Access the Learning Web. (application)
2.e
Describe the pros and cons of distance education. (comprehension)
2.f
Use your student email account to communicate with professor. (application)
2.g
Obtain a student identification card and parking pass (as
needed. (application)
2.h
Meet with a financial aid officer and discuss your financial aid options.
(application)
2.i
Utilize tutoring services provided on-campus and/or online to receive advisement
on at least one assignment. (application)
2.j
Attend a library orientation session and access resources available on campus and
on line. (application)
2.k
Attend at least one system-sponsored special event or student organization
meeting. (application)
3. Use classroom skills, including test-taking, note-taking, time management, etc.:
3.a
Explain the basic learning process.
3.b
Complete a week-long activity log and identifying at least one area where
adjustments could be made to improve the student’s use of time. (application)
3.c
Complete a schedule showing the length of time it will take to complete degree
plans using the current course load.
3.d
Participate in at least one pair/share activity with other students or a modeling
activity with an instructor in order to identify key ideas and supporting evidence from a
variety of textbooks and possibly journal articles. (application)
3.e
Write notes over one chapter or section of a chapter using at least two or more
different note-taking styles. (application)
3.d
Adapt memory strategies by coming up with at least three different mnemonics
for key information from a specific textbook chapter. (synthesis)
3.e
Word process and correctly format at least half of the written
assignments
for class. (application)
3.f
Use the computer to find at least three professional articles or reputable websites
to be used in a career report or project. (analysis)
3.g
Demonstrate listening skills appropriate to the college classroom. (application)
3.h
Describe how to prepare for and answer a variety of question types found on
typical tests. (comprehension)
3.i
Describe techniques for recognizing and alleviating test anxiety.
(comprehension)
4. Identify and develop personal/professional characteristics sought by professors/
employers.
4.a
Identify and describe values for both personal and professional life. Relate those
values to college and professional decision making. (analysis)
4.b
Work in collaboration with others. (application)
4.c
Network. (application)
4.d
Apply time management strategies and techniques. (application)
4.e
Prioritize immediate and future activities. (analysis)
4.f
Identify and locate resources necessary to personal/professional success.
(application)
4.g
Identify and demonstrate communication skills appropriate for the college and
professional settings. (application)
4.h
Successfully interact with a diverse population. (application)
4.i
Critically analyze selected materials. (analysis)
Teaching Strategies
The objectives of this course will be achieved through lectures, individual and group
experiences, guest speakers, audiovisual presentations, web-based technologies, personality and
learning style inventories, and assignments outside of class. The instructor's role is to be a
facilitator/guide in your experience of learning what HCC expects of you, the student.
Late Work/Assignments
No late online quizzes accepted. You will be given a window of opportunity to access online
quizzes from midnight Sunday until 12:00 noon on Friday of each week. It is the student’s
responsibility to check with their “classroom contacts” or refer to the Thinkwave online
gradebook for missed assignments and class-work. NO makeup or extensions on tests or
quizzes.
 Email your assignments to thomas.agnew@hccs.edu. (quizzes in Blackboard don’t need to be sent)
 All other assignments will receive grade reduction when turned in after 12 noon Fridays.
Grading Policy
It is encouraged that you keep track of all assignments and their grades. Class calendar is
attached and posted in Thinkwave. Because issues sometimes come up for everyone, the lowest
Presentation grade is dropped near the end of the course.
Additional Information
 Agnew Grading Rubric:
o Presentations/Participation
o Quizzes and Tests
o Kuder Career Research Project
o Midterm
o Class-work
o Participation
o Final Exam






20%
20%
20%
10%
05%
05%
20%
100%
The Student Career PowerPoint Presentation, Declining by Degrees Paper and KUDER
Assessments & Education Plan are mandatory! Failure to successfully complete them will
result in an “F” in the course!!
Writing and/or other homework will often accompany reading assignments and are due by
Fridays at noon in my email: thomas.agnew@hccs.edu. Full name and class number (CRN)
must be in the subject line of each assignment sent in email.
All writing assignments, including book exercises, are expected to be at college level. Hastily
written work, without depth or thought, will receive a grade of 50%.
Students are expected to bring all materials, book, pencil/pen and paper to each and every
class. Students without materials may be asked to leave.
Students are encouraged to take lecture notes (including those from guest speakers). Regular,
unannounced quizzes may be given over the textbook material to ensure that students are
reading the assigned chapters.
One Presentation grade of zero will be dropped to accommodate all students having one
absence. Students will automatically be dropped from the course after a fourth absence.
Classroom Management
The following expectation is meant to insure that our class functions smoothly.
Interruptions that inhibit the learning process such as ringing and answering of cell
phones, repeatedly walking in late or leaving early and side-bar conversations will be
treated as disrespect to your professors and to your classmates. Do Not Use Your Laptop
During a Lecture or Presentation!
With all due respect, a repeated offense will be considered grounds for a schedule change.
Policies
Grading Scale:
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
59% or below
A
B
C
D
F
Major Assignments: All assignments must be received complete on the date due.
You will receive the same grade in both classes for these assignments.
Course Projects
Kuder Career Research Project
Midterm Essay
Numerical Prefixes
Commonyms
READI Assessment
See the list of tests and assignments for due dates.
20%
10%
01%
01%
03%
Communication: We will frequently communicate through your e-mail account or Thinkwave
announcements, so it is important that you check this on a regular basis. When emailing your
professor you MUST include your full name and class number (CRN).
Cell Phone Policy: As a courtesy to others it is necessary to turn off all cell phones and other
electronic devices before entering the classroom. This also means no texting during class,
checking your messages or email, or leaving your phone on vibrate. If you have an
emergency situation that requires your cell phone to be on, please notify your instructors at the
beginning of class. Persistent disruption, including ducking out of the classroom to check
your messages, will be cause for removal from the classroom or other consequences (at
the discretion of the instructors).
If your cell phone rings/beeps during class, or we catch you texting, you will be asked to leave.
Attendance/Tardiness/Absences/Entering & Leaving the Classroom: Attendance is required
for success in our courses. Students are responsible for all material discussed in class, including
announcements about changes in assignments, quiz, or test dates. Arriving late, leaving class
early, or coming in and out of class is disruptive to others. As adults you manage personal issues
(i.e. bathroom use) on your own. Students arriving more than 30 minutes late are considered
absent. Excessive tardiness (3 times) is grounds for a schedule change. We reserve the right to
withdraw you if you miss more than 3 classes. [Exceptions: Military & Jury duty,
documentation required.]
Withdrawal: Students should familiarize themselves with Houston Community College’s
withdrawal policy. The withdrawal deadline (04/15/2010) is the last day to receive a “W”.
Note: Withdrawal is YOUR responsibility. If you have any questions about whether you
should withdraw or not, please come see us first! We reserve the right to withdraw you if
you miss more than 3 classes.
Withdrawal deadline is April 15, 2010 at 4:30 p.m.
Classroom Conduct: Negative behavior should not be a college concern. We are all adults and
deserve to be treated with courtesy and respect. If behavior becomes a disruption to the learning
environment, we reserve the right to change your schedule.
Other Resources: Houston Community College is a learning centered institution. This means
that the school provides access to many resources for extra help in your courses.

HCC Technical Support for email and hcc website issues can be contacted at
(713) 718-8800.
Distance Education (DE) technical support for Blackboard: 1-866-588-5281

AskOnline provides FREE online tutoring for many subjects. To take advantage of this
service, you must sign up online:
 Go to www.hccs.askonline.net
 ►Use your own e-mail address
 ►Choose a user name and password YOU will remember
 ► Add your HCC student ID (W) number
 ►Submit questions and papers 24 / 7/ 365 and get an answer within 24 hours – and
usually much faster
Get help with Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, English, Math, Physics, Psychology,
Government, Art, Philosophy, Humanities, and papers in all subjects.
There is a section JUST for Guided Studies Courses. Don’t send papers for this class to
English or any other section!
Academic Honesty: All students are expected to be in complete compliance with Houston
Community College’s policies on academic honesty as stated in the Student Handbook. If any
student is caught giving or receiving aid on a test or quiz, all students involved will receive a
zero score for that particular assignment. Plagiarism is claiming as your own a paper, report,
article or speech which in whole or in part was prepared by someone other than yourself.
Students who plagiarize or cheat in any way risk dismissal from class and expulsion from
college.
Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations
must provide a notification from the Office for Students with Disabilities Room 106 LHSB or
call (713) 718-6164 and discuss specific needs with your professors within the first couple weeks
of class.
Disclaimer: Changes in the syllabus and/or course outline may be made at any time during the
term by instructor announcement. Revisions to this syllabus may be adjusted at the discretion of
the instructor.