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Dalhousie University is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. Being
a member at Dalhousie means we all share in the privilege of learning, playing, and growing on the lands of the
Mi’Kmaq People, the original and future caretakers of these lands. I wish to personally acknowledge my
ancestors’ responsibility in the colonization of what is now Canada, and the devastating effects this colonization
has had, and continues to have, on Indigenous Peoples. I will work towards promoting the diversity, inclusion,
equity, and indigenization of Dalhousie University. We are all Treaty People.
Click here for more information on territory acknowledgement. The Elders in Residence program provides
students with access to First Nations Elders for guidance, counsel and support. Visit the office in the Indigenous
Student Centre, 1321 Edward Street, or email Elders@dal.ca.
Faculty of Management / Bachelor of Commerce Co-op
COMM 2303: Introduction to Organizational Behaviour
Summer 2023
Course Information
Instructor:
E-mail:
Office:
Office hours:
Dr. Anika Cloutier (she/her)
anika.cloutier@dal.ca
Rowe Building, Room 5094
Thursday 12 PM – 1 PM in Room 5094
One-on-one meetings available upon request.
Class Time/Location: Asynchronous Lecture: Posted Mondays at 10 AM via Brightspace
Tutorial Section 1: Wednesday 8:35 – 9:55 AM (Henry Hicks 212)
Tutorial Section 2: Wednesday 10:05 – 11:25 AM (Henry Hicks 212)
Tutorial Section 3: Wednesday 1:05 – 2:25 PM (Henry Hicks 212)
Tutorial Section 4: Thursday 8:35 – 9:55 AM (Rowe 1007)
Tutorial Section 5: Thursday 10:05– 11:25 AM (Rowe 1007)
Teaching Assistants:
Taylor Hart (taylor.hart@dal.ca)
Emily Olsen (em687536@dal.ca)
Patti-Anne Tracey (p.tracey@dal.ca)
Suvojit Dutta (suvojit.dutta@dal.ca)
Questions/Concerns?
For questions related to course content, consult the course syllabus first – the answer likely lies within these
pages! Still have a question? Post it on the class discussion board so that I or other students can answer your
question, and so that all students can access the answers. Have a personal question? Contact me directly at
anika.cloutier@dal.ca by using your @dal.ca email.
For questions related to Brightspace (technical issues, access) - contact support@dal.ca, 902-494-HELP (4357)
or toll free at 1-800-869-3931.
For questions related to the course textbook and McGraw-Hill Connect - access www.mheducation.ca/studentsupport or contact 1-800-331-5094.
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Course Description
Organizational Behaviour (OB) is an interdisciplinary field that draws from psychology, sociology, and
economics to understand and explain human behaviour in the workplace. This course takes an evidence-based
approach to management, and therefore lessons are informed by theory and empirical evidence.
This course has been designed to complement your learning from other courses in the program. That means that
this course will not teach you how to strategize a long-term profitable approach or avoid costly compliance
lawsuits. It will not teach you how to build a marketing plan, minimize business taxation, or engage in
entrepreneurial endeavors. It will not teach you how to invest for maximum gain, create optimal logistics
structures, or deploy new technology to firms. What this course seeks to do is to show you how to do all of these
things, and many more, better. Most organizations do a good job of putting thought into issues like the ones
listed above; but relatively few consider how individual differences, interpersonal interactions, and social norms
influence the efficacy, efficiency, and success of reaching these organizational goals.
And so, this course will teach you about people. It will teach you about why people think, feel, and behave the
way that they do at work. We will start off by considering why organizations should care about people by
understanding workplace behaviours (e.g., performance and commitment) [Modules 1 & 2]. We will then
explore individual-level (i.e., micro) reasons for why people behave at work the way that they do (e.g., traits,
abilities, workplace attitudes, motivation, cognition, health) [Modules 3 – 7]. Finally, we will consider
interpersonal influences (i.e., meso and macro) that also explain workplace behaviours (e.g., team processes,
social interaction, leadership, work culture) [Modules 8-11]. The better you understand why people behave the
way they do at work, the better you will be at interacting with, and managing people, in your future workplaces.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
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Understand and practice evidence-based management
Understand the role of management in supporting workplace performance and commitment
Explain why people behave the way they do at work as a function of individual and interpersonal factors
Critically reflect on course topics, recognize class concepts in everyday life, and apply course lessons to
your own management (via course deliverables)
Improve your written communication skills (via course deliverables)
Improve your interpersonal skills (via in-class activities)
Minimal Technical Requirements
You will require access to a computer with internet to complete course readings and lecture videos. In class, you
will be required to use a laptop or an alternative personal device (excluding cellphones). All course materials
can be accessed via our course Brightspace page.
Course Pre-Requisites
Pre-requisites: COMM 1010.03
Exclusions: MGMT 2303.03 and MGMT 2304.03
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Description of Class Format:
The Covid-19 pandemic forced our education online. Though online learning had disadvantages (e.g., students
feeling disconnected and isolated), some pedagogical advantages were also realized (e.g., more accessible
lecture content). This course has been designed to take advantage of what was gained from online learning,
while also taking advantage of what we gain from in-person class delivery. Thus, this course is being delivered
in a blended format: lectures will be posted online and asynchronous, tutorials will be in person.
I have structured this course into weekly blended modules. Modules will be focused on developing your
understanding of a central OB topic (see topics in the Course Schedule). Each week, on Mondays at 10 AM,
your weekly module will become available to you on the course webpage via Brightspace. Although there will
be some variation from week-to-week, each module will consist of:
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An overview of learning objectives: At the top of the module, you will find a list of learning objectives
for the week. These objectives explain what main takeaways and lessons you should be getting out of
the course materials that week.
Readings: You will be expected to read a combination of textbook chapters and additional articles.
These will vary from week to week. Textbook readings set the foundation of the learning objectives.
Articles extend upon this content, provide a new perspective, or will be the topic of discussion for class
tutorials. Readings must be completed prior to attending your tutorial.
Reading checks: You will be expected to complete reading checks for textbook chapters via the online
McGraw hill learning tool. These reading checks will verify your understanding of the concepts covered
in the chapters. These must be completed by Sunday (11:59 PM) of each week.
Recorded lectures: Lectures will be posted that cover content related to the week’s OB topic. This
content will include an explanation of some information covered in your course textbook readings, and
will often dive into more up-to-date content related to the week’s topic. These lectures are recorded and
can be viewed asynchronously – meaning you can watch, pause, rewind, slow down and speed up the
lectures to match your pace of learning. Lectures must be watched PRIOR to attending your tutorial.
Tutorials: Each week, you will be required to attend your section tutorial (see page 1 for a list of times
and locations based on the section you have self-enrolled). Tutorials are designed to be interactive
sessions in which we dig deeper into the material we are learning in this course. Tutorials will involve
some lecture content/review, but will mostly involve participating in a variety of activities, including:
class discussions, article critiques, self-reflective exercises, class debates, team challenges, and mini
case studies. You must attend the tutorial in your schedule, no tutorial switching will be allowed.
Module resources: In lectures and tutorials, I will often reference other material (e.g., links to videos,
questionnaires, resources). Whenever I do so, I will add these to the ‘Module Resources’ section for
your avail.
Tasks will be posted on the course website in the order in which they should be completed. For example, I may
expect you to complete certain readings prior to recorded lectures. It is your responsibility to ensure that you
stay up-to-date on the course materials. I will not verify whether you have completed lectures, readings or
reading checks. You should be prepared to spend 7-10 hours on this course, each week.
Note, some aspects of this course are subject to change. For example, I may switch a reading, or change a
deadline. The workload will never increase as a function of these changes and I will give you ample warning if
any of these changes occur. Any updates to the course will be posted to the Announcement section of
Brightspace. Pay attention to these as this is the main way I will communicate with you as a class.
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Learning Materials:
E-Textbook: Organizational Behaviour: Improving Performance and Commitment in the Workplace, Fifth
Canadian Edition (2022), by Colquitt, Alepine, Wesson, and Gellatly.
This textbook serves two purposes to your learning in this course: (1) several of your chapter readings for this
course will come from this online textbook, and (2) one major portion of your course evaluation will be based
on your engagement in the reading of these chapters, which are assessed via online reading checks, available
through the textbook Connect LearnSmart System.
The cheapest way to access the textbook and reading checks is to purchase the online ebook with access to the
Connect platform. It is $89.00 and can be purchased via our Brightspace webpage (click on the Content Tab,
Click on ‘Connect to McGraw-Hill’). After you purchase the online text, you have the option of also purchasing
a loose-leaf copy of the book which would be sent to you (additional $30.00 + shipping). You can also purchase
a hardcopy version of the textbook at the Bookstore, however, it is considerably more expensive. You must gain
access to the Connect System in order to pass this course.
A video describing how to access, use, and navigate the online textbook, and your reading checks via Connect
can be found under the Content, “Connect to McGraw-Hill" Tab through Brightspace. Under this tab, click the
link that says: "How do I get access to the textbook and Connect?" Below, you will see another link that gives
you direct access to the connect platform and your reading checks: “McGraw-Hill Connect”.
Note: If you find a used textbook on sale online, you will still need to purchase access to Connect to complete
the required reading checks.
Additional Articles / Videos: In addition to the textbook chapter readings, I also expect you to read short articles
I personally selected that elaborate or extend upon the content covered each week. Sometimes these ‘articles’
are videos or podcasts, but most often they are news stories or HBRs. These readings will be available through
the course website via external links.
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Method of Evaluation:
Weekly reading checks via McGraw-Hill Connect (cumulative)
20%
Class Participation (cumulative)
20%
Take-Home Case Studies
Take-Home Case Study 1 (Released: May 22nd; Due: May 28th)
15%
Take-Home Case Study 2 (Released: June 26th; Due: July 2nd)
20%
Take-Home Case Study 3 (Released: July 24th; Due: July 30th)
25%
Total
100%
Reading Checks (Evaluated Weekly)
Reading checks are available through Connect, an online portal hosted by your textbook publisher, accessible
via our course Brightspace page. Reading checks consist of multiple choice ‘quiz questions’ that evaluate your
understanding of concepts covered in the textbook chapter readings. These reading checks do not evaluate the
additional article readings I assign each week.
The purpose of reading checks is twofold: (1) to ensure your understanding of foundational OB content covered
in the course textbook, and (2) to ensure you do not fall behind on your course readings.
Throughout the semester, you will be expected to complete 12 reading checks. The deadline for reading checks
will be indicated on your weekly modules, but in general, you can expect to complete your reading check by
Sunday, at 11:59 pm of each week. Please note, weeks vary in the number of reading checks you must complete
(e.g., 0-2). I strongly recommended that you complete your chapter readings prior to attending tutorials,
however you do have a full seven days to complete reading checks.
Reading checks are evaluated based on completion. As long as you complete the reading check, you will get full
grades, even if you get questions wrong! But watch out, there are benefit to getting questions right. This is
because the connect system is smart; if you get questions wrong, the system will select new questions related to
the same topic for you to repeat and complete until you get the answer right. As such, reading checks can be
quick and painless, or they can take a long time to complete if you continuously get the wrong answer.
Class Participation
How do I evaluate participation? Your engagement in class tutorials will be evaluated weekly. Tutorials
involve engaging in class activities that necessitate participation. As such, you will be evaluated on (1) your
class attendance (worth 2 points each class) and your participation in class discussions, class activities, and
nametag reflections (worth 2 points each class).
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If you show up to class on time, and make valuable contributions to activities, you will receive 4 points.
If you show up to class, and show minor engagement, you will receive 3 points.
If you show up to class late or are not engaged in the class activities, you will receive 2 points.
If you miss class, you will receive 0 points.
Why do I evaluate participation? Just as you would be expected to show up prepared for work, I expect
students to show up to class, prepared to engage in the course material. Given this is a key part of your
performance in class, I believe it is only fair to evaluate and award grades for this performance. If you show up
to class, prepared and engaged in class activities, you are guaranteeing yourself a full 20% of your grade.
Note. To account for the host of reasons for why students may miss a class, I will count students 10 best class
participation weeks. This means you have to attend and participate in a total of 10 out of 12 classes to get full
grades. But of course, you are welcome and encouraged to attend and engage across all classes!
COMM 2303 SUMMER 2023
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Take-Home Case Studies
Throughout the semester, you will receive three Case Studies. Each case study will have four multi-part
questions designed to assess your ability to recognize, diagnose, and solve organizational behaviour problems
using the theories and concepts learned in this course. Each case study will have a maximum page length of 4
pages in addition to a reference page. APA formatting must be followed. You will be given seven days to
complete each case study. Assignments must be completed independently (no online software tools such as
ChatGPT or other online services) and individually (not in groups). This will be verified using Turnitin
software.
Detailed instructions regarding each case-study will be released on the dates listed above. Instructions will be
found via the course Brightspace webpage under the ‘Take-Home Case Study Assignment Instructions’ Tab.
Final Exam:
There is no final examination for this course.
Originality Checking Software
The course instructor may use Dalhousie’s approved originality checking software and Google to check the
originality of any work submitted for credit, in accordance with the Student Submission of Assignments and
Use of Originality Checking Software Policy. Students are free, without penalty of grade, to choose an
alternative method of attesting to the authenticity of their work, and must inform the instructor no later than the
last day to add/drop classes of their intent to choose an alternate method.
Student Use of Course Materials
These course materials are designed for use as part of the Course Code at Dalhousie University and are the
property of the instructor unless otherwise stated. Third party copyrighted materials (such as books, journal
articles, music, videos, etc.) have either been licensed for use in this course or fall under an exception or
limitation in Canadian Copyright law. Copying this course material for distribution (e.g., uploading to a
commercial third-party website) may lead to a violation of Copyright law.
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Course Specific Policies:
Late Assignment Policies
Reading checks (via Connect) cannot be submitted late.
Class participation requires that you attend class (on time), having read all assigned readings, and having
watched all posted lectures. Missing class will result in a grade deduction of 2% per class. Showing up late, or
not participating in class activities, will result in a grade deduction of 1% per class. If you attend and participate
in each class, you will receive the full 20%. You may miss two classes without penalty.
*A caveat – do not attend class if you are ill. You must inform me that you won’t be attending class PRIOR to
the class, so that I can note an excused absence. I expect students to exercise this policy in earnesty – don’t take
advantage of this caveat. But seriously, stay home and rest if you’re sick; your health and well-being (and that
of your classmates) is much more important than your attendance in this class.
Case studies that are submitted after the deadline will be deducted 10% for each day late for a maximum of 3
days. Assignments are marked late even if they arrive one minute past the deadline. That means that if you
submit your Case Study #1 at 12:01 AM May 29th, it will receive a 10% deduction. I know, harsh… but
deadlines are critical to success. To account for technical issues that may occur, make sure to give yourself lots
of time to submit an assignment (i.e., don’t submit an assignment at 11:58 PM on the deadline). I will not accept
assignments that are more than 3 days (72 hours) late.
All students registered for this course are required to pass the average of all individual work to pass the
course. In order to pass the course you require 50% on individual work and 50% overall.
In calculating final grades, your percentage earned in the course will be rounded to the nearest whole digit
(when above 49.9%). That is, if you earn a 69.4%, you will receive a C+. Values in the hundreths place and
beyond will be truncated when calculating final grades (a 69.49% is a 69%). I do not "bump" grades. If you
have a goal of achieving a particular score, plan early and work toward achieving your goal.
Student Declaration of Absence
Dalhousie students are asked to take responsibility for their own short-term absences (3 days or less) by
contacting their instructor by phone or email prior to the academic requirement deadline or scheduled time
AND by submitting a completed Student Declaration of Absence form to their instructor in case of missed or
late academic requirements. Only two (2) separate Student Declaration of Absence forms may be submitted per
course during a term (note: faculty, college, school, instructor or course-specific guidelines may set a lower
maximum).
The submission of the form does not guarantee accommodations, or provide an automatic exemption, from any
academic requirements that were missed or late during an absence. Any alternate coursework arrangements for
missed or late academic requirements are at the discretion of individual course instructor(s).
Students who experience recurring short-term or long-term absences are strongly encouraged to meet with their
Academic Advisor (uao@dal.ca).
Click here for further information.
Standard Citation Style
The Bachelor of Management and Bachelor of Commerce Co-op Programs use APA as their standard citation
style. Please use APA style in your assignments to briefly identify (cite) other people’s ideas and information
and to indicate the sources of these citations in the References list at the end of your assignment. For more
information on APA style, consult Dalhousie Library website at https://libraries.dal.ca/help/style-guides.html
or consult the Frequently Asked Questions about APA
COMM 2303 SUMMER 2023
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Additional Ground Rules for this Course
1. The first ground rule is a big one, and it goes to me.
a. As your professor, I am committed to providing a quality learning experience through thoughtful
course design, organized delivery of content, and the development of interesting and relevant
course material. In other words, it is my responsibly to create a course that is engaging, relevant,
and expertly delivered to you.
b. I am also committed to being readily available to students throughout the term. Be it an email, a
chat during tutorials, or a one-on-one meeting, I am here and available to connect.
c. I am dedicated to creating a psychologically safe learning environment. I expect us all to
contribute to one another’s learning, and to do so, we need to feel safe in taking risks and sharing
our ideas with our peers. My role in contributing to this safe learning environment is to not
tolerate any form of harassment, abuse, incivility – be it online or in person. My role is also to
push you a bit, to call on you, and encourage that each one of your voices are heard.
Now for your rules…
2. The key to succeeding in this course is self-motivated learning. This means staying on top of the
module content - doing the readings, watching the lectures, and completing the deliverables - within
each 7-day window. If you look to the world beyond Halifax, you will quickly learn that attending
university is a privilege; benefiting from this learning takes effort. You will get so much more out of this
course if you put in the effort to complete what is expected of you.
3. I expect that all students will complete their work independently. Assignments should be completed
individually and not in collaboration with others. Working with others on these deliverables will be a
breach of academic integrity. This has serious consequences. For more information on what academic
integrity means, see details below.
4. Professionalism is expected and required. This class will offer the opportunity for students to engage in
tutorials and online discussion forums. Across these platforms, students are expected to engage in
thoughtful, professional, and respectful discussion. We may disagree, we may critique ideas, but I will
not tolerate any form of abusive or exclusionary language. Class is more fun, interesting and engaging
when all students get a chance to participate and feel respected and safe in doing so.
5. No cell phones or use of online chat platforms during tutorial. It’s great to stay connected with friends
and classmates – but not during class. You are permitted to use a laptop to take notes during class, but
please no online chat forums (or whatever you folks are into these days) during class and keep your
phones muted and away. This is distracting to me, your classmates, and unprofessional.
6. Written communication is a skill required of professionals. To that end, all online correspondence
(email, discussion posts) must be formal, clear, respectful, and professional (i.e., open with a salutation,
address individuals with their title if applicable – “Hello Dr. Cloutier,”, “Dear Taylor,” is appropriate;
clearly articulate your question, concern, or comment, and end with a closing and your name). Always
use your @dal.ca email for correspondence.
If you have concerns about this course, please contact me using any of the ways described in this syllabus so we
can have a conversation. Giving constructive feedback is a valuable skill, so you should always thoughtfully
complete any course feedback surveys, student ratings of instruction, and other opportunities to provide input.
If your issue is not resolved, you can follow up with an academic advisor in the Undergraduate Advising Office
by emailing uao@dal.ca.
Accreditation:
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As an AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accredited university, Dalhousie
University’s business programs are subject to Assurance of Learning (AOL) standards. During the semester
anonymous data may be collected to assess if AOL goals and objectives are being met. The data collected will
be used for program improvement purposes only and will not impact nor be associated with student grades
Drop dates:
Last Day to Change and Add Classes for registered students – May 12, 2023
Last day to drop without a “W” – May 29, 2023
Last day to drop with a “W” – June 26, 2023
Other important dates
COMM 2303 SUMMER 2023
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Course Schedule
This schedule provides an overview of the module topics, reading expectations, and deliverables covered each
week. For detailed module expectations (i.e., explanation of learning objectives, links to readings, reading
checks, lecture content, and assignment instructions), consult the modules each week on Brightspace.
Session
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
Module 4
Module 5
Module 6
Module 7
Date
May 1 –
May 7
Module Topic
Introduction to
Organizational
Behaviour and
Evidence Based
Management
Workplace
Behaviours
Readings and Deliverables
- Watch Posted Lectures
- Read Ch. 1 What is Organizational Behaviour?
- Read Evidence Based Management
- Complete Reading Check
- Attend Tutorial
May 8 –
- Read Ch. 2 Job Performance
May 14
- Listen to How to Give Feedback on The HBR Channel
- Read Ch. 3 Organizational Commitment
- Complete Reading Checks
- Watch Posted Lectures
- Attend Tutorial
May 15 –
Individual
- Read Ch. 4 Personality, Cultural Values, and Ability
May 21
Differences
- Read The MBTI, The Fad that Won’t Die
- Read Emotional Intelligence is Overrated
- Complete Reading Check
- Watch Posted Lectures
- Attend Tutorial
May 22 –
Workplace
- Read Ch. 5 Job Satisfaction
May 28
Attitudes
- Read Ch. 8 Trust, Justice, and Ethics
- Complete Reading Checks
- Watch Posted Lectures
- Attend Tutorial (Practice Case in-class)
- Case Study #1 due May 28 [covers weeks 1-3]
May 29 –
Motivation
- Read Ch. 7 Motivation
June 4
- Read What Monetary Rewards Can and Cannot Do
- Read 9 out of 10 People are Willing to Earn Less
- Complete Reading Check
- Watch Posted Lectures
- Attend Tutorial
June 5 –
Cognitions
- Read Ch. 9 Learning and Decision Making
June 11
- Read Optical Illusions
- Watch Are We in Control of Our Decisions?
- Complete Reading Check
- Watch Posted Lectures
- Attend Tutorial
Reading Week – June 12-18 (No deliverables! You deserve a break!)
June 19 –
Health
- Read Ch. 6 Stress
June 25
- Read Intimate Partner Violence is a Workplace Issue
- Read How Managers Can Support Chronic Illness
- Read Workplace Mental Health Matters
- Complete Reading Check
- Watch Posted Lectures
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-
Module 8
June 26 –
July 2
Teams
-
Module 9
July 3 –
July 9
Power
Module
10
July 10 –
July 16
Leadership
Module
11
July 17 –
July 23
Culture
Module
12
July 24 –
July 30
The Future of
Work &
Course Wrap Up
-
Attend Tutorial
Read Ch. 11 Team Characteristics and Processes
Complete Reading Check
Watch Posted Lectures
Attend Tutorial
Case Study #2 due July 2 [covers weeks 4 – 7]
Read Ch. 12 Power, Influence, and Negotiation
Read Power Causes Brain Damage
Listen to How to Manage Conflict
Complete Reading Check
Watch Posted Lectures
Attend Tutorial
No Chapter reading
No Reading Check
Listen to Art of Disagreeing with your Boss
Listen to The Insecure Boss
Read First, Let’s Fire all the Managers
Watch Posted Lectures
Attend Tutorial
Read Ch. 15 Organizational Culture
Read Inside Amazon
Complete Reading Check
Watch Posted Lectures
Attend Tutorial
Skim 9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2023
Skim AI Isn’t Yet Going to Take your Job
Skim You’re Wrong about Gen Z
No Posted Lectures
Attend Tutorial
Case Study #3 due July 30 [covers weeks 8 – 11]
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APPENDIX:
UNIVERSITY STATEMENTS
Dalhousie University is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq.
We are all Treaty people.1
Internationalization
At Dalhousie, “thinking and acting globally” enhances the quality and impact of education, supporting learning
that is “interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, global in reach, and orientated toward solving problems that extend
across national borders.”
Academic Integrity
At Dalhousie University, we are guided in all of our work by the values of academic integrity: honesty, trust,
fairness, responsibility and respect. As a student, you are required to demonstrate these values in all of the work
you do. The University provides policies and procedures that every member of the university community is
required to follow to ensure academic integrity.
In general:
The commitment of the Faculty of Management is to graduate future leaders of business, government and civil
society who manage with integrity and get things done. This is non-negotiable in our community and it starts
with your first class at Dalhousie University. So, when you submit any work for evaluation in this course or any
other, please ensure that you are familiar with your obligations under the Faculty of Management’s Academic
Integrity Policies and that you understand where to go for help and advice in living up to our standards. You
should be familiar with the Faculty of Management Professor and Student Contract on Academic Integrity, and
it is your responsibility to ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
Dalhousie offers many ways to learn about academic writing and presentations so that all members of the
University community may acknowledge the intellectual property of others. Knowing how to find, evaluate,
select, synthesize and cite information for use in assignments is called being “information literate”. Information
literacy is taught by Dalhousie University Librarians in classes and through Dalhousie Libraries’ online Citing
& Writing tutorials.
Do not plagiarize any materials for this course. For further guidance on what constitutes plagiarism, how to
avoid it, and proper methods for attributing sources, please consult the University Secretariat’s Academic
Integrity page.
Please note that Dalhousie subscribes to software that checks for originality in submitted papers. Any paper
submitted by a student at Dalhousie University may be checked for originality to support instructors in
For more information about the purpose of territorial acknowledgements, or information about alternative territorial
acknowledgements if your class is offered outside of Nova Scotia, please visit https://native-land.ca/.
1
COMM 2303 SUMMER 2023
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confirming that the student has not plagiarized from other sources. Plagiarism is considered a very serious
academic offence that may lead to loss of credit, suspension or expulsion from the University, or even the
revocation of a degree. It is essential that there be correct attribution of authorities from which facts and
opinions have been derived. At Dalhousie, there are University Regulations which deal with plagiarism and,
prior to submitting any paper in a course; students should read the Policy on Intellectual Honesty contained in
the Academic Calendar.
Furthermore the University’s Senate has affirmed the right of any instructor to require that student assignments
be submitted in both written and computer readable format, e.g.: a text file or as an email attachment, and to
submit any paper to a check such as that performed by the plagiarism detection software. As a student in this
class, you are to keep an electronic copy of any paper you submit, and the course instructor may require you to
submit that electronic copy to plagiarism detection software. Use of third-party originality checking software
does not preclude instructor use of alternate means to identify lapses in originality and attribution. The result of
such assessment may be used as evidence in any disciplinary action taken by the Senate.
Finally:
If you suspect a lapse in academic integrity by colleagues or a professor, you may confidentially share your
concerns via DeanManagement@dal.ca.
Faculty of Management clarification on plagiarism versus collaboration:
There are many forms of plagiarism, for instance, copying on exams and assignments. There is
a clear line between group work on assignments when explicitly authorized by the professor
and copying solutions from others. It is permissible to work on assignments with your friends
but only when the professor gives you permission in the specific context of the assignment.
University rules clearly stipulate that all assignments should be undertaken individually unless
specifically authorized.
Specific examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Copying a computer file from another student, and using it as a template for your own
solution
• Copying text written by another student
• Submitting the work of someone else, including that of a tutor as your own
An example of acceptable collaboration includes the following:
• When authorized by the professor, discussing the issues and underlying factors of a case
with fellow students, and then each of the students writing up their submissions
individually, from start to finish.
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Accessibility
The Student Accessibility Centre is Dalhousie's centre of expertise for matters related to student accessibility
and accommodation.
If there are aspects of the design, instruction, and/or experiences within this course (online or in-person) that
result in barriers to your inclusion please contact:
• the Student Accessibility Centre (for all courses offered by Dalhousie with the exception of Truro)
• the Student Success Centre in Truro for courses offered by the Faculty of Agriculture
Your classrooms may contain accessible furniture and equipment. It is important that these items remain in
place, undisturbed, so that students who require their use will be able to fully participate.
Conduct in the Classroom – Culture of Respect
Substantial and constructive dialogue on challenging issues is an important part of academic inquiry and
exchange. It requires willingness to listen and tolerance of opposing points of view. Consideration of
individual differences and alternative viewpoints is required of all class members, towards each other, towards
instructors, and towards guest speakers. While expressions of differing perspectives are welcome and
encouraged, the words and language used should remain within acceptable bounds of civility and respect.
Diversity and Inclusion – Dalhousie courses are governed by the academic rules and regulations set forth in the
Academic Calendar and the Senate.
Important student information, services and resources are available as follows:
University Policies and Programs
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Important Dates in the Academic Year (including add/drop dates)
Classroom Recording Protocol
Dalhousie Grading Practices Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Sexualized Violence Policy
Scent-Free Program
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Learning and Support Resources
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Undergraduate Advising Office
Academic Support - Advising Halifax, Truro
Student Health & Wellness Centre
On Track (helps you transition into university, and supports you through your first year at Dalhousie and
beyond)
Indigenous Student Centre. See also: Indigenous Connection.
Elders-in-Residence: The Elders in Residence program provides students with access to First Nations
elders for guidance, counsel and support. Visit the office in the Indigenous Student Centre or contact the
program at elders@dal.ca or 902-494-6803.
Black Student Advising Centre
International Centre
South House Sexual and Gender Resource Centre
LGBTQ2SIA+ Collaborative
Dalhousie Libraries
Copyright Office
Dalhousie Student Advocacy Service (DSAS)
Dalhousie Student Union Food Bank
Dalhousie Student Union Funding
Dalhousie Student Union
Dalhousie Ombudsperson
Office of Equity & Inclusion
Writing Centre
Study Skills/Tutoring
Dal Awards and Financial Aid
Dal Commerce Society
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