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BSGC 100 – The Student in the University: Global Communities (1 credit)
Fall 2014
Instructors:
Malaika Marable Serrano
0119 Dorchester Hall
malaika@umd.edu
Tel: 301-314-7100
Mei-Yen Ireland
0119 Dorchester Hall
Email: meiyen@umd.edu
Tel: 301-314-7100
Location: Dorchester Classroom
Section 0101: Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:45 am; Section 0102: Tuesdays 11-12:15 pm; Section 0103: Tuesdays
2-3:15 pm
COURSE OVERVIEW
BSGC100 is a required one-credit seminar for all First Year Global Communities students. During the
semester students will develop a sense of community within the program, become familiar with campus
resources, gain skills and information to prepare for the Global Experience Semester, and explore the
surrounding international community.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
 Articulate a clear understanding of Global Communities program expectations and foster
connections with fellow Global Communities members.
 Explore UMD Services and Resources.
 Identify potential option(s) and successfully prepare for the Global Experience Semester.
 Develop cross-cultural communication skills by engaging with international communities both
within UMD and surrounding communities.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
All assignments must be your own work, and when you use ideas and information that someone else put
together, you must cite it properly using standard citation formats. Do not try to pass off as your own
work something you got elsewhere—this is known as plagiarism and cheating. If you are at all unsure
what constitutes plagiarism, you should ask us! See the resources provided by the University Libraries
on Academic Integrity (http://www.lib.umd.edu/ues/guides/academic-integrity).
The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity,
administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland
for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these
standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating,
fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. If you are caught you will be referred immediately to the Student
Honor Council—view the Student Honor Code and policies at http://studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu.
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EXPECTATIONS/ATTENDANCE
All students are expected to attend all classes. University policy excuses absences due to illness,
religious observances, participation in official University activities, and circumstances beyond the
student’s control. It is the responsibility of the student to provide a signed note explaining the reason for
missing a class. Students who are ill during a major grading event or who experience prolonged illness
leading to more than one absence are required to provide official documentation from the University
Health Center or their own health provider.
We expect all students to notify us of an impending absence at least 24 hours in advance, except in the
case of severe emergency. In the case of illness, a doctor’s note or note from the UMD Health Center is
required in order for the absence to be excused. Absences which do not meet the above mentioned
criteria will be classified as unexcused, and participation points may be deducted from your grade.
LATE WORK POLICY
All assignments, papers, and presentations are expected to be turned in/concluded by the deadline
listed in the syllabus, unless noted otherwise. Work turned in after the deadline will be marked down
one-half letter grade for each day that it is late. The instructor reserves the right to make an exception
to the late policy in the case of an extreme (and documentable) emergency.
TECHNOLOGY POLICY
The use of cell phones, smart phones, or other mobile communication devices is disruptive, and is
therefore prohibited during class. Except in emergencies, those using such devices must leave the
classroom for the remainder of the class period.
Computers are generally unnecessary for this class, and should remain in your backpack unless
otherwise indicated by the instructor. Those using computers during class for work not related to that
class must leave the classroom for the remainder of the class period.
ONLINE BEHAVIOR
Be mindful of the Core Rules of Netiquette taken from Virginia Shea’s Book and Website http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
Rule 1: Remember the Human.
Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life.
Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace.
Rule 4: Respect other people’s time and bandwidth.
Rule 5: Make yourself look good online.
Rule 6: Share expert knowledge.
Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control.
Rule 8: Respect other people’s privacy.
Rule 9: Don’t abuse your power.
Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people’s mistakes
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
We will make every effort to accommodate students who are registered with the Disability Support
Services Office and who provide us with a University of Maryland DSS Accommodation form, which has
been updated for the current semester. Additional information and support is available through
Disability Support Services at http://www.counseling.umd.edu/DSS/. If you need to make additional
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arrangements, please be sure to notify the instructors in writing before the end of the schedule
adjustment period.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES
We are happy to make accommodations for students whose religious observances conflict with class
and class assignments. You must notify us within the first two weeks of the semester of any intended
absences due to religious observances. We will arrange for you to make-up any assignments without
penalty.
We are equally happy to accommodate students with disabilities in any way we can. You must obtain
documentation from the University Disability Support Services, which will detail what types of
accommodation are necessary. You must provide us with the documentation and request for
accommodation within the first two weeks of the semester.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the event of inclement weather, please call 301-405-SNOW to learn whether or not the University is
officially closed. Class will be in session unless the University has officially cancelled classes.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Seminar Participation
 Class Participation - Just “showing up” for class will not guarantee you an “A” in
participation. Every student is expected to contribute to the conversation by asking
questions, making thoughtful comments, and actively listening to the instructors and
each other.
 Required excursion to Langley Park, MD. There will be several instructor-led trips to
Langley Park, October 1-13. If you are unable to attend one of the scheduled trips, you’ll
need to make arrangements to go to Langley Park on your own.
2. Discussion Boards
 Throughout the semester, there will be several discussion board assignments. Students
must respond to questions and make thoughtful comments to other students’
responses (simply fulfilling the minimum required of posts and responses will not
guarantee you an “A”). Assignment details are posted in Canvas.
3. Exercises
 Throughout the semester there will be several exercises related to course readings.
Assignment details are posted in Canvas. Completing these assignments will be factored
into your class participation.
4. Second Year/Alumni Interview
 Global Communities has an extended network of students and recent alumni who come
from many different backgrounds and enjoy engaging in contemporary global issues.
Each of you will interview a GC Second Year student (sophomore) or program alumni
(juniors, seniors, and UMD alumni). This assignment will enable you to meet new
people and build connections with fellow GC students and alumni.
 Suggestion: Attend Global Communities Student Association (GCSA) sponsored events
during the first week of class and get to know Second Year students. If you approach
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someone and they’ve already been interviewed, ask them to refer you to one of their
GC friends!
5. Faculty Interview
 This assignment is a great way to get to know faculty better and can potentially lead to
new references for employment, internships, or graduate school. For the assignment,
you will need to contact one of your professors and set up at time to meet him/her
during office hours. We strongly suggest that you do this 3 weeks in advance.
Assignment details are posted in Canvas.
6. Global Communities Events Participation
 Members of Global Communities are expected to actively participate in Program and
GCSA-sponsored events. For this assignment, you will need to attend at least two
approved Global Communities events fall 2014. See list below for approved events.
Approved UMD and Global Communities Events for Events Participation Assignment:
September 9
Study Abroad Fair, 4 pm – 7 pm, STAMP Grand Ballroom
September 11
Dorchester BBQ, 4 pm
September 16
LinkedIn workshops at Career Services
September 17
“The Dialogue” Film 4-6 pm, Hoff Theatre and Language House
September 17 & 18
First Look Fair, McKeldin Mall
September 21
Fiesta DC – Latino Festival
September 23
Alternative Breaks Meet and Greet 4-6 pm, Stamp Atrium
October 7
Culture Dinner: Focus on Nigeria
October 17
Embassy Visit
October 26
Chesapeake Bay Boat Excursion
October 29
International Coffee Hour hosted by GC, Dorchester Basement
November 1
Day of the Dead Celebration at the Mexican Cultural Institute
7. Global Experience Semester Action Plan
 By the end of the semester, we’ll expose you to multiple ways to fulfill your Global
Experience requirement – study abroad, internationally-oriented internship, or
internationally-oriented service-learning experience. For this assignment, you will
develop an action plan for your proposed Global Experience. Assignment details are
posted in Canvas.
GRADING SCALE
ASSIGNMENT
Seminar Participation
Global Experience Semester Action Plan
Global Communities Events Participation (15 points per event)
Langley Park Participation and Discussion Forum
Second Year/Alumni Interview
Faculty Interview
The Complexity of Identity: Who am I?
First Year Expectations Letter
Campus Resources Discussion Forum
Total
POINTS
80
40
30
30
25
25
15
15
15
275
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COURSE SCHEDULE
Preparing for Your
Global Experience
Exploring our International
Community, Identity, and
Privilege
Introduction to Global
Communities, UMD,
and Self-Discovery
Module
Date
Location
Topic
September 2
Dorchester
Classroom
September 9
Dorchester
Classroom
Dorchester
Classroom
Introduction to Global
Communities and SelfAssessment
Discovering Campus
Resources
Wellness, Study Skills,
and Time Management
September 16
September 23
Dorchester
Classroom
Dorchester
Classroom
Identity and Culture
October 1-13
Langley Park, MD
Exploring Our
International Community
– Langley Park
October 14
Dorchester
Classroom
Your Professor’s
Office
Dorchester
Classroom
Dorchester
Classroom
Global Experience
Preview
Faculty Interview
September 30
October 16-27
October 28
November 4
November 25
Privilege and Social
Justice
Career Services and
Professional Skills
Closing Discussions and
Cultural Simulation
Readings/Assignments
Due
Letter Assignment
(1) Campus Resources
Discussion Forum; (2)
Dimensions of
Wellness Exercise
“The Complexity of
Identity: Who am I?”
(1) “Invisible
Backpack”
(2) “Explaining White
Privilege to a Broke
White Person”
(1) Langley Park
Resources
(2) Langley Park
Discussion Forum
Second Year/Alumni
Interview
(1) Faculty Interview;
(2) Global
Communities Events
Participation
Global Experience Semester Action Plan
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Crosley-Cocoran, Gina. “Explaining White Privilege to a Broke White Person.” Retrieved from
http://occupywallstreet.net/story/explaining-white-privilege-broke-white-person.
Fischer, Karin. A Freshman Year, Far From Home. The Chronicle of Higher Education. September 3, 2013.
http://chronicle.com/article/A-Freshman-Year-Far-From-Home/141303/
McIntosh, Peggy. “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack” (1988).
http://www.nymbp.org/reference/WhitePrivilege.pdf
Tatum, Beverly. “Who Am I?” The Complexity of Identity. Retrieved from
http://www.odec.umd.edu/CD/UNIVERSAL%20READINGS/Who%20am%20I%20%28Tatum%29%20copy.
pdf
Langley Park Resources
 Scott, Molly. “Forgoing School To Pay The Bills.” NPR Podcast, August 4, 2014.
http://pd.npr.org/anon.nprmp3/npr/me/2014/08/20140804_me_forgoing_school_to_pay_the_bills.mp3
Transcript of Podcast:
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=337166837
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langley_Park,_Maryland
 http://www.pgplanning.org/page5719.aspx
 http://www.pgplanning.org/Projects/Completed_Projects/Completed_Plans/Takoma_Langley/C
ommunity_Profile.htm
 http://www.pgplanning.org/Assets/Planning/Programs+and+Projects/Community+Plans/Takom
a+Langley+Crossroads+Sector+Plan/Land_Use.pdf
 http://www.city-data.com/city/Langley-Park-Maryland.html
 http://www.thenewave.com/