University Studies UNIV 110
University College
Fayetteville State University
Spring 2014
This course syllabus is designed to inform you of what you can expect from UNIV110 and what is expected of you in the course. All vital
information about course objectives and requirements, evaluation methods and criteria, schedule of assignments and activities, and other important
matters, are contained in this syllabus. You should read this syllabus carefully at the beginning of the semester to obtain an overview of the course, and
to mark your calendar with assignment and activity due dates so that you may accommodate them into your schedule. You must also refer to this
syllabus on a daily basis. Remember that as a university student, you are expected to take responsibility for your own education. While I may remind
you of upcoming assignments and activities, YOU are RESPONSIBLE for fulfilling all requirements of the syllabus, even when I do not remind
you.
Finally, the instructor reserves the right to amend or add to the class syllabus as needed.
I.
Locator Information:
Time Class Meets: M&W 12:00 - 12:50 p.m.
Instructor: Mr. Deron Norwood
Office Location: 114 Science & Technology Bldg
Office Telephone: 672-1605
Room/Bldg: RM 236 NURSE Bldg/HTC 216B
Email Address: dnorwood@uncfsu.edu
Office Hours: M-F 8:00AM-12:00PM or by appt.
II.
Course Description (2-0-2) University Studies is an interdisciplinary introduction to the university experience, with
emphasis on reading, discussions, and critical assessments of selected topics in literature, science, business, education,
politics, economics, and philosophy. Students are introduced to FSU history, policies, procedures, resources, and
support services. This course is required of transfer students who enter the university with fewer than 30 transfer credits.
III.
Textbook: Brooks, John, ed. Fayetteville State University: Excellence, Mastery, and Maturity. 4th ed. Littleton, MA: Tapestry Press, 2007
Fayetteville State University Undergraduate Catalog (on-line)
Fayetteville State University Student Handbook (on-line)
Documents from the University Studies Blackboard website as assigned (Blackboard)
IV.
Course Objectives: This course is designed to help transferring freshmen develop the skills and knowledge necessary
for success as university students. To be successful,
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
This course will help students set goals consistent with their abilities and interests and develop an educational and
career plan that will help them achieve their goals. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to
1. reflect on his or her life goals to write a personal mission statement;
2. develop long and short-term academic and career goals that are consistent with this mission.
This course will help students gain knowledge of the rules, regulations, and procedures of the university. Upon
completion of this course, the student will be able to
1. explain important events in the history of the university;
2. explain the goals, purpose, and scope of UNIV 110; course requirements, grading methods and criteria,
the reading proficiency requirement, and other aspects of the course;
3. participate in university programs.
This course will help students become aware of and utilize the assistance available through various university
offices and resources. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to
1. utilize academic support services such as the University College Tutorial Center, Supplemental
Instruction, Student Support Services, and Chesnutt Library;
2. utilize other resources such as Career Services and Financial Aid.
This course will help students strengthen study habits and enhance basic skills in reading, writing, speaking,
critical thinking, quantitative skills, and the use of technology. Upon completion of this course, the student will be
able to
1. use information technology, i.e., e-mail and Internet resources, effectively;
2. practice effective time management, note-taking, and test-taking skills;
3. improve his or her reading comprehension skills through the use of computer-assisted learning
programs and intensive reading of texts from various disciplines;
4. improve his or her writing skills;
5. improve critical thinking skills;
6. improve quantitative reasoning skills.
This course will help students develop the interpersonal and social skills and habits that are essential to success at
the university and in their careers beyond the university. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able
to
1. collaborate with instructors and other students to complete group assignments;
2. reflect upon the challenges of college life;
3. understand and collaborate with individuals from diverse ethnic, social, and cultural backgrounds;
4. demonstrate the dispositions needed to interact positively with others in a learning community;
5.
6.
improve his or her confidence and abilities in speaking in small groups and for large audiences;
develop guidelines for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and coping with stress and other emotional
disorders.
This course addresses the following components of the School of Education Conceptual Framework (corresponding course
objectives indicated in parentheses):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Content Knowledge: By helping students understand the principles of college-level reading and writing, this course
provides knowledge all teachers must have (4.3, 4.4).
Learning Climate: By helping students learn to respect and respond to other students of different backgrounds, this
course teaches students about the requirements of a positive learning climate (5.3-5)
Dispositions: By helping students understand the requirements of a positive learning climate, this course also helps
students develop the attitudes, motivations, and beliefs that will enable all students to learn (5.3-5).
Diversity: By requiring students to collaborate with faculty and students from a wide variety of backgrounds, this
course helps students learn the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are required to enable all students to learn (5.1,
5.3-5).
Reflection: By requiring students to reflect upon their own background and upon their college experience, this course
helps students develop the habits of reflection that will enable them to continue to develop as individuals and
professionals (1.1-2, 5.2)
This course will enable the student to:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Explain Fayetteville State University’s history, policies, procedures and regulations;
Use specific study skills strategies (i.e., note taking, time management, reading, exam preparation) that will
improve academic performance in other courses:
Utilize important university services and resources, such as the Chesnutt Library, Career
Services, the Personal Development Center, the Business and Finance Office, and the Transfer and
Advisement Center that will assist students in their academic careers at Fayetteville State University;
Improve the ability to express ideas in writing
Increase student confidence in making oral presentations to groups
Work cooperatively with other students in carrying out joint projects and evaluating each other’s
work
Clarify career goals and develop an educational plan consistent with these career goals
Recognize the importance of accepting responsibility for meeting deadlines and fulfilling requirements.
V.
Course Competencies: Competencies (student objectives) for each class period are included in the Assignment
Schedule following.
VI.
Evaluation Methods and Criteria: Your final grade will be based upon a point system. You will earn points for
each written assignment and activity required in the course. Based upon the Fayetteville State University grading scale,
the grade equivalents indicated below. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE WITHOUT A
VERIFIABLE EXCUSE!!!
FSU grading Scale
90 – 100% (900-1000)
80 – 89% (800-899)
70 – 79% (700-799)
60 –69% (600-699)
Less than 60%(599 or fewer)
Failure due to Non-Attendance (only if you never
attended)
Interim Grade
Same as above
No-show ( never attended—will become an FN at the end
of the term unless changed)
Excessive Absences ( you have missed more than 10% of
the total contact hours)
VII.
Your final grade will be
A
B
C
D
F
FN
A-F
X
EA
Note on Class Attendance: The Fayetteville State University Undergraduate Attendance Policy will be enforced in
this class. In accordance with this policy, please note that if you want to be successful in college, the single most
important habit you can develop is attending class regularly and punctually. ANY STUDENT MISSING SEVEN
UNEXCUSED CLASS PERIODS WILL RECEIVE AN “F” GRADE FOR THE COURSE.
Tardiness: It is imperative that we begin class on time each day. Three tardy marks will count as one absence in the
enforcement of the attendance policy. Tardiness is defined by arriving after I call your name when I call the class roll.
I will call roll for each class period no later than 12:10 p.m. Please note: there is not a grace period of 10 minutes.
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU MISS SIX CLASSES AND HAVE THREE TARDIES, THAT
EQUATES TO SEVEN CLASSES. IF YOU MISS FIVE CLASSES AND SIX TARDIES,
THAT EQUATES TO SEVEN CLASSES.
VIII.
Assignment Schedule: assignments are due at the beginning of the class for which they are scheduled. An
assignment scheduled for January 11th, for example, is due at the beginning of class January 11th. All activities are
planned to ensure that students accomplish the objectives for that class. Understanding the policies, procedures,
regulations and resources of the university is an integral part of your success as a student. Every student must be
familiar with the catalog which is on-line. You should read the catalog thoroughly at least once and refer to it
regularly for information as needed. You are required to attend (2) two fine art events during the semester. The
events include but are not limited to programs presented by the Lyceum Committee, the Performing and Fine Arts
Department, lectures presented here on campus or activities initiated by the University College of Fayetteville State
University. While this syllabus is the guide which we will use for this semester’s teaching and learning, it is only a
guide. The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the schedule as necessary, to facilitate the learning
process. If changes are necessary, I will notify you, usually through the Blackboard website.
Performing Fine Arts Events: You are required to attend two (2) Culture/Performing Fine Art events during the semester.
You must write a short essay (250-300 words) describe the event and if you would choose to go to this type of event again if it
was not mandatory (required for a class) and why you would or would not. You should attend these events as soon as
possible and not wait until the end of the semester.
If you want to know about programs available on campus, please check the site blackboard and/or the university calendar. I
will try to keep you informed of programs; however, you are responsible for obtaining information as to the time and location
of events which may be used for this assignment. You may choose to attend events off campus, however the event must be
FSU related and pre-approved by me. In an effort spare students incurring extra expense, events presented on campus are
encouraged.
Each student will begin building a professional portfolio
What is a portfolio?
One of the requirements of University Studies is for you to develop a portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of documents and
information you design and create to help you present the best of yourself to other people. Your portfolio provides an efficient
means of telling others about your abilities, accomplishments, interests, and other information important to whom you are. A
portfolio might be considered an expanded resume. Whereas a resume provides a summary of one’s education and experience,
a portfolio provides a more holistic representation by providing actual samples of works, reports, commendations, and other
similar information. You can use your portfolio to highlight your strengths and special talents, those things that make you a
unique individual.
Portfolios have long been used by artists; photographers, for example, normally collected in a notebook, samples of works they
consider the best and most representative of all their works, which can then be presented to potential buyers and employers.
Increasingly, professional people in all areas from business to education are required to present portfolios when they request
promotions and salary increases. Individuals seeking employment are also beginning to use portfolios more and more to show
prospective employers their talents and skills. It should be evident from the foregoing discussion portfolios are not static
documents. A person must continually add new items and delete old items from his or her portfolio. The portfolio you begin
in your freshman year will undergo many changes between now and the time you graduate. If you regularly update your
portfolio over the next four years, you will have a very valuable resource to present to potential employers when you graduate.
Your portfolio:
Must be organized well to show that you have good organizational skills.
Must include documents that show you are an effective writer. (Essays, themes and stories that you have written for
this and other classes, personal writings such as original poems or short stories)
Must show that you have technology skills.
Must be neat.
Should show that you can work well with other people in teams.
Should include documents that show you have been involved in community service.
Should demonstrate that you have leadership skills.
Should include information that shows you can work with people from very diverse backgrounds, different races, and
the opposite sex.
Should show that you have developed the day-to-day job skills such as punctuality and reliability.
Should show that you have research skills, that you can acquire and apply information from a variety of sources such
as technical and reference manuals, libraries, and the Internet.
What should be included in the portfolio?
All documents of your portfolio MUST be contained within a 1-2 inch loose-leaf binder. You should also have dividers with
labels separating each of the sections of the portfolio. Plastic sheet protectors may be used to protect your valuable writings
and copies of awards and certificates you place in your portfolio.
Your portfolio MUST include each of the following:
 Cover Page
 Cover Letter
 Mission Statement /career goals
 Employment research – U.S. Department of labor, Bureau, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/
 Resume
 Reports, papers, documents, other completed works that reflect your best writing skills
 Review of Cultural Events(2)
 Summaries and documents related to service and extracurricular activities
 A list of three references.
Note: If you submit work that has been graded, it must be clean without marks, etc.
Week 1 (Jan 13-17)
Introduction of course and Blackboard website; Get acquainted activities; Students will
read the syllabus and present questions at next class meeting; Exercise 1-1 Who Are You?
Chapter 1: FSU History
Week 2 (Jan 20-24)
Week 3 ( Jan 27-31)
Week 4 (Feb 3-7)
Week 5 (Feb 10-12)
Week 6 (Feb 17-21)
Week 7 (Feb 24-28)
Week 8 (Mar 3-7)
Week 9 (Mar 10-14)
Week 10 (Mar 17-21)
Week 11(Mar 24-28)
Week 12 (Mar 31- Apr 4)
Week 13 (Apr 7-11)
Week 14 (Apr 14-18)
Week 15 (Apr 21-25)
Week 16 ( Apr 28-May 2)
Late registration ends January 17th. January 18th class withdrawal begins: the
schedule that you have at the end of the day will be your schedule for the semester.
After this day you may withdraw from a class; however, your transcript will reflect
attempted hours for that class and a “W” grade. This will count as one of the 5
“W” grades.
MLK Holiday January 20th No Class-Review for Quiz on FSU History
FSU History Quiz
Chapter One Assignment Due/Catalog Policy
Chapter 2 “Preparing For Success In College” Academic Requirements Assignment Due
Chapter 2 “Preparing For Success In College” Student Support Svc Assignment Due
Chapter 3 “Becoming a Successful Student” Goal Setting Assignment Due
(1st Cultural event due)
Portfolio Requirements, Occupational Report Worksheet, Occupational Personality Type
Worksheet. Visit Career Center
Mid-term Exam-Spring Break Begins March 8
No classes Spring Break March 10-14
Check banner to make sure you do not have any holds on your account. Make an
appointment to see your advisor. Chapter 5, “Making the Classroom Work for
You” Learning Style Assessment
Chapter 5, “Making the Classroom Work for You” Learning Styles Worksheet.
(2nd Cultural event due)
Chapter 13 “Planning For Your Career”
Presentations-Portfolio’s Due
Presentations-University Closed April 18th Good Friday
Presentations
Final Exam will be administered on Wednesday in class; (Worth 100 points) All students
are expected to take his/her exam before leaving for Summer Break.
Requirements: In UNIV 110 students are required to have access to a textbook and a FSU catalog (available on line), attend
all classes, arrive to class on time each class period, complete all assignments in accordance with the assignment schedule,
contribute positively to the learning experience of other students and the instructor, refer to the syllabus on a daily basis to keep
informed of up coming assignments, and use the technology available on campus such as computer labs. Students in this
course are required to have access to Blackboard and consult it daily.
IX.
Teaching Strategies: A variety of teaching strategies will be used in this class. The strategies we will use
most often are
1.
Visits to/and from various campus resources
2.
Student presentations
3.
Lecture
4.
Computer assisted learning programs
5.
Small group project
6.
Live class discussion
7.
Electronic discussion boards open to all class members
Rubric for UNIV 110 – University Studies Spring 2014
Educate a Race Study Guide Assignment
Academic Requirements Assignment
Student Support Services Assignment
Midterm Exam
Time Management Assignment
Learning Styles
Goal Setting Assignment
Who are You Exercise
Including: Cover Sheet
Mission statement/Career Goals
Time Management Chart
Letter of recommendation and/or copies of
awards
Resume
Review of cultural event(2)
Overall quality of finished portfolio
Performing Fine Arts/Cultural
Cultural Event on Campus or Off CampusEvents
attend at least 2 events for 50 points each
Student Presentation
100
Reflective Paper
100
Class participation
100
Final Exam
Final Exam
Total points possible
****************************** Bonus Points(at instructor’s discretion) TBA
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Midterm Exam
Time Management
Learning Style Assessment
Goal Setting
Who Are You Exercise?
Portfolio
25
25
50
100
25
25
25
25
200
100
100
100
100
100
1000
25