GS 11900
INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AT PURDUE
Mondays & Wednesdays 3:30 – 4:20 p.m.
Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry (WTHR) 172
Fall 2014
COURSE COORDINATOR:
Scott Vana
Associate Director, Exploratory Studies (765-494-0843)
Young Hall, 8th Floor
E-mail: svana@purdue.edu
Office hours: By appointment
TEACHING ASSISTANT:
Justin White
Junior in Movement & Sport Sciences
College of Health & Human Sciences
E-mail: white247@purdue.edu
COURSE CREDIT:
One Credit, PASS/NO PASS only
REGISTRATION:
This course is open to students in all academic programs.
COURSE WEBSITE ACCESS:
https://mycourses.purdue.edu/ (Blackboard Learn)
Use your Career Account username and password for access.
PURPOSE
The selection of a major cannot be done without knowledge of the alternatives available. The
purpose of this general survey course is to provide a description of the baccalaureate degree options
available at Purdue University.
1.
2.
3.
4.
GOALS
To provide an overview of the degree options available in each college/school.
To emphasize the necessary minimal or fundamental skills required of students entering into
each college/school.
To provide information regarding job placement of recent graduates.
To allow students to thoughtfully document their information-gathering and decision making
process through the writing of reflection papers.
GRADES AND COURSEWORK
Final Grade Determination
Students will earn a passing (P) grade if they have met the following criteria:
1) Have no more than 3 recorded absences (i.e. - Total Absences minus Total Absence Make-Ups)
AND
2) Participate in class by using your clicker to respond to questions (see below for details)
AND
3) Submit the 2 reflection papers on time (see below for details)
1
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance is an important aspect of this course. Regular attendance will not only ensure full
exposure to the scope of majors and opportunities available at Purdue, it is also one of the criteria
used in determining your final grade.
All students are permitted to have up to 3 absences at the end of the semester and still pass the
course. If a student is absent more than 3 times, the additional absence(s) must be made up.
However, the maximum number of absences a student may make up is 3. Therefore, students are
permitted to miss class at most 6 times. Although this is the policy, missing class is not encouraged.
The Course TA will have an attendance sheet for each class, and students must sign the attendance
sheet each class period in order to have their attendance recorded. When class sessions are held at
other locations, students must sign the attendance sheet provided to have their attendance recorded.
Making Up Absences
To make up absences students are to view the Fall 2014 GS 11900 DVDs on reserve at the
Humanities, Social Science & Education Library (HSSE) in Stewart Center. Students will need to
complete an outline of the session(s) viewed using the “GS 11900 Absence Make Up Sheet” found
on Blackboard Learn and then turn the sheet(s) in to the GS 11900 course coordinator.
IMPORTANT: Please note that make up credit is given for one absence per GS 119 session viewed.
Therefore, each “GS 11900 Absence Make Up Sheet” submitted for credit must include all majors,
colleges, or programs that are presented on the date(s) you are seeking credit.
All make up sheets MUST be submitted in class no later than Wednesday, December 10.
To locate a recording for viewing at the HSSE Library:
1. Go to the Purdue Libraries web site (http://www.lib.purdue.edu/). In the search box at the top of the
page, change the tab to Course Reserves and enter “GS 119”. Click on Search.
2. You will see the list of available recordings. Identify the session desired (must be from Fall 2014) and
note the date and the name of the College/School/Department that is presenting.
3. Go to the Circulation & Reserves desk near the entrance of HSSE and request the DVD desired for
viewing. Your Purdue ID is required to check it out. You will have two hours to view it, and it cannot
be taken out of the library.
4. Headphones are available for checkout, and machines on which to view the DVD are located on the
second floor of HSSE. You can also view it on your own laptop computer.
5. Complete the GS 11900 Absence Make Up Sheet as the selected session is viewed.
2
6. After viewing, return the DVD to the Circulation & Reserves desk and ask the clerk to stamp the
bottom of your sheet on the Library stamp line.
7. Turn the sheet(s) in to the GS 11900 course coordinator.
STUDENT RESPONSE SYSTEM (“clickers”)
In this course we will be using a student response or “clicker” system. A “clicker” is an individual
handheld device – like a channel changer – that allows each student to respond to questions that the
instructor asks during class. A receiver at the front of the room collects everyone’s clicker responses,
which the instructor can then instantly display as graphs to guide the day’s lecture. Students’ clicker
responses are also saved by the receiver to ensure that students get credit for responses they make in class.
You purchase your clicker the same as you buy textbooks for classes, from one of the local bookstores.
You must register your clicker at the GS 119 Blackboard site, but that’s free. Once you’ve bought
your clicker, you can use it in every class that uses clickers. You do have to go through the free registration
process every semester for every class you are enrolled in that uses clickers, but it takes only a couple of
minutes to do this. If your clicker doesn’t work or breaks through no fault of your own, contact the
bookstore where you bought it. If you lose your clicker, you will have to pay to replace it yourself.
Your clicker responses will be recorded as your class participation grade for this course, which is part of
the course grade. Therefore, since you are expected to participate in every class, you should bring your
clicker every time the class meets. If you forget your clicker on a given day, you will not be able to get
participation points for that day, just as if you forgot to finish answering all the questions on a test. There
are no make-ups for clicker use. However, you will be allowed to drop the three lowest clicker response
days during the course, so if you forget your clicker a day or two it won’t count against you.
Finally, since your clicker is registered to you individually, you may not loan it to someone else or let
someone else use it to pretend they are you. The instructor will treat that the same as if you were
caught cheating on an assignment or test!
If you have any questions or problems with your clicker, please let the course coordinator or TA know.
REFLECTION PAPERS
These two papers are designed for you to consider the majors and opportunities presented in class
thoughtfully. The goal of this reflection is to help you choose a major and/or to take advantage of
those resources and opportunities that interest you.
The two Reflection papers are due on October 20 and December 10 and must be submitted
electronically via Blackboard. All uploaded papers must be .pdf, .doc or .docx files (Adobe Acrobat
or Word files). Late papers will be accepted until two school days after the due date.
Each paper is to be 1-2 pages in length, typed (double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins), and
written in paragraph form. The components to be included in each of the reflection papers will be
available on Blackboard. Each question must be answered to receive credit for the assignment
MAJOR CAMPUS EMERGENCY
In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines, and grading percentages are
subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances beyond
the instructor’s control. To get information about changes in this course, check Blackboard Learn or
contact the course coordinator.
3
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
Students are expected to arrive on time for class. Punctuality is important in order to minimize
disruption to our guest speakers, fellow students, and the videotaped recording.
Students are encouraged and expected to ask questions of the presenters. Although the guest
speakers will be providing presentations, they are willing to answer your questions to help you learn about
their programs.
Finally, students are expected to give their full attention to the guest speaker(s) during class. To that end,
it is expected that all cell phones and electronic devices will be turned off during the class period
and put away. Laptop or notebook computers are not permitted to be used during class. The only
acceptable electronic device is an iClicker2. Students who are found to be using other electronic devices,
talking or exhibiting disrespectful behavior will be asked to leave and will be counted as absent that day.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Purdue prohibits "dishonesty in connection with any University activity. Cheating, plagiarism, or
knowingly furnishing false information to the University are examples of dishonesty." [Part 5, Section IIIB-2-a, University Regulations] Furthermore, the University Senate has stipulated that "the commitment of
acts of cheating, lying, and deceit in any of their diverse forms (such as the use of substitutes for taking
examinations, the use of illegal cribs, plagiarism, and copying during examinations) is dishonest and must
not be tolerated. Moreover, knowingly to aid and abet, directly or indirectly, other parties in committing
dishonest acts is in itself dishonest." [University Senate Document 72-18, December 15, 1972]
Examples of academic dishonesty in this class include (but are not limited to): signing in and then leaving
class before it is over, signing in for another student, and using another student’s clicker. Any student who
is found to have committed academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of the Dean of Students
for adjudication and/or appropriate record keeping. The Office of the Dean of Students will follow
established procedures as provided in the Student Code of Conduct. If found responsible, possible
sanctions include a warning, probation, probated suspension, suspension, or expulsion.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you are eligible for academic accommodations because you have a documented disability that will impact
your work in this class, please schedule an appointment with the course coordinator as soon as possible to
discuss your needs.
UNIVERSITY RESOURCES
Talk with your academic advisor for assistance with major & career exploration. Another excellent
resource for major & career development assistance is the Center for Career Opportunities (CCO) in
Young Hall, first floor. If at any time you would like to discuss your concerns regarding this class, please
feel free to speak with the course coordinator so that he may be able to provide assistance.
08/25/2014 SV
4