Semester: Fall, 2014
Class Info: SDV-100-W03
Location/Room: online
Instructor: Donna Linne von Berg
Counselor, Fredericksburg Campus
Office Location: Fredericksburg Campus
Dickinson Building Room 201L
Class Name: Student Development
Days at Location: Mon-Thurs
Class Days/Times: 1st 8 weeks: 8/20/14Office Hours: 8:30 am-3:30 pm Monday10/16/14 There are no set meeting times. This is Thursday
an online course.
Instructor E-mail:
Class Credits: 1 credit
dlinnevonberg@germanna.edu
Course Description:
Assists students in transition to colleges. Provides overviews of college policies, procedures, curricular
offerings. Encourages contacts with other students and staff. Assists students toward college success
through information regarding effective study habits, career and academic planning, and other college
resources available to students. May include English and Math placement testing. Strongly recommended
for beginning students.
Additional Course Description:
The Student Development Class (College Success) is designed to assist GCC students in their transition to
college. It provides an overview of various college policies, procedures, and curricular offerings; and
gives opportunities to students to develop better study habits, begin career planning, and enhance their
communication skills.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:
articulate three potential careers based on their interests, values, and abilities through their use
of the Virginia Education Wizard.
select the appropriate curriculum and electives within that curriculum based on their career
goal(s).
review multiple learning styles and identify their preferred learning style.
articulate the benefits and risks of the three aspects (e.g. credit, savings, and budgeting) of
money management.
identify three to five elements of effective communication (e.g. active listening, verbal and nonverbal messages, etc.).
identify three to five techniques/strategies for managing anxiety/stress.
Required Textbook: The Essential Guide to Becoming a Master Student, Custom Edition for
Germanna Community College 2014
PLEASE NOTE: SDV 100-W03 is an 8 week online course. It is important that you read over
the course requirements and keep up with the assignments and their due dates.
Course Plan for College Closing:
When the college closes, this course continues on its regular schedule because it is an online
course.
Additional Attendance Information for this course:
Since this class is online, attendance in class is not required; however, it is imperative that you
frequently check your Blackboard to stay up-to-date with your class requirements. Weekly
participation in the Discussion Board is required as "class attendance." Students may be required
to take a final exam on campus the last week of classes.
Grade Distribution and Grading Scale:
The quality of performance in any academic course is reported by a letter grade, the
assignment of which is the responsibility of the instructor. GCC allows grades of A, B, C, D,
and F for courses numbered 100-200. GCC does not give plus or minus grades.
Scale:
450-500 A
400-449 B
350-399 C
300-349 D
<299
F
Distribution:
Syllabus Quiz:
Quizzes:
GCC Resources Activity:
Wizard Assignment:
Discussion Board:
Academic Honesty Activity:
20 points
100 points
20 points
80 points
140 points
10 points
SmarterMeasure: 50 points
Library Resources: 30 points
Discovery Wheel: 20 points
Survey of Program of Study: 10 points
Discover Tutoring: 20 points
Total: 500 points
No Late Assignments Accepted after their due dates.
Part B of the Syllabus
GCC E-mail Policy:
Germanna has an email policy in effect for all college email communications in compliance with
VCCS policy. This includes online course related emails and is to ensure confidentiality and
security.
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All official email communication will be distributed to VCCS email accounts only. All students,
faculty and staff of the VCCS will use their official VCCS email account when conducting VCCS
business.
Email is an official method for communication within the Virginia Community College System.
Faculty and staff are responsible for reading and responding to email in a timely fashion. Students
are responsible for the consequences of not reading, in a timely fashion, college-related
communication sent to the official VCCS Student email account.
Faculty members may require email for course content delivery, class discussion, and instructor
conferencing and may specify course-related email policies in their syllabi. Faculty may also
require students to confirm their subscription to VCCS-provided mailing lists.
If you need help accessing your student email account please visit the ACC on either campus.
Faculty email addresses end with “@germanna.edu” and student email addresses end with
“@email.vccs.edu”.
Faculty Response Time
Students can expect to receive a response to email messages or telephone calls made to their
faculty member within a 24 hour period Monday through Friday. A response to email messages
sent over the weekend will be provided by close of business on the following Monday.
Academic Honesty:
The faculty of Germanna Community College recognizes that academic honesty is an integral
factor in developing and sharing knowledge. We support the concept of academic honesty,
practice academic honesty in our classes, and require academic honesty from our students. GCC
students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the completion and
presentation of all academic assignments and examinations. Any student found guilty of
cheating, plagiarism, or other dishonorable acts in academic work is subject to disciplinary
action.
Academic dishonesty is cheating and stealing. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited
to:
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Using material verbatim from a source without giving credit.
Rewriting material from a source without giving credit.
Using information from an Internet source without giving credit.
Submitting the work of another person as your own work.
Using/copying another student's computer disk.
Copying from another person's paper/test/homework.
Allowing someone else to copy/use your work (e.g., paper, homework, quiz, test).
Violating VCCS Computer Ethics Guidelines in the pursuit of academic studies.
Important Dates for the 1st 8 week session:
Classes Begin
Last Day to Add
Labor Day (College Closed)
Last Day to Drop with Refund
College Learning Day (No Classes)
Last Day to Withdraw Without Academic Penalty
Thanksgiving Holiday (No Classes)
Class Ends
Aug 20
Aug 26
Sep 1
Aug 28
Sept 23
Sept 24
n/a
Oct 16
Attendance Standard
Class attendance requirements are found in the course outline, which the instructor provides to
students in each course. Germanna students are expected to be present and on time at all regularly
scheduled classes and laboratory meetings. When a faculty member determines that a student has
not met the class attendance requirements in the course outline, which will usually conform to the
statement at the end of this Standard, the faculty member may submit a Drop/Add Form, showing
the last date of attendance by the student, to the Admissions and Records Office. A grade of "W"
will be recorded for all withdrawals, whether initiated by the student or by the faculty member
through the published "Last day to withdraw without academic penalty." Students withdrawn
after the withdrawal deadline will receive a grade of "F" except under mitigating circumstances,
which must be documented by the student and approved by the Dean of Instruction. Please see
"Withdrawing from a course" under "Registration Information" in the Academic Information
section of the Germanna course catalog for additional policy information.
Absences listed below are calculated for fifteen-week courses. For eight-week classes, the
absences listed below are cut in half; absences in four-week classes are one-fourth of those listed
below. For short session courses other than 8 week, please see your instructor for the permitted
absences.
Weekly attendance is required for online courses. Attendance is measured by weekly logging in
and working within the Bb shell of the course.
The official GCC withdrawal policy follows: Withdrawal from a course without academic
penalty may be made within the first 60% of the course. The student will receive a grade of "W"
for withdrawal. After that time, the student will receive a grade of "F". Exceptions to this policy
may be considered under mitigating circumstances which must be documented and submitted to
the appropriate Dean of Instruction for review and consideration. Please see "Important Dates" in
Part B of this syllabus for fifteen-week courses.
For Academic Calendars for courses that are normally fifteen-weeks and others, click on the
Class Schedule link at www.germanna.edu . Click on link for Academic Calendar. Use
appropriate class calendar.
If class meeting times during the week are:
1
2
3
4
Absences permitted are:
2
4
6
8
Disability Information:
If you are a student with a disability and will need accommodations while enrolled in this course,
please contact the Coordinator of Disability Services in the Counseling Center, (540-891-3019 at
the Fredericksburg Area Campus or 540-423-9140 at the Locust Grove Campus).
Emergency Procedures:
Emergency procedures are posted in individual classrooms. Students must familiarize
themselves with the procedures to be followed, and the escape routes to be followed when
necessary. Faculty will go through the classroom emergency procedures during the first class
meeting and students are to record these procedures in their class notes. Faculty may elect to
provide written instructions within the first two class meetings.
Student Academic Services:
Library Services
Library Services offers a rich variety of resources to Germanna students from workshops on how to
conduct academic research to an online catalog of print and electronic resources available at the Locust
Grove Campus, the Fredericksburg Area Campus, and the Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper. FAC’s
Information Commons provides a quiet place to research and write. Library staff can aid students with
their research. Students can access thousands of journal titles, most of which are full text. E-books are
available in a variety of disciplines and for leisure reading. Students are encouraged to take advantage of
library resources by visiting any of Germanna’s libraries and exploring the online resources at:
http://www.germanna.edu/Academics_And_Student_Services/Student_Services/Library_Services/
Tutoring Services
The Tutoring Services Department offers a variety of free academic support programs for
Germanna students at both the Locust Grove and Fredericksburg Area campuses. Daniel Center
students should contact the Locust Grove tutoring office regarding available services and
Stafford Center students should contact the FAC Tutoring Services Office for available services.
To schedule an individual tutoring appointment, call or visit the Locust Grove or Fredericksburg
Tutoring Centers.
Online tutoring is available during daytime, evening and weekend hours. Registered students
may access online tutoring by clicking on the Smarthinking link from the Tutoring Services’
website.
Supplementary academic materials are available free of charge from Tutoring Services, and they
may also be downloaded from the Tutoring Services’ website: http://www.germanna.edu/tutor/
Tutoring Services operates a daily walk-in Writing Lab and Math Lab as well as providing a
variety of study skills and academic workshops. Students may register for the Test Taking/Test
Anxiety Workshop, Grammar Workshop, APA/MLA Workshop, TI83/84 Calculator Workshop,
Computer Competency Workshop, Note-taking, Spanish Discussion Group, Drug Calculation
Workshop, and the Basic PC Skills Mini Course by visiting or calling our offices. Several of
these workshops may also be viewed online from the “Online Tutoring Resources” section of the
Tutoring Services’ website:
http://www.germanna.edu/tutor/resources.asp?menuchoice=Online%20Tutoring%20Resources
Academic Computing Center
The ACC provides computer access to students needing to work on class work, check e-mail,
blackboard, etc. Students also can apply, register for classes or change classes, check grades, etc.
using myGCC. Staff is available to assist students with various computer issues and services.
Student can access the internet and MS Office Suite, and placement testing is administered at
LGC.
Testing Services
Testing Services provide proctor services for make-up and distance learning tests. Test proctoring
for various nursing exams, dental hygiene, exit exams and other college/university testing as
well. To determine the hours of the Testing Center, go to the website
http://www.germanna.edu/acc/testing_center.
Observation of "Netiquette"
All of your online communications need to be composed with fairness, honesty and
tact. Spelling and grammar are very important in online communication. What you put into
an online communication reflects on your level of professionalism. Several netiquette
guidelines are listed below:
Sentence Capitalization:
• Typing in all caps is considered screaming.
• Example: SUNDAY WILL BE A LONG DAY!
• Various studies have concluded that typing in all caps takes longer and is more
difficult to read.
• Recipient may think you are overly excited.
Leaving the subject field blank:
• Always fill in the subject with a concise statement describing the email.
• Do not use all caps or put in phrases such as Help or Hi.
• Failure to follow netiquette guidelines when filling in the subject line of an email may
result in your correspondence being discarded as spam.
Colored text and background colors:
• Use colors sparingly in your emails – whether it is text or fill colors
• Certain colors can make emails difficult to read.
Return receipt request:
• These allow you to track when the recipient opens your email – you should use this
email feature sparingly.
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Can be very annoying to the recipient of the email.
Grammar and spelling check:
• Proofread emails for errors.
• Capitalize your sentences and use appropriate punctuation.
• Refrain from using multiple !!!!!!! or ????????
These netiquette guidelines will help to ensure you are courteous and use proper manners while
corresponding with your friends, family and business associates.
Tentative Schedule with Assignments and Due Dates:
Please note that each week runs from Wednesday through Tuesday. Assignments for each of
these weeks are due no later than the end of each week (Tuesday), with the exception of Week 8.
Read the due dates carefully so you remember to get your assignments in on time.
WEEK 1 August 20-26, 2014
1. Discussion Board Assignment (DB): “Pleased to Meet You” Post by Fri, Aug 22
Two replies due by Tuesday, Aug. 26
2. Smarter Measure Assignment: Due no later than Tuesday, Aug 26.
3. Syllabus Quiz: Due no later than Tuesday, Aug 26.
4. Survey of Program of Study Assignment: Due no later than Tuesday, Aug 26.
WEEK 2 Aug. 27-Sept 2, 2014
1. Read the Introduction and Chapter 1 of the textbook.
2. Watch the video on Learning Styles.
3. Discovery Wheel Assignment: Due no later than Tues, Sept 2.
4. Discover Tutoring Services: Due no later than Tues, Sept 2.
5. No DB this week.
WEEK 3 September 3-9, 2014
1. DB: “Time Management” Post by Friday, Sept 5
Two replies due by Tues. Sept 9.
2. Read Chapter 2 in the textbook.
3. Library Resources Assignment: Due no later than Tuesday, Sept 9.
WEEK 4 September 10-16, 2014
1. Read Ch. 3 in textbook.
2. Do Quiz on Ch 2 and 3 on Time and Money Due Sept 16
3. DB on “Money Management Powerpoint assignment" The Powerpoint is due by
Sunday, Sept 14
Two replies due Tues, Sept 16
4. GCC Resources Assignment: due Sept 16.
WEEK 5 September 17-23, 2014
1. Read Ch. 4 and Ch 10 in textbook.
2. Do Quiz on Ch 4 on Reading Due Sept 23.
3. Virginia Education Wizard Assignment: due no later than Sept 23.
4. DB on “Stress” Post by Friday, Sept. 19
Two replies due on Tues, Sept 23.
WEEK 6 September 24-30, 2014
1. Read Ch. 5 and Ch. 9 in textbook.
2. Quiz on Ch. 5 on Notetaking Due Sept 30.
3. DB on “Communication" by Friday, Sept 26. Two replies due by Tuesday, Sept.30.
4. Read over the information on Student Resources and Transfer Information from the
Germanna website provided.
WEEK 7
1.
2.
3.
October 1-7, 2014
Read Chapter 6 in textbook
Do Quiz on Ch. 6 on Memory and Tests, due October 7.
DB on “Memory and Mastering Tests” Post by Friday Oct 3.
Two replies due on Oct 7.
4. Academic Honesty Activity: due by Oct 7.
WEEK 8
1.
2.
3.
October 8-14, 2014
Read Chapter 7 "Using Technology to Succeed"
Do Final Quiz on Ch. 7 Technology due on Friday, Oct 10, 2014
DB on College Central Network Post by Friday, Oct 10
Two replies due by Tuesday, October 14.