Valencia College
MAT 1033 Intermediate Algebra - Online Course
Course Syllabus for CRN 26503 - Spring 2016
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Dr. Gisela Acosta-Carr.
East Campus, 4-229
(407) 582-2754
gacosta@valenciacollege.edu
Student Engagement Hours (office hours):
On-campus hours (Bldg. 4-229):
T 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
R 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Online hours (Acosta’s email):
MW 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
F
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
*Individual appointments are available upon request.
This syllabus is a contract between the student and the instructor. By attending this course, the
student agrees to the terms and conditions of this contract. It is the responsibility of the student to
carefully read this syllabus/contract, and to adhere to all policies and procedures within.
***This course uses the online instructional system WebAssign. See the section "Required
Educational Materials" on page 2 of this syllabus for specific details.
Course Description: MAT 1033C Intermediate Algebra
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in MAT 0022C or MAT 0028C, MAT 0055 or MAT 0056,
or appropriate score on an approved assessment. This course presents algebraic skills for MAC
1105. Topics include linear equations and inequalities in two variables and their graphs, systems
of linear equations and inequalities, introductions to functions, factoring, algebraic functions,
rational equations, radical and rational exponents, complex numbers, quadratic equations,
scientific notation, applications of the above topics and the communication of mathematics.
Applications emphasizing connections with disciplines and the real world will be included.
Do not assume that this class is undemanding because it is an online course. This course is
challenging and time consuming; it is convenient, but not easier than a regular classroom course.
Only highly motivated, disciplined, and organized students who can study the book lessons
effectively, can follow all tasks responsibly, and can learn the material by themselves are
successful in this online course. The math lessons are clearly explained and you will have the
learning resources to help you.
I will be here to lead and guide you, and be a facilitator of learning. Since I care about your
academic success, I will be providing you a quality-learning environment throughout the
academic term. In this course, you will have the opportunity to learn skills that will be relevant to
future courses and to your professional career.
Time Commitment:
Note that an online course may need more time commitment than an onsite course. Since this is
an online course, the on-site class hours a week that you would normally use to attend lectures
should be spent online reading/studying the e-book, watching the provided learning resources,
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working through homework exercises, completing provided handouts/worksheets, and taking
tests. Any college course also requires approximately 2-4 hours of study-time for every lecture
hour. For this online course, you should allocate at least another 6-10 hours a week on study time
activities, such as working on assigned homework, practicing exercises, and studying for
assessments. This course will take more time than you expect.
Valencia Core competencies: TVCA
Valencia faculty has defined four interrelated competencies (Value, Think, Communicate, Act)
that prepare students to succeed in the world community. These competencies are outlined in
the College Catalog. In this course, through class activities, discussion, and other learning
endeavors, you will further develop your mastery of the aforementioned competencies. Due to
the nature of these global competencies, many problems and activities will be presented in the
context of applications. These will require students to select appropriate information from the
problem and communicate effectively how to arrive at an appropriate solution to the problem.
Required Educational Materials:
a) In addition to a computer to access your online lessons, you must obtain the following:
Access to Enhanced WebAssign - This allows you to access an electronic copy of the MAT
1033 text. You can purchase the WebAssign code at the East Campus bookstore or online at
https://www.webassign.net/ (Make sure that you search for Dr. Acosta's MAT 1033 course.)
b) Calculator: b) Calculator: A graphing calculator is required for this course. TI-83, TI-83+, TI-84, or TI84+ are recommended. Calculators that do symbolic manipulations, like TI-89, TI-92, TI-Nspire
CAS, and Voyage 200, etc. will not be allowed on proctored tests. Online tutorials for the
graphing calculator will also be provided via the course Blackboard page. These tutorials are
very user-friendly, and provide a step by-step guide on how to use the calculator. The professor
will provide additional handouts on the use of the graphing calculator.
c) Lab activities: Will be provided by Dr. Acosta. Do not acquire any lab booklet at the
bookstore, or any other booklet, even if the bookstore staff tells you to do so!
d) Optional - not required: Textbook (hard copy) Intermediate Algebra: Connecting Concepts
through Applications by Clark and Anfinson, 2012. ISBN 049598325X
Registering into WebAssign
You will need both a WebAssign Class Key and the WebAssign Access Code to fully access
your math lessons and online homework. The access code gives you paid access to the class
materials, and the class key places you in the correct class.
This will be your class key: valenciacollege 4054 0906
The following link will lead you to WebAssign's "Student Quick Start Guide." This guide will
provide information about registering/logging into WebAssign, purchasing access code, and
viewing assignments: www.webassign.net/manual/WA_Student_Quick_Start.pdf
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The following link will lead you to WebAssign's "Student Quick Start Guide." This guide will
provide information about registering/logging into WebAssign, purchasing access code, and
viewing assignments: www.webassign.net/manual/WA_Student_Quick_Start.pdf
IMPORTANT NOTE: WebAssign will be available January 6, 2016, and you will have a
grace period through January 19, 2016. Once the grace period is over, you must enter your
Access Code to continue using WebAssign and remain in this class.
WebAssign Support:
For WebAssign, call (800) 955-8275
* Only if you can’t log into the system, get an error message, or can’t access the server.
When to not email WebAssign?
For questions on the content of a particular homework assignment or any math related questions,
you will email me at gacosta@valenciacollege.edu , not WebAssign support.
Technical Notes:
You will submit all required online homework assignments for this class via WebAssign.
Therefore, make sure that your computer does not block your access to WebAssign.
(1) Pop-ups
You need to turn off your computer's pop-up blockers when you are working on your homework
assignments. Below are links to instructions on how to disable common pop-up blockers:
 Internet Explorer's pop-up blocker
 Safari and Firefox on Mac Pop-up Blocker
 Firefox's pop-up blocker
 Google Chrome's pop-up blocker
 Google Toolbar's pop up blocker
 Yahoo Toolbar's pop-up blocker
(2) You will also need the latest version of Java. Not having this will prevent the equation
editor box to appear, and you will need this to answer some questions. Java is free to
download. Get the latest version at: http://java.com
Online Instruction Delivery System (Course Platform):
To be able to take this course, you must have a computer with Internet access and -of coursemust know how to use it. This course is delivered via Blackboard and WebAssign. You will
complete your math lessons and online homework using WebAssign, and take all your tests via
Blackboard.
Course Access: Blackboard 9.1 (BB = Blackboard Learn 9.1 throughout this document.)
BB course page: http://learn.valenciacollege.edu/
Login for BB: Use your ATLAS Username and Password
Graphing Calculator Online Workshop:
In addition to all the resources posted in Blackboard to help you with the graphing calculator, I
am planning to offer an online workshop on the use of this calculator, where I will give you a
"live" demonstration on how to use the grapher. Students will need to use the graphing
calculator throughout this course, including tests. I will be presenting this workshop via
GoToWebinar, a web conferencing tool that will allow us to meet online.
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The graphing calculator webinar will be scheduled towards the end of the second week of
classes. As soon as the term begins, it is important that you check your Atlas email and/or
Blackboard announcements for details on how to register for this online "live" graphing
calculator workshop. This graphing calculator workshop is optional and it is not a mandatory
activity for this class. However, please consider taking advantage of this learning opportunity; it
will definitely help you!
Attendance Policy:
Due to the nature of this online course, on-campus attendance in the traditional sense cannot be
enforced. However, the frequency of your visitations to the course sites will be monitored.
In the event of an extended absence -that is, not logging onto course sites (BB and/or
WebAssign) for more than 3 days, or not replying to my emails in a timely manner (within 48
hours)- you must contact me as soon as possible to indicate the reason for the inactivity. Before
the withdrawal deadline, if your absences become extreme (3 days or more), you may receive an
excessive absence notification and may be withdrawn from this course for noncompliance with
the requisites of the course.
After the withdrawal deadline, you cannot -for any reason- withdraw from this course and
obtain a grade of “W.” *Please check the "No-Show" policy on page 11 for more details on
online attendance requirements.
Communications:
This is an online course; therefore, we will communicate mainly electronically, via Valencia's
email. You must check your ATLAS emails and the course announcements (BB) regularly as to
not miss any important messages from the instructor!
You will always use my email address to communicate with me:
gacosta@valenciacollege.edu
Please remember to include “Acosta-Online 1033” on the subject line of the email, followed by
the nature of your message, so that your email will have priority. To protect my computer from
any virus, I will delete without opening any email with no subject. All communications should
follow appropriate etiquette. Email should be used in a professional way. Always put identifying
information in the subject line. Use appropriate language and include your name so that I know
who you are. If you call my office and wish to leave me a voice mail, please repeat your name
and telephone number twice; voicemail is used best if you leave a concise, but detailed message.
IMPORTANT: Since I am not always in my office, an email will have a faster response than
a voicemail. I will be sending all my communications to your Valencia email account; please
remember that you must delete old messages from your mailbox. If you exceed the quota, your
Valencia mailbox will not accept any more and you will not receive my daily/weekly emails. I
have no control of your email account, so please check this regularly.
Be sure to check your Valencia email at least 2-3 times a week (daily during the first weeks
of the term!). It is recommended that you do not forward your Valencia mail to an outside
account like hotmail or yahoo, etc. due to the fact that email from Valencia may be tagged as
spam, therefore not delivered. If you decide to forward your Valencia email to a personal
email account, make sure that it is not rejected!
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All emails and/or phone calls will receive my response in a timely fashion. You should expect
my reply within a 24-48hr period, excluding Saturdays and Sundays (unless there is an
emergency). If time permits, I will also get back to you during weekends. On the other hand,
when you receive any email from me that requires your response, I expect you to reply in a
timely fashion as well. Again, I will be communicating with you on a regular basis,
therefore, it is crucial that you check your emails and any announcements via BB
frequently, so that you are always on track.
Not checking my emails or BB announcements will not be accepted as an excuse for missing
required tasks; missed announcements and/or emails may affect your grade and are the
responsibility of the student.
Work Requirement:
Instruction in this course does not involve classroom lectures. You will complete your math
lessons and online homework using WebAssign, and take all your tests via Blackboard. The
course in WebAssign will be available January 6, 2016, and you will have a grace period through
January 19, 2016. (Once this grace period is over, you must enter your WebAssign Access Code
to gain access to your math lessons and remain in this class.)
In this online course, you will learn the math concepts and contexts via the e-book assignments
in WebAssign, media content and homework assignments, handouts, worksheets, and lab
activities. (Acquiring a hard-copy of the textbook is optional and not required.) This course will
cover material from Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8. Appendix C will provide you with additional help
on using the graphing calculator.
In Blackboard, you will find a Course Material Guide for each unit that you will study in this
course. This guide indicates the required examples, practice problems, and homework you need
to complete for each test. Do not spend time on material that is not assigned. Please follow the
Course Material Guide and you will be fine.
This course's approach has the potential to accommodate your individual learning style. All
instructional materials used throughout the course, as well as the scheduled activities, support
and promote the achievement of the stated learning outcomes and unit learning objectives. (You
can find the course learning outcomes and unit learning objectives on the BB page.) I will act as
facilitator and will guide you in your learning experience.
Assessment and Course Evaluation (read this section carefully!):
All assessments/evaluation procedures are consistent with the educational activities and will
appropriately measure the stated course learning outcomes and unit learning objectives.
1) Using the-book (in WebAssign) and the Course Material Guide, you will study the required
material and complete the assigned practice problems. Then you will complete Online
Homework problems in WebAssign for each section to be covered. Completion of homework is
crucial to student success in any math course! The online homework grade will count as a test
grade! Each homework set can be redone a maximum of 5 times; only the highest score will
count. The homework assignment will close once the corresponding deadline has passed. No
extensions will be granted.
Note: It is your responsibility to work ahead of the Weekly Schedule in order to build some
flexibility into the schedule. If you wait until the last minute to perform the required tasks, I am
not responsible for last minute technical difficulties, or other unforeseen circumstances.
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2) Lab Component for Online MAT 1033 - Completion of assigned lab activities that you can do
from home. These activities can be found in the Lab Activities folder in Blackboard (see course
Weekly Schedule for details). There are deadlines for each lab activity; check the Weekly
Schedule for all details and deadlines. The lab activities grade will count as a test grade!
How to submit your lab activities:
You will save your lab activity as a Word or pdf file and email the assignment. If you do not
have a scanner, you can email me photos of your lab worksheets using your smart phone, iPad or
other tablet, or other camera devices. You must receive a receipt confirmation email from me
every time you send your lab activities. Without a confirmation email from me, your assignment
has not been received (please wait 24-48 hours to receive a confirmation from me).
3) Tests: You will take a total of 4 tests: 2 Unit Tests, a Midterm Exam, and a Final Exam.
Absolutely no extensions will be granted. Each test can only be taken once. No retakes are
allowed. Calculator will be allowed.
a. Unit Tests (take-home tests): You may take each Unit Test from your home computer; no
password is needed. The tests will be submitted electronically via Blackboard. Once you have
logged in, under the course menu, you will find each test by clicking the folder “Assessments
(TESTS).” Unit Tests must be completed by 11:59 PM (E.S.T.), no later than the specified
deadline indicated on the Weekly Schedule.
There will be a 120-minute time limit for each Unit Test. Problems not answered within the
time limit will be counted as incorrect. As you answer each Unit Test questions, I suggest that
you save your answer after each problem you have completed. Even if you save your answers,
you can go always go back and change them. Make sure you select “Save All Answers,” and
click on “Save and Submit.” Immediately, the computer will give you the test score.
b. Midterm Exam and Final Exam (proctored exams-testing center): The Midterm Exam
and the Final Exam must be taken at one of the testing centers at Valencia College or an
approved proctored site (prearrangement is required for the latter). The Midterm and Final
Exams are closed book/notebook. No notes or formulas will be allowed. You will be allowed to
use paper and pencil for calculations, of course. The testing center will provide the scratch paper,
which will be collected. You cannot take the Midterm or Final Exam from home! However,
you can take these exams (at the testing center) at any day/time that is convenient to you, no later
than the specified deadlines. The Midterm Exam and the Final Exam have no time limit. I
recommend that you allow at least two hours to take each of these tests (two hours or more).
Again, since there is no time limit for these proctored exams, there should be no reason to leave
any question unanswered because you ran out of time!
Some testing centers change their hours of operations without any previous notice. Failing to
check this will not be accepted as excuse for missing either of these two exams! Here is a link to
Valencia's testing centers. It provides information on their locations, contact information, and
hours of operation: Testing Centers - Valencia College
Caution: Some testing centers have shorter hours of operation, or do not open on weekends.
You are responsible for checking your chosen testing center hours of operation before you
take the Midterm Exam and the Final Exam.
If you have a special request for another testing site (i.e. not at Valencia) you need to let me
know as well; should this be your case, please refer to the Testing Proctoring Guidelines link
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found in BB. You need to inform me about your preferred testing site during the first week
of classes. Students living in the vicinity of one of the Valencia Campuses must take the
tests at Valencia.
You will take each test/exam after completion of the assigned lessons and practice problems
stated on the Course Material Guide, and the corresponding study guide. (You will find a study
guide for each assessment in Blackboard.)
All tests/exams must be taken according to the Weekly Schedule (found in BB). You can take
all tests/exams at any time on or before the deadline date, but never after! No extensions will be
granted.
If you wait until the last minute to take a test, I am not responsible for last minute technical
difficulties, including availability of Internet connection to Blackboard, accessibility to a
computer at your selected testing center (for proctored exams), etc.
I highly recommend that you never wait until the due date to take a test. Tests will be
available about 10 days prior to the corresponding deadline.
Taking the Midterm Exam and Final Exam (proctored tests-testing center):
By the first Wednesday of the term, you must send me an email with the campus/testing site
where you will be taking your Midterm and Final Exams. Without this email, I will not know
where to send the test instructions, and you will not be able to take them.
If you are testing outside Valencia, you should make proctoring arrangements during the first
week of classes. See the Testing Proctoring Guidelines link in BB. (Students living in the
vicinity of one of the Valencia Campuses must take their Midterm and Final Exams at
Valencia.)
The tests will be submitted electronically via Blackboard at the testing center. Once you have
logged in, under the course menu you will find the Midterm Exam and the Final Exam by
clicking the folder “Assessments (TESTS).” The testing center personnel or proctor will type a
password for you.
Caution: Some campuses have limited hours, or change their hours of operation without notice.
I recommend that you call them before taking your tests. Again, not knowing the hours of
operation of your chosen testing center will not be accepted as an excuse for missing the
Midterm or Final Exam, or not having enough time to complete it!
As you answer the Midterm or Final Exam questions at the testing center, I suggest that you save
your answer after each problem you have completed. By doing this, if the power goes out you
will not lose your work. Even if you save your answers, you can go always go back and change
them. Make sure you select “Save All Answers,” and click on “Save and Submit.” Immediately,
the computer will give you the test score.
NOTE: You are responsible for making sure that the test is submitted. Should you have any
technical difficulties, you must alert a Testing Center staff member immediately! The Testing
Center specialist must contact me and explain any technical problem encountered. Make sure this
procedure is strictly followed. If the Testing Center specialist does not corroborate the problem,
you will receive a score of zero if the test is not submitted properly. It is your responsibility to
inform me immediately of any issue encountered while taking a test. Notifying me afterwards
will not be an acceptable excuse.
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Important: Since all tests have problems from test banks, you can only see your tests in my
office after the tests deadlines. I will be glad to discuss your test performance during my office
hours. I cannot give you a copy of the tests for you to review. Again, you can only review your
test performance during my office hours after the test deadline, and before the due date for
the next test.
4) You will also be required to study 2 handouts provided by Dr. Acosta (in Blackboard). These
handouts will also contain practice problems of the corresponding material; these exercises will
not be collected. The answer key will be provided so that you can check your work. (See the
Weekly Schedule for more details.) Some tests will contain material from these handouts!
Therefore, please do not take the handouts lightly! You will be tested on this material as
well! Note: This class is Blackboard-based, thus handouts and any other documents will be
downloaded from the course Blackboard site.
Study Guides for Tests
a. You will find a Study Guide for each test in the course’s BB site. Each study guide includes
sample problems. Keep in mind that only doing the sample problems will not be enough to learn
the material and pass the course.
b. You will also find a practice test for the proctored Midterm Exam and Final Exam. These
practice tests will not count towards your grade in MAT 1033. Each practice test will help you
prepare for the exam, and you can take it from the comforts of your home, no password needed.
Once you log in to BB, under the course menu click the folder “Assessments (TESTS),” where
you will find the aforementioned practice tests.
Make-Up Policy: NO make-up tests will be given.
If you miss one Unit Test or the Midterm Exam, the Final Exam's score may replace the missed
test. If a test grade is replaced with the Final Exam's grade, this means that the Final Exam will
count double. Only one test can be replaced during the academic term. If you miss more than
one test, for any reason, you can only replace one test score with the Final Exam's score; any
other missed test will receive a score of zero. No exceptions! Failure to take the Final Exam will
automatically result in an F grade.
Grades: The final grade for this course will be derived from the following sources:
Unit Test #1 (take-home test)
100 points
Midterm Exam (testing center)
100 points
Unit Test #2 (take-home test)
100 points
Final Exam (testing center)
100 points
Online Homework(total WebAssign)
100 points
Lab Component
100 points
The grading scale is as follows:
A 90-100%
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
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D 60-69%
F Below 60%
What it takes to earn each grade:
A
540-600 points
B
480-539 points
*C
420-479 points
D
360-419 points
F
0-359 points
* Minimum grade to pass MAT 1033
You can compute, at any time, the grade you have in this course by adding your total number of
points (including tests, homework score, and lab), then dividing by the total points possible.
Extra Help:
In addition to receiving help from your instructor, you should try to attend your respective
campus math support area. The tutoring services provided by Valencia's math support centers
will help you clarify course content. You can work on any specific Intermediate Algebra
questions and you can get help with your required homework problems. All Valencia’s math
support centers are very helpful. Valencia also offers free online tutoring (7 days/week, 24
hours/day), which is an excellent resource for online students. You can find the SmartThinking
link in Blackboard and in Atlas.
Math Help 24/7:
This Valencia website provides links to video tutorials created by Valencia math professors. The
videos use a variety of technologies, and all simple to view. This link will take you there:
http://valenciacollege.edu/math/liveScribe.cfm (Copy and paste the link to your browser if needed.)
Once you are on the website, you only need to look for the course Intermediate Algebra and it
will take you to specific videos for this class. HELPFUL SITE!
Extra Credit:
You can do the online homework more than once (up to 5 times!). You can earn additional credit
for discussion board postings for each test (see Blackboard for details). If you have taken all
required tests, the Final Exam's score may replace your lowest test grade, if it is to your
advantage. Consider this your extra credit. Please do not ask for any additional extra credit.
Valencia ID Cards:
Valencia identification cards are required for the Testing Center and Valencia's student support
services, including the Library. No other form of ID at those locations will be accepted.
Possession and utilization of a Valencia ID is mandatory in order to obtain these services. Your
student ID card can be obtained in the Security office on any Campus once you have registered
and paid for your classes. The first student ID card is free. There is a $5 fee for a replacement
card.
Computer/Equipment Use Policy:
Use of computers at Valencia College is restricted to those activities designated by the instructor
to enhance the class materials. Any other use is strictly forbidden. Inappropriate use includes, but
is not limited to:
Use of computer to send email or access Internet sites not specifically assigned in class.
Use of computer for job, internship, homework or other activities not assigned in class.
Modifying any hardware or software system configuration or setting.
Activities not in accordance with the Valencia Student Code of Conduct.
Use of computers in the departmental open lab is limited to those activities involved with
preparing homework or coursework in this department and is subject to the same restriction as
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listed above. Computer use is remotely monitored; any student using computers inappropriately
may be subject to dismissal from class or banishment from the lab. Subsequent offense may be
sent to the campus administration for further disciplinary action.
Rules and Tips for Taking Tests at the Testing Center
You will need at least 2 hours to complete the proctored Midterm and Final Exams. Whether you
are taking your tests at East Campus or another campus, you are responsible for finding out
their hours of operation. Here is a link to Valencia's Testing Centers. It provides information on
their locations, contact information, and hours of operation: Testing Centers - Valencia College
* Bring your Valencia issued Photo ID, otherwise, you will not be given the test! Not having a
Valencia ID is not an excuse for missing a test!
* The proctored Midterm and Final Exams are closed book/notebook. No notes or formulas are
allowed.
* Do not bring food or beverages to the testing center.
* Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off and stowed away during testing. If
your phone rings you will be asked to stop testing and sign out; you will not be able to retake the
test. Ouch! Do not let this happen to you!
* Do not bring a TI-89, TI-92, TI-Nspire-CAS, Voyage 200 or any other graphing calculators
that do symbolic manipulations to the testing center. These will not be accepted!
* All memory and programs should be erased from your calculator before taking tests.
* Allow enough time to take a test. The Valencia Testing Centers will not give a test the last hour
before closing (for example, if the Center closes at 9:00 p.m., the last test is given out at 8:00
p.m.; it will not give a Final Exam within two hours of closing.)
* In addition to these rules, your instructor’s test policies will apply.
Academic Honesty:
All students are expected to be in complete compliance with Valencia College’s policies on
academic honesty; see the Valencia College website for details on this policy: Academic Policies
and Procedures). Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to: plagiarism, cheating,
furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of documents, misconduct during a
testing situation and misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive. In no instance will
dishonesty of any type be tolerated in this course. Students who violate any of Valencia’s
academic honesty policies will risk penalties that can go from receiving a grade of “F” to
dismissal from class and/or expulsion from the college. The professor reserves the right to
determine the appropriate penalties within the aforementioned policies
Student Code of Conduct:
Valencia College is dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning but is
concerned with the development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at
Valencia, a student assumes the responsibility for knowing and abiding by the rules articulated in
the Student Code of Conduct, 6Hx28:10-03; students are required to see the Valencia Catalog for
full details (here is a link to Valencia's Catalog: http://valenciacollege.edu/catalog/). The primary
responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Students who
engage in any prohibited or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by
the faculty member to leave the class. Violation of any classroom or Valencia’s rules may lead
to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from Valencia. Disciplinary action could
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include being withdrawn from class, disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, or
other appropriate and authorized actions. In addition, Valencia College strives to provide a drugfree learning environment for all those involved in the academic experience.
Policy: In compliance with the provisions of the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities
Act of 1989, Valencia College will take such steps as are necessary in order to adopt and
implement a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and
alcohol by Valencia College students or employees on college premises or as part of any college
activity. The student code of conduct applies to the online classroom environment as well.
Withdrawal:
If you decide to withdraw from this course, you must follow the proper ATLAS procedure.
Students should familiarize themselves with Valencia College’s withdrawal policy. The
withdrawal deadline for this term is April 1, 2016. Per Valencia Withdrawal Policy, a student
cannot withdraw and obtain a grade of W after this deadline. After this withdrawal
deadline, students will only receive a letter grade of A, B, C, D or F.
No-Show Policy!
Important: The U.S. Department of Education requires online students to show attendance by
submitting homework during the first week of classes. The Department of Education has made it
clear that simply logging into an online course does not constitute attendance as an
"academically-related activity." To comply with this Federal law in my class, you must
successfully complete the following assignments:
(1) By the first Wednesday of the term: Send me your first email homework. (Check Blackboard
for details!) Your email must come from your official Valencia email address, and include your
chosen campus for taking your proctored tests. If one of the above is missing, your email will
be returned, and you will have not complied with this assignment.
(2) By the second Tuesday of the term: Complete the Student Introduction assignment, found in
the "Discussions" section in BB.
(3) By the second Tuesday of the term: Complete - with 100% - the Syllabus Quiz found in
Blackboard, and
(4) By the second Tuesday of the term: Complete at least one Online Homework in WebAssign
with a score of at least 80%.
Any student that does not comply with the Federal requirement -as specified above- will be
dropped from the course as a No-Show.
Important Note: The Syllabus Quiz score will not count towards your final average in this class;
however, this quiz is a class requirement, and is one of several factors that validate your
attendance to this online course within the No-Show policy.
Important Dates:
First day of classes/course site available in Blackboard: Monday, January 11, 2016
WebAssign opens: Wednesday, January 6, 2016
WebAssign grace period ends: Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Campus email-first assignment deadline: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 (deadline: 11:59 PM)
Dept. of Education Attendance Requirement deadline: Tuesday, January 19, 2016 (11:59 PM)
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No-Show requisites deadline: Tuesday, January 19, 2016 (11:59 PM)
Drop/Refund deadline: Tuesday, January 19, 2016 (11:59 PM)
Withdrawal deadline: Friday, April 1, 2016 (11:59 PM)
the withdrawal deadline.
No "W" grade will be given after
Final Exam deadline (Testing Center): Monday, April 25, 2016.
Academic Support:
In addition to the computer lessons, and guidance and assistance from your instructor, you have
supplementary academic support:
1. Tutors can be assigned to students through the Tutoring Center.
2. Math Support Center (walk in tutoring) Great Help!
3. Web links that will provide math help are available in our BB math site.
4. Math Help 24/7 (See page 9 on this syllabus for details.)
5. Online Tutoring (See Blackboard and/or Atlas for link.)
Here is a link to the tutoring services: http://valenciacollege.edu/tutoring
This link will provide you information on our math resources: http://valenciacollege.edu/math
For computer lab hours, click here: http://valenciacollege.edu/labs
Math SPA: http://faculty.valenciacollege.edu/rweinsier/
Blackboard Support:
For BB issues, please email onlinehelp@valenciacollege.edu
WebAssign Support (technical issues only):
For WebAssign, call (800) 955-8275.
*For your online homework assignments, tests, and math course content issues or any
other matters related to my class, please contact me at gacosta@valenciacollege.edu
I encourage you to form study groups via the Discussion Board and the Chat Room in BB to help
each other with the math lessons, homework, handouts, lab work, and study guides.
Student with Disabilities:
Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a
letter from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs
with the professor, preferably during the first week of class. The Office for Students with
Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. The
goal at the OSD is to open doors, remove barriers and assist you in any way they can. The key to
success is matching your needs to the services provided. Please discuss your individual needs
with your instructor. Valencia’s OSD can be found online at http://valenciacollege.edu/osd
OSD contact information per campus:
East: Bldg. 5, Rm. 216, Ph: 407-582-2229, Fax: 407-582-8908, TTY: 407-582-1222
West: SSB, Rm. 102, Ph: 407-582-1523, Fax: 407-582-1326, TTY: 407-582-1222
Osceola: Bldg. 2, Rm. 102, Ph: 407-582-4167, Fax: 407-582-4804, TTY: 407-582-1222
Winter Park: Bldg.1, Rm. 212, Ph: 407-582-6887, Fax: 407-582-6841, TTY: 407-582-1222
For Lake Nona appointments, please call OSD East Campus.
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Student Support Services:
Here are some links that you can use for additional help in areas that affect your learning
experience at Valencia, such as advising, registration, financial aid, and others:
Answer center: Student Services Office - Valencia College
Career and educational goals: LifeMap - Valencia College
For general information on all student and academic services: Students Directory
For assistance with planning your class schedule, please visit with an academic advisor (if you
are seeking an Associate in Arts degree) or with a Career Program Advisor (if you are seeking an
Associate in Science degree).
Student Assistance Program:
Valencia College is interested in making sure all our students have a rewarding and successful
college experience. To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help with issues
dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time
management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work. BayCare
Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (SAP) services are free to all Valencia students
and available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 878-5470. Free face-to-face counseling is also
available.
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
FERPA is a Federal law that is administered by the Family Policy Compliance Office in the U.S.
Department of Education (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99). FERPA affords eligible students
certain rights with respect to their educational records. Valencia College has a firm commitment
to protecting the privacy rights of its students. For further information on FERPA see:
http://valenciacollege.edu/ferpa/default.cfm#whatis
Caution:
(1) The last day to send me the Campus email is the first Wednesday of this term.
(2) The last day to do the Student Introduction, the Syllabus Quiz, and one online homework
with at least 80%, is the second Tuesday of this term.
After this date, if you have not completed these tasks, you will be withdrawn from the
course (as a No-Show).
Course Completion: Students enrolled in the same college-level course at Valencia more than
two times shall pay the full cost (100%) of instruction fee (you will have to pay out-of-state
tuition after your second attempt). Please see a counselor or advisor if you must repeat a course
for the third time.
Valencia Student Feedback on Instruction (SFI): Near the end of the term, you will receive an
invitation through your Valencia email account asking you to complete the Student Feedback on
Instruction (SFI). This is a survey which provides us with feedback on your experience in this.
Student names are not included in the results –your responses will be anonymous. You will get
an email from Valencia informing you when the SFI survey will open.
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Disclaimer:
Changes in the syllabus, course topics and contents, teaching/learning procedures and requisites,
weekly schedule, course material guide, lab activities, assessment and evaluation procedure,
homework assignments, worksheets, and/or any other document or instruction provided or
assigned by the professor may be made at any time at the discretion of Dr. Acosta.
IMPORTANT:
Please check the Weekly Schedule and the Course Material Guide in
the course content area in Blackboard (BB) for all tasks and
deadlines!
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