New Student Experience

SLS 1122 NEW STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Spring 2015/ 3 credit course

COURSE OVERVIEW: New Student Experience is designed to help first-year students adjust to the college, develop a better understanding of the learning process, and acquire essential academic success skills. The course provides a general orientation to the functions and resources of the college and also provides a support group for students transitioning to college by examining problems common to the first-year experience. Attaining an appropriate balance between personal freedom and social responsibility underlies all New Student Experience activities.

CORE COMPETENCIES OF A VALENCIA GRADUATE: Valencia’s Student Core Competencies are complex abilities that are essential to lifelong success. This course will help you develop and demonstrate the abilities to (1) think clearly, critically, and creatively; (2) communicate with others verbally and in written form; (3) make reasoned value judgments and responsible commitments; and (4) act purposefully, reflectively, and responsibly.

MAJOR LEARNING OUTCOMES: • Students will create a personal purpose statement that outlines and articulates their values, goals, interests, and strengths in relation to their educational and career aspirations. • Students will choose an academic program aligned with their educational/career goals, interests, strengths, and values. • Students will design an education plan that include goals for learning and a financial plan. • Students will apply college success skills. • Students will demonstrate effective communication skills with diverse groups. • Students will demonstrate awareness of college support systems EMAIL: Communication between the student and the college will be through your official VALENCIA COLLEGE email address ([email protected]), it is your responsibility to check this daily.

BLACKBOARD: You are also expected to check your Blackboard account regularly. You need to familiarize yourself with blackboard, not knowing how to use Blackboard is not an excuse to miss assignments, deadlines, etc. Check this account regularly. Readings and announcements will be posted there as needed. Grades will also be posted as soon as possible. SYALLUBUS CLAUSE AND CONTRACT This syllabus may be revised and adapted throughout the semester to better serve the needs of the class. The instructor may assign additional reading and/or assignments as needed. Additionally, decision to remain in this class upon receipt of this syllabus serves as student’s acceptance of this syllabus as a binding contract, meaning they agree with the terms set forth and the expectations of them as members of the class.

CLASS PARTICIPATION & ATTENDANCE:

Disclaimer: This syllabus and course calendar are subject to change. A revised syllabus may be issued at the discretion of the instructor. Class participation is a VITAL component of this course and will affect your class participation grade. Participation in class discussion is expected and encouraged. Students are responsible for all work presented when they are absent and also responsible for any announcements made in class.

Students are expected to attend EACH scheduled class meeting, TO BE ON TIME, to be PREPARED, and remain in class for the entire time unless prior permission has been given by the instructor to leave early. Each absence will result in a deduction of points from your participation grade. 1st absence (-5), 2nd absence (-15), 3rd absence (-25), any further absences could result in being withdrawn from the course or lowering your final grade by one letter.

TARDINESS/TALKING: Tardiness/Talking is considered rude and is unacceptable. Late arrival to class interrupts both your instructor and fellow students. Students who persist on being tardy or leaving early will have (-10) deducted from their participation grade for each occurrence. No student will be admitted to the course after the first 15 min have transpired. At that point you are considered absent. Remember it is your responsibility to contact your instructor in advance any time you will miss class.

MAKEUP/LATE WORK: All assignments must be received by the published due date in order to receive full credit. Assignments may be submitted via Blackboard ONLY unless others wise instructed. Assignments should be submitted on time, typed 12 point font, and Times New Roman. Mandatory assignments are the only assignments accepted late (-25 per day it is late)

EXPECTATIONS OF CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: o Respect for the instructors and fellow students o Be responsible for yourself and kind to others o Adherence to assignment deadlines and expectations o Participation and Preparation for class through discussion and activities o Drinks and snack items will be allowed in class (please do not bring your lunch/large food items). o Cell phones, PDAs, IPODs/IPADS and any other electronic device you have MUST be turned OFF o Please raise your hand and be acknowledged before you begin speaking and respect others when they are talking

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: The withdrawal deadline for receiving a non-punitive grade of “W” is March 27, 2015. During a first or second attempt in the same course at Valencia, if you with withdrawal or are withdrawn by the professor, you will receive a W (Withdrawn). You will not receive credit for the course, and the W will not be calculated in your grade point average; however, the enrollment will count in your total attempts in the specific course.

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT: Valencia College is dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning but it is concerned with the development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia College, a student assumes the responsibility for becoming familiar with and abiding by the general rules of conduct. 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 classroom. Violation of any classroom or Valencia’s rules may lead to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from Valencia. Disciplinary action could include being withdrawn from class, disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate and authorized actions. You will find the Student Code of Conduct in the current Valencia Student Handbook.

Disclaimer: This syllabus and course calendar are subject to change. A revised syllabus may be issued at the discretion of the instructor. You are expected to do all of your own work on all tests. Giving or receiving information concerning exam content is considered cheating. In NO instance will cheating of any type be tolerated. All work must be your own; any student involved in cheating or plagiarism (including the use of another student’s work) may receive a grade of “F” on a specific assignment, examination, or project, or may be assigned a grade of “F” for the course. The instructor(s) reserves the right to determine penalties within Valencia College's academic honesty policies.

STUDENTS 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 their professor(s), preferably during the first two weeks of class. The Office with Student Disabilities is located in SSB room 102.

FINAL EXAM: Your Final Exam is Your Final Story Project and will be presented on final exam day. THIS IS A MANDATORY ASSIGNMENT, failure to complete will result in receiving an F in the course.

BAY CARE: 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.

NSE COURSE POLICIES: Reading assignments: MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE CLASS PERIOD FOR WHICH THEY ARE DUE. Class discussion is based on reading; informed participation in discussion is expected. Writing and/or other homework will often accompany reading assignments and are due at the beginning of the class period. Assignments WILL NOT be accepted late without proper documentation. Hastily written work, without depth or thought, will be returned. The 1st occurrence can be resubmitted for a grade, all other occurrences will result in a loss of points.

Technology problems are no excuse for lateness (for example: “I don’t have internet at home….my computer broke…etc.). There are computer labs on campus for you to use. You must have your instructor’s permission before any work can be submitted via email and it must be in .doc or .docx format. Students are expected to bring all materials, book, pencil/pen and paper to each and every class.

Purpose Paper, Academic Planning Document, Co-Curricular Experience and Final Story Project are Mandatory‼ Failure to successfully complete any of these assignments will result in an “F” for the New Student Experience course!

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” -Vince Lombardi DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS

1ON1 MEETINGS: Each student will schedule 1 (10min) out of classroom meetings with the instructor. This meeting will be an opportunity for the students to discuss their final story project. Failure to attend this session will result in being marked absent for 2 (two) classes. No class will be held during this time.

Disclaimer: This syllabus and course calendar are subject to change. A revised syllabus may be issued at the discretion of the instructor. ACADEMIC PLANNING DOCUMENT The Academic Planning Document allows you to design and save your education plan to graduate from Valencia and to project the time in will take to complete your degree. You can use this to help select the courses you will enroll in each term. After reviewing their My Education Plan, you will research the institutions you plan to attend and create a plan of action that will be used for the successful completion of your degree.

CO-CURRICULAR EXPERIENCE The Co-Curricular Experience (CCE) are great opportunities for students to become engaged and involved their education outside of their academic courses. The focus of the program is to foster learning and development that complements a student's classroom curriculum as well as encourages them to become involved in a variety of co-curricular experiences. In this course you will have many opportunities to participate in and complete co- curricular experiences here at Valencia. STRENGTHS QUEST Strengths Quest provides students with the opportunity to explore their strengths and how they can be used to guide educational and career goals. This lesson will give students the opportunity the identify their strengths, reflect on how they might use their strengths to inform decisions about their education and career goal, and create a plan to use their strengths in their personal life and in their educational and professional careers.

PERSONAL PURPOSE PROJECT Each student will learn about purpose and will explore their personal purpose. You will then create a personal purpose presentation that outlines and articulates your values, goals, interests and strengths in relation to your educational and career aspirations.

FINAL EXAM- YOUR STORY PROJECT Your Final Exam is Your Final Story Project Presentation. These presentations will begin the last week of the term and complete on final exam day. ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED AT ALL PRESENTATIONS. It is your responsibility to be present and on time. If you do not attend the final project presentations without an approved absence, you will receive an “F” for the course. Likewise, if you do not present a final story project of your own, you will receive an F for the course.

THE FOLLOWING GRADING SCALE BELOW WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE YOUR FINAL GRADE:

Assignment Value Score LASSI Action Plan 20

Disclaimer: This syllabus and course calendar are subject to change. A revised syllabus may be issued at the discretion of the instructor. SSTM Chapter 1 10 SSTM Chapter 2 10 SSTM Chapter 3 10 SSTM Chapter 4 10 SSTM Chapter 5 10 SSTM Chapter 6 10 SSTM Chapter 7 10 SSTM Chapter 8 10 SSTM IMovie Trailer (Group Project) 25 Email Etiquette 10 Personal Purpose Project 60 Strengths Quest part 1 20 Strengths Quest part 2 20 Academic Planning Document (4 steps) 100 Career Interview 40 Time Management Reflection 30 Co-Curricular Experiences 75 Learning Support Module 20 Individual Budget/ Cost of College 50 Assignment My Plan Assessment & Reflection 20 Emotional Intelligence & Reflection 25 Final Exam – Your Story Project 200 Introductory Message (Discussion Board) 5 Attendance/Participation 200

LET’S BEGIN THE JOURNEY …

Disclaimer: This syllabus and course calendar are subject to change. A revised syllabus may be issued at the discretion of the instructor.