General Syllabus
ACA 115 – First Year Seminar

Please refer to the class instructor's syllabus addendum for class assignments, test make-up policy, specific evaluation weights, and other class specific information.

Required Text:  A-B Tech’s First Year Seminar Book

Goal:

This course provides an orientation to the campus resources and academic skills necessary to achieve educational objectives.  Emphasis is placed on an exploration of facilities and services, study skills, library skills, self-assessment, wellness, goal-setting, and critical thinking.  Upon completion, students should be able to manage their learning experiences to successfully meet education goals.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

1. Learn study skills for academic success
   1. Manage time effectively allowing for proper study time as well as leisure time.
   2. Create list of long-term and short term goals.
   3. Understand personal learning style and apply various coursework to suit style.
   4. Take effective notes on lectures and reading material.
   5. Learn techniques for enhancing memory.
   6. Read textbook material quickly and effectively.
   7. Write standard essays encompass format, organization, and coherence.
   8. Overcome test anxiety by utilizing relaxation techniques.
   9. Become familiar with the critical thinking and problem solving process.
   10. Boost creative thinking skills.
2. Learn about campus and virtual campus resources
   1. Become familiar with the services provided by the department of Student Services.
   2. Use the library for research.
   3. Understand the services available in the writing labs, math lab, and computer labs on campus.
   4. Know the clubs and organizations associated with Student Government.
   5. Understand the structure of the educational system, student rights, appeals and credit by examination.
   6. Become exposed to on-line courses and distance education.
3. Create an educational plan project
   1. Write essays pertaining to individual learning styles, past educational and work-related experience, and personal goals.
   2. Research differences between AA, AS, and AAS degrees.
   3. Research professional outlooks, responsibilities, and salary ranges.
   4. Prepare semester-by-semester course plan from the present to expected graduation.
   5. Research transfer requirements and university programs.

Reinforcement Experiences

1. Communicate effectively in speaking, writing, reading and/or listening.
2. Locate, evaluate, and use information to analyze problems and make logical decisions.
4. Demonstrate basic competency in computer technology.
5. Demonstrate an appreciation of the various manifestations of cultural diversity.
6. Demonstrate the ability to succeed as a self-directed learner.
7. Apply critical thinking skills in analyzing the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, aesthetic or philosophical factors that influence personal development

Cross-Curriculum Competencies:

Assessment and Evaluation:

Grades will be awarded based on the standard 10 point scale (i.e. 90% - 100% = A, etc), using weighted averaging of tests, quizzes, projects, group work, and participation.  Instructors are encouraged to use the following scale:

Class Attendance

Regular and punctual class attendance is expected of all students for them to achieve their potential in class and to develop desirable personal traits necessary to succeed in employment. Instructional time missed is a serious deterrent to learning. Students are responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the course by attending and completing course assignments. An accurate record of class attendance will be kept.

If instructional time is missed for excusable reasons, the student will be permitted to make up work to the extent possible. Because of the nature of some learning experiences, especially clinics, labs and shops, it is difficult, if not impossible to duplicate the work of the class. In some courses, absence or tardiness of an individual may be a major disruption to the performance of others in the class or an inconvenience to other organizations such as hospitals and clinics. The faculty may develop guidelines for advance notice of absences, makeup of work, etc. Students will be informed of guidelines at the beginning of the course.

To receive course credit, a student should attend a minimum of 80% of the contact hours of the class. Upon accumulating absences exceeding 20% of the course contact hours, the student may be dropped from the class and will be awarded a grade of "U," unless the student follows the official withdrawal procedure before the grade of "U" is recorded. A tardy is defined as arriving late for class, leaving early, or being away from class without permission during class hours. Three tardies may constitute one absence.

It is the joint responsibility of the student and instructor to discuss attendance patterns that will endanger the success of the student in the course. If it appears that a student will not be able to complete a course successfully, the instructor may advise the student to withdraw no later than the official withdrawal date at the 75% point of the class.

Inclement Weather Schedule

The College will close when weather conditions are such that driving is hazardous.

The following procedure will be observed for inclement weather conditions:

1. Announcements concerning school operation will be made by 6:30 am on local radio and TV stations for day classes. A voice mail message will be recorded on the switchboard. If it appears that ice or snow may be cleared by mid-morning, the schedule below will be followed and all College personnel and students should report by 10am.

Important: If weather conditions become worse after the 6:30am announcement, an additional announcement closing school for the day will be made no later than 8:30am.

2. Closing or delaying the day programs does not automatically close evening classes. Announcements will be made on radio stations and the College switchboard no later than 3pm concerning the evening classes.
3. When weather conditions dictate early dismissal of the day or evening classes, the announcement will be made by telephone to each building on campus.
4. Commuters should exercise personal judgment concerning highway conditions regardless of College announcements, particularly those commuting from outlying areas.
5. Adjustments in the College calendar for days missed because of inclement weather will be made at the end of the semester.
6. Oak Student Center will open at 8am for early arrivals.

Activity Day Schedule

This schedule will be used for most approved and announced student activities.

Code of Class Room Conduct

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is an institution for adult learning. It is a partnership between instructors with the desire to teach and students with the desire to learn. In order to create an appropriate environment for teaching and learning to flourish, there must be respect for the instructor and fellow students. Listed below are guidelines for classroom behavior which the College has established to ensure that the learning environment is not compromised.

1. Attendance: You are expected to be in class the entire class time. Do not enter late or leave early. Rare exceptions may be excused, particularly under emergency circumstances, but you should be prepared to explain your tardiness to the instructor after class. Likewise, the need to leave early should be explained to the instructor before class.
2. Absences: Inform the instructor in advance, if you know you are going to miss a class. Also, take responsibility for getting missed assignments from other students. Do not expect that you will be allowed to make up work, such as unannounced quizzes or tests, after an absence. Instructors are not responsible for re-teaching the material you missed because of absence.
3. Conversation: Do not carry on side conversations in class.
4. Other Activities: You may not work on other activities while in class. This includes homework for other courses or other personal activities.
5. Internet: In classes where Internet access is provided, you may use the Internet for valid, academic purposes only. You may not use it for open access to other non-academic sites which are unrelated to the course.
6. Sleep: Do not sleep in class.
7. Attitude: You are expected to maintain a civil attitude in class. You may not use inappropriate or offensive commentary or body language to show your attitude regarding the course, the instructor, assignments, or fellow students.
8. Profanity and Offensive Language: You may not use profanity or offensive language in class.
9. Cell phones and beepers: You may not receive or send telephone calls or pages during class. You are responsible for turning off cell phones and beepers upon entering class.
10. Guests: You may not bring unregistered friends or children to class.
11. Food, Drink, Tobacco Products: You may not have food or drink in class. You may not use tobacco products in the buildings of A-B Tech.
12. Personal Business: You may need to transact personal business with the instructor, asking him or her to sign forms. Plan to do this before instruction begins or after class.

Academic Dishonesty

You may not deceive any official of the college by cheating on any assignment, exam, or paper. This includes plagiarism, which is the intentional theft or unacknowledged use of another’s words or ideas. Plagiarism includes (but is not limited to) paraphrasing or summarizing another’s words or works without proper acknowledgement, using direct quotes of material without proper acknowledgement, or purchasing or using a paper or presentation written or produced by another. The faculty at A-B Tech may also consider presenting as original work a paper written for one class to satisfy a requirement in another class to be academic dishonesty.

Students with Special Needs

If you are a student with a disability and want to request academic accommodations (i.e., a notetaker, extended time on tests, or alternate testing), you must register with the Disability Services Office in the Azalea Building or by making an appointment by calling 254-1921 ext.141 or by email at   Aclingenpeel@abtech.edu.  This is the campus office responsible for reviewing documentation provided by students requesting academic accommodations, and for accommodations planning in cooperation with students and instructors, as needed and is consistent with course requirements