ENC 1121H Honors Composition I Policies

Dr. Gregory Byrd
Office: LA 161 Telephone: 791-2695 Email: byrd.greg@spcollege.edu
Office Hours: M 10-11, 12:15-4:00 W 10-11, 12:15-2, 3:30-4 T 10-11, 12:15-2
R 11-1:45 Fridays: No office hours. MW 12:30-1:50: Activity Period

In the event that we are displaced by a hurricane, the class will continue as an online class via the Angel learning environment. In this way, we may finish the class even if we are widely dispersed. At your earliest convenience after the storm, logon to Angel and follow my instructions.

Each day we have a reading from Dobrin or anywhere else, you will bring a one-page, double-spaced typed response to the reading in which you summarize and interact with the ideas in that chapter. This response will be collected in the beginning of class. Responses will receive one of three simple grades: 10, for a detailed and engaged response, 5 for a response that is too general, not engaged or too short, and 0 for a response not turned in on time or one that is wholly in adequate. These responses will help ensure that you complete the reading and that you understand the reading. Responses are worth 10% of your total grade.

I will, of course, give you grades on all the essays that you write. You may then revise those essays throughout the semester for a higher grade. We will grade the revisions in a 10-minute conference to which you must bring, along with your revision and previous drafts, at least a one-page evaluation of your revision in which you discuss the changes you made and explain how and why you think that they have improved the essay. I will assign grades on essays three times during the semester: 1. The first time you turn it in, 2. as a revision submitted in a conference two weeks after you receive your first graded draft, and 3. as revisions in the final portfolio. I urge you to continue to revise your essays throughout the semester and I will be available to help you with them during office hours.
If you receive a grade of C+ or less, you must discuss the paper with myself or with one of the English instructors or tutors in the Learning Support Center. Have that tutor or instructor write down the points you worked on and sign his or her name.

We will have several conferences throughout the semester for which we will cancel class. These conferences are required. Please stop by at any time, however, to discuss your work. Students often find conferences to be one of the best parts of the class and those who use conferences well often improve their writing most.

Registration has been extended through Tuesday, August 26^th. You may drop a course during the 1st week of class and be eligible for a refund. (See a counselor/advisor to finalize your schedule, so you won’t be left without the classes you want or need). You may not change from credit to audit status after the end of the first week of classes.

State policy specifies that students may not repeat a college credit course for which a grade of “C” or higher has been earned except by appeal to the campus Academic Appeals committee. You may repeat a college credit course one time without penalty. At the third attempt, you will pay the full cost of instruction. The full cost of instruction rate for 2008/2009 is $280.39 per credit hour. In addition, at the third attempt you may NOT receive a grade of “I,” “W,” or “X,” but must receive the letter grade earned. This grade will be averaged into your overall grade point average.

In January of 2008 the college implemented a new attendance policy. Revised Board of Trustees rule 6Hx23-4.30 replaces the information found on pages 136 and 137 in the Student Rights and Responsibilities section of the 2008/2009 Student Planner and Handbook.

Each instructor must exercise professional judgment to determine if you are actively participating in class. Faculty will publish their own personal participation/attendance policies in their syllabi. This policy will be used to determine grades. If you are not actively participating in class as defined in an instructor’s syllabus, you will be reported to the Administration during the week following the voluntary withdrawal date.

I will consider that you are not actively participating in class if you meet at least one of the following criteria: If you miss more than three consecutive classes or four classes total. If you fail to complete assignments for two consecutive weeks without contacting me and discussing your situation. If you disappear from class and do not maintain contact with me. If you are consistently disruptive, sleep in class or show consistent inattention to class lectures, discussions or activities.

Instructors will verify that you are in attendance during the first two weeks of class. If you are classified as a “No Show” for both of the first two weeks, you will be administratively withdrawn.

Immediately following the 60% point of the term, each instructor will verify which students are actively participating in class as defined in the course syllabus. If you are classified as not meeting the criteria for active class participation, you will be administratively withdrawn with a “WF.” You will be able to withdraw yourself at any time during the term. Requests submitted after the 60% deadline, however, will result in a “WF.” Both you and your instructor will automatically receive notification through SPC email whenever a withdrawal occurs.

FEDERAL GUIDELINES RELATED TO FINANCIAL AID AND TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COLLEGE

The U.S. Department of Education has implemented rules for students who obtain a Pell Grant, Stafford Loan, and/or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and subsequently totally withdraw from the College. The rule requires you to refund to the Department of Education a portion of your financial aid if you completely withdraw from St. Petersburg College prior to the 60% point in the term. You also may be required to repay funds to the College if you are identified as not actively participating in all of your classes, or if you do not receive at least one final passing grade (D or higher). Should you consider totally withdrawing from all classes before the published withdrawal date, it is important that you consult the Financial Assistance Services office on your home campus to understand your options and the consequences of total withdrawal.

St. Petersburg College has an Academic Honesty policy. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the policies, rules, and the consequences of violations. There is no tolerance for cheating and academic dishonesty. Discipline can range from a zero on a specific assignment to expulsion from the class with a grade of F. Note that copy/pasting published information, whether it's from your textbook or the Internet, without citing your source is plagiarism and violates this policy. Even if you change the words slightly the ideas are someone else's so you still have to cite your sources. Cheating, plagiarism, bribery, misrepresentation, conspiracy, and fabrication are defined in Board Rule 6Hx23-4.461. Student Affairs: Academic Honesty Guidelines, Classroom Behavior. http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/catalog/current/stu_affairs_honesty.htm

All electronic devices such as cell phones, beepers, pagers, and related devices are to be turned off prior to entering the classroom, library, and laboratories to avoid disruption. Use of any device in these areas is a violation of College Policy and subject to disciplinary action. If you use your cell phone in class, you will be asked to leave for the rest of the class period and your class period will be recorded as an absence for that day.

College computers are intended for academic work. Inappropriate use of computers during class time is prohibited. You should understand that you may be required to use the Internet for some courses. Furthermore, you may be required to have discussions of class assignments and share papers and other class materials with instructors and classmates via chat rooms and other mechanisms. Therefore, Internet users may be able to access your work whether the access is secured or unsecured. The College cannot protect you from the type of materials on the Internet or the potential piracy of your materials.

In the event that a hurricane or other natural disaster causes significant damage to St. Petersburg College facilities, you may be provided the opportunity to complete your course work online. Following the event, please visit the college Web site for an announcement of the College’s plan to resume operations.

You should familiarize yourself with the emergency procedures and evacuation routes located in the buildings you use frequently. Located in each classroom is an Emergency Response Guide (flip-chart) that contains information for proper actions in response to emergencies. You should be prepared to assess situations quickly and use good judgment in determining a course of action. You should evacuate to assembly areas in an orderly manner when an alarm sounds or when directed to do so by college faculty or staff or emergency services personnel. You may access additional emergency information by going to www.spcollege.edu/security. In face to face courses your instructor will review the specific campus plans for emergency events.

Federal and State law requires a person designated as a “sexual predator or offender” to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The FDLE is then required to notify the local law enforcement agency where the registrant resides, attends, or is employed by an institution of higher learning. Information regarding sexual predators or offenders attending or employed by an institution of higher learning may be obtained from the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for the particular campus by calling the FDLE hotline (1-888-FL-PREDATOR) or (1-888-357-7332), or by visiting the FDLE website at http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/homepage.do

If you wish to request accommodations as a student with a documented disability, please make an appointment with the Learning Specialist on campus. If you will need assistance during an emergency classroom evacuation, please contact your campus learning specialist immediately about arrangements for your safety. http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/catalog/Current/ossd.htm

There are libraries at various SPC sites. You may choose the one that is most convenient for you. You can also access library services online at http://www.spcollege.edu/central/libonline/

The ANGEL system will be completely unavailable due to scheduled maintenance from 7:00am November 11^th until Midnight November 12^th.

Free student transportation to the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art on SPC’s Tarpon Springs Campus will be available once each month during the Fall Term from the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus, the Clearwater Campus, and the Seminole Campus. Please visit your Student Activities Office to get departure times and to sign up for a trip to the museum. Transportation will be available on the following dates:

Tutoring/Study Skills Information: http://www.spcollege.edu/tsc/info_commons.htm

Technical Support Help Desk: 727-341-4357 http://www.spcollege.edu/helpdesk/

Automated System Check Tool for ANGEL: http://www.spcollege.edu/Central/utilities/systemCheck/

Accident and Health Insurance information is available in the Business Office

International Students: See Anne Nowlen, International Student Office, 727-791-2632

Career Development http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/catalog/current/career_dev_center.htm

Guide to Online Learning: http://www.spcollege.edu/ecampus/help/tips.htm