Syllabi for Morris
New Student Experience - SLS 1122 CRN 13122 | Fall 2023 Course Syllabus
CONTACT INFO
Instructor: Instructor Shanay Morris
Email: smorris44@valenciacollege.edu
COURSE INFO
Building/Room: 1-233
Meeting Time: Monday + Wednesday | 5:30pm-6:45pm
Office Hours: Fridays from 4pm-6pm via Zoom
Text & Required Supplies: CliftonStrengths for Students by Donald O. Clifton and Edward Anderson or purchase the one-time use access code from the Gallup online store.
COURSE DESCRIPTION & PREREQUISITES | The New Student Experience is designed to assist students in formulating their purpose in life. Through self-discovery, students will investigate their interests, strengths and personal values that align with their educational and career goals. Emphasis is on orientation to college, integrated student success skills, and the development of an individualized education plan. Students will learn and integrate practical applications to communicate across diverse populations | 3 Credit hours | Prerequisites: None
COURSE OUTCOMES
PURPOSE: 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.
PATHWAY: Students will choose an academic program aligned with their educational/career goals, interests, strengths, and values.
PLAN: Students will design an education plan that includes goals for learning and a financial plan.
PREPARATION: Students will apply college success skills.
PERSONAL CONNECTION: Students will demonstrate effective communication skills with diverse groups.
PLACE: Students will demonstrate awareness of college support systems.
*Resource for you: Sandy Shugart explains the 6Ps - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiCaynAaknE
COURSE OBJECTIVES + CORE COMPETENCIES | Students will choose a major and articulate a pathway to complete their academic and career goals. Topics in the course include defining your purpose, demonstrating awareness of college support systems, communicating effectively, navigating college sources, applying college success skills, and designing an education plan and creating a financial plan.
Valencia’s Student Core Competencies (TCVA) 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.
IMPORTANT DATES | Here is the link for the 23-24 Important Dates + Deadlines
• Fall Semester Begins (Full Term Course71s): 8/21/23
• Drop Deadline: 8/28/23
• Labor Day: 9/4/23
• Withdrawal Deadline: 10/27/23
• Veterans Day: 11/10/23
• Thanksgiving Break: 11/22/23 – 11/26/23
• Final Exams Week: 12/4/23 – 12/10/23
• Fall Semester Ends: 12/10/23
• Grades Visible in Atlas: 12/12/23
TECHNOLOGY + TECHNICAL SUPPORT | Reliable internet access is necessary to work in the Canvas course to view course material and assignments. You also need Office 365 (MS Word, PowerPoint, etc.), which is available through Atlas. Most up to date version Google Chrome or Firefox. You need a YouTube account and the ability to record and upload short videos. It is recommended that you download the Canvas app to your phone. For Atlas issues, use Atlas Help or 407-582-5444. For Canvas issues, first refer to the "Help" button on the Canvas menu for resources, tutorials, and support. Additionally, the Canvas hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 407-582-5600.
GRADING SCALE
A= 900 - 1,000 points.
B= 800 - 899 points.
C= 700 - 799 points.
D= 600-699 points.
F= 599 or less
Total Points = 1,000
ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS & SUBMISSIONS | All assignment directions and submissions are in Canvas. All assignments will be submitted via Canvas. Acceptable file types are -doc, docx, pdf or ppt. Most assignments will be due by Sunday at 11:59PM. The only exception to this rule is the final exam – Final Story Project (FSP). The FSP will be assigned by the instructor and shown in class by the assigned date.
LATE WORK POLICY | Due dates are listed for all assignments and can be found on the last two pages of the printed version of the syllabus under the assignment due column and in Canvas. Make-up work will only be accepted with documentation of an emergency (illness, jury duty, etc.) and is at the discretion of the instructor. Failure to remember an assignment does not constitute an excusable reason for make-up work. Make-up assignments are not permitted without explicit consent of the instructor. Assignments will automatically lock after the due date, which will prevent you from submitting them late.
ATTENDANCE + PARTICIPATION | Attendance and participation are required components of the course and are worth 20% of your overall grade. Failure to attend class and fully engage in the class activities will result in a loss of attendance/participation points for the day. Additionally, failure to come to class on time (tardy) and/or departing early from class will affect your attendance and participation grade. Students are responsible for all work presented when they are absent and are responsible for any announcements made in class. In the event you are going to miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Please email me as soon as possible so we can work together to help you stay caught up.
DOCUMENTATION OF ILLNESS | If you are unable to participate in the course due to illness, family emergency, etc., please communicate with me as soon as possible to create a plan to complete any missed assignments so that your learning can progress in your course. In the case of a prolonged absence, please communicate with me as soon as possible to create a plan for the best course of action.
EXPECTED STUDENT 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 are expected to do all 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. In addition, please follow college policy relating to children on campus. Please make arrangements for childcare outside the classroom. For full details, please review the Student Code of Conduct.
ACADEMIC HONESTY | All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia College. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, acts or attempted acts of plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of documents, misconduct during a testing situation, facilitating academic dishonesty, and misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive.
All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the students' individual thoughts, research, and self-expression. Whenever a student uses ideas, wording, or organization from another source, the source shall be appropriately acknowledged. If a student is caught submitting plagiarized work, a first offense will result in a zero score on the assignment. A second offense will result in a class grade of F. Please refer to Valencia College's Academic Dishonesty policy (Link).
NO SHOW PROCEDURE | Class attendance is required the first week of class. Students who do not attend any of the scheduled class meetings the first week of class must be withdrawn by the instructor at the end of the first week as a "no show." If you are withdrawn as a “no show,” you will be financially responsible for the class and a final grade of “WN” will appear on your transcript for the course.”
Students can drop a class or all your classes before the end of the Drop/Add period August 28, 2023, by 11:59PM and are entitled to a 100% refund of the refundable fees. Your Valencia account will be credited, and after all fees have been paid, a check or charge card credit will be issued.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY | The withdrawal deadline for receiving a non-punitive grade of “W” is October 27, 2023. Students may withdraw from a class or all classes before the deadline. Students are not eligible for a refund. A student is not permitted to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline. A professor may withdraw you up to the beginning of the final exam period for violation of the class attendance policy in which case you will receive a grade of W. For full details about academic progress, course attendance, grades and withdrawals, please refer to this link.
STUDENT RESOURCES | The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is committed to the fulfillment of equal educational opportunity, autonomy, and full inclusion for students with disabilities. The OSD exists to determine and ensure appropriate accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities, to assist students in self-advocacy, to educate the Valencia community about disabilities, and to ensure compliance with the ADA, ADAAA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation ACT. In order for the OSD to accommodate students at Valencia College, students MUST register with the OSD. You can find information about Student documentation Guidelines. Any student requiring course accommodation due to physical, emotional, or learning disability must contact the instructor and provide a Notification to Instructor form by the end of the second week of class. To obtain a letter of accommodation, contact the OSD office at your designated campus. The Office with Student Disabilities is located in the Student Services Building (SSB), Room 102. OSD can also be reached at osdwest@valenciacollege.edu | Phone: 407-582-1523
BAYCARE | 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. Please consider using Baycare if you find yourself in need of support.
HELPFUL LINKS
TITLE IX | Valencia College strives to be a community in which all members can learn and work in an atmosphere free from all forms of harassment, including sexual harassment, discrimination, intimidation and/or retaliation. All forms of discrimination and harassment based on protected status are prohibited at Valencia College. As such, students, faculty and staff are expected to adhere to the college’s policy: 6Hx28:2-01,Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct, which prohibits the above actions, as well as sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking and interpersonal violence, which includes dating and domestic violence. For more information on Equal Opportunity and Title IX click here.
SECURITY | From our chief of security: We want to reassure you that our security officers are here around the clock to ensure the safety and security of the campus community. It’s important to remain alert and aware of your surroundings, especially during the early morning or evening hours. Remember that you can always call security for an escort if you feel uncomfortable walking alone on campus. White security phones can also be found in many of our buildings; simply pick up the phone and security will answer. Finally, report any suspicious persons to West Campus Security at 407-582-1000, 407-582-1030 (after-hours number) or by using the yellow emergency call boxes located on light poles in the parking lots and along walkways.
FERPA | The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a federal law regarding privacy of student records. These rights are transferred to students when they reach the age of eighteen or attends a school beyond the high school level at any age. Due to confidentiality and this law, grades and course progress can only be discussed with the student.
Please review the chart below to identify assignments and due dates. Due dates are also listed in Canvas assignments and course calendar.
New Student Experience Weekly Schedule
| Week | Topics | Assignment(s) Due |
| Week 1 (8/21- 8/27) | Introductions and course expectations
Review of syllabus, Atlas, and Canvas | Review Module 1 Purchase CliftonStrengths book or code
|
| Week 2 (8/28-9/3)
8/28/23: Drop/Refund Deadline | College Resources – Tutoring, Advising, OSD etc. Place Co-Curricular
| Review Module 2 Place Co-Curricular + Reflection
|
| Week 3 (9/4-9/10)
College Closed: 9/4/23 - Labor Day | No class on 9/4/23
College Success Skills
| Review Module 3 |
| Week 4 | CliftonStrengths for Students
Signature Themes Report
| Review Module 4 Take CliftonStrengths Assessment Submit Top 5 Signature Theme CliftonStrengths Reflection
|
| Week 5 (9/18-9/24) | Values Time Management Finding Your Purpose | Review Module 5 Submit Purpose Statement + Reflection |
| Week 6 (9/25-10/1) | Career Exploration
| Review Module 6 My Plan Assessments Guided Career Research |
| Week 7 (10/2-10/8) | Meta Majors
| Review Module 7 |
| Week 8 (10/9-10/15)
| One-on-One Meetings
Financial Literacy | One-on-One Meetings with Professor Morris Cost of College Research |
| Week 9 (10/16-10-22)
| My Education Plan Degree Audit | Review Module 9 |
| Week 10 (10/23-10/29)
Withdrawal Deadline: 10/27/23
| ABP Part I review Term by Term Plan | Review Module 10 Submit Academic Blueprint Part I |
| Week 11 (10/30-11/5)
Registration begins for Returning Students: 10/31/23 | Education Planning Degree Pathways | Review Module 11 Submit Academic Blueprint Part II |
| Week 12 (11/6-11/12)
Veterans Day: 11/10/23 No Class | Final Story Project Review FSP Peer Review + Rubric Review
| Review Module 12 Submit Final Story Planning Document(s)
|
| Week 13 (11/13-11/19) | FSP One-on-one meetings | Review Module 13 Bring FSP Planning Document(s) to meeting. |
| Week 14 (11/20-11/26)
College Closed: Thanksgiving Break 11/22-11/26
| Final Story Project Group A on Monday
No class on Wednesday, 11/22 | Review Module 14: Assignment- Final Story Project due. |
| Week 15 (11/27-12/3) | Final Story Project Group B on Monday
Final Story Project Group C on Wednesday
| Review Module 15: Assignment- Final Story Project. |