Expectations of Students: All students are expected to be “present,” to be prepared, and to contribute actively to discussions in ways that enrich the quality of learning for all. All assignments and projects are due on the dates shown. Late submissions are not accepted. If you miss a submission, please remember that I drop your lowest grade for your discussion boards, quizzes, and assignments.

Expectations of Faculty: To be prepared; to return student papers promptly, with appropriate feedback; to be available during office hours and by appointment, to meet with students; to be frequently responsive to email messages (generally within 24 hours); to hold high standards for all of us. Faculty and students together are responsible for creating and sustaining a safe environment that facilitates learning, openness, personal growth, and mutual trust and respect. The faculty is committed to the success of each student. Information about student rights and responsibilities is available in the MiraCosta College Catalog.

Academic Honesty: Each student is responsible for performing academic tasks in such a way that honesty is not in question. Unless an exception is specifically defined by an instructor, students are expected to maintain the following standards of integrity:

All tests, term papers, oral and written assignments, recitations, and all other academic efforts are to be the work of the student presenting the material.

Any use of wording, ideas, or findings of other persons, writers, or researchers requires the explicit citation of the source; use of the exact wording requires a “quotation" format.

Plagiarism and Ethics Policy: Each student agrees to the following statements of student behavior:

I agree that I, and only I, will be the one completing and submitting class materials (homework, quizzes, exams, written projects, etc.) in my name.
I agree that I will not directly copy material from books, publications, the Internet, other students’ work, or any other source without proper attribution. I am familiar with, and I agree not to violate, copyright laws. If small amounts of material from other sources are used as part of any class assignment, I agree to clearly indicate such and properly cite the source. I understand that my failure to cite in accordance with the instructor’s guidelines will result in a score of 0 for the assignment.
I agree that, unless approved by the instructor, I will not share answers to homework assignments, quizzes, exams, or any other course material with fellow classmates.
I acknowledge that failure to comply with any of the above statements may result in failure of an assignment, removal from the course, failure in the course, and discipline action deemed appropriate by the instructor in her sole discretion and/or policies and procedures set forth by the Board of Trustees of the MiraCosta Community College District, fully described in the College Catalog.

Class Withdrawal Rules: Students are responsible to complete all necessary paperwork if they decide to withdraw from the class. The Instructor must take strong steps to ensure all students are attending and active. Therefore, the Instructor retains complete discretion to process a Withdrawal (Drop) for students without additional notice for any of the following (unless discussed with Instructor and approved in advance):

Failure to complete any assignment during the first two weeks of the semester

Missing ANY class during the first two weeks

Missing 2 consecutive classes or 4 total classes during the semester
Failure to complete 2 consecutive or 4 total assignments of any type.

Verified Disability: If you have a disability or medical condition impacting learning and have not yet been authorized to receive academic accommodations, you’re encouraged to contact the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office (formerly known as Disabled Students Programs and Services or DSPS). The SAS office can be reached at (760) 795-6658 or sas@miracosta.edu. The SAS office will help you determine what accommodations are available for you. If you’re requesting my assistance utilizing any authorized accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible.

Important Dates and Drop Information:

February 6: Last day to ADD classes/Last day to DROP classes for full refund/no record.
February 28: Last day to file Petition for Degree/Certificate and to file for Credit/No Credit; Consider this option if you do not need a letter grade.
April 28: Last day to Drop class with “W” grade; Drops after that receive a letter grade (generally an “F”).
If you discover this course is not for you, make sure to drop by this date. Students are responsible to complete all necessary paperwork if they decide to withdraw from class.

Tutoring and Academic Support Center (TASC): offers free tutoring for this course (and others) at the HUB. For more information call (760) 944-7748 ext. 7748 or just drop by the HUB. I urge you to take advantage of this valuable resource.

The OCN Writing Center: The Writing Center provides free drop-in assistance for any MiraCosta writing assignment at any stage of the writing process. Students can write, read, revise, practice speeches, and seek assistance from writing consultants. The center is located on the first floor of the Library. No appointment needed.

The SAN Writing Center: The Writing Center provides free drop-in assistance for any MiraCosta writing assignment at any stage of the writing process. It is a space for students to write, read, revise, practice speeches, and seek assistance from writing consultants. They are located in room 112 of the San Elijo Library. No appointment needed.

Online Writing Center Service: The MiraCosta Writing Center offers online writing feedback, which is accessible at the following link: https://appointment.miracosta.edu/WCOnline

Through this service, students can upload their writing (either finished or in-progress) for review by a Writing Coach who, within 24 hours, will create a short video addressing possible next steps and tips for revision. In order to receive the most useful and tailored feedback, students should include a brief assignment prompt with their submission.

For Online-Only Courses: In-person Writing Center services are available to online students by visiting any of the campus locations. In fact, if you want grammar assistance in parts of speech, ideas about how to read for a particular class more efficiently, or even working on a personal statement for a scholarship or transfer application, visiting the Writing Center in person is the best option. At Oceanside, 30-minute appointments are available, and at San Elijo, students can drop-in anytime to write in our space and get input as desired. The Writing Center is located in the Library at both campuses. Call 760.795.6861 with questions or to make an appointment.

Library Resources: The MiraCosta College faculty librarians assist students with their research questions, whether academic or personal. Students may obtain assistance from librarians either one-on-one at the reference desk, through class orientations, group workshops, individual appointments, or online. More information regarding the library may be found at their webpage: www.miracosta.edu/library .

LGBTQIA+ Resources: MiraCosta College has an expressed commitment to equity and inclusion for students, faculty, and staff members who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual. The district employs a Campus Liaison for LGBTQIA+ needs, offers LGBTQIA Safe Space training, and has multiple student scholarships for members and active allies of the LGBTQIA+ community. For information about these and additional campus resources and services, visit: www.miracosta.edu/lgbt.

Food and Housing: Resources for students experiencing homelessness, displacement, and/or food insecurity - MiraCosta College is committed to equity and inclusion for students who are experiencing challenges related to housing and/or food insecurity. To learn more about the Food Pantry (OC 3306/3435/3326, SEC 929, CLC Front Desk), showers and hygiene kits (OC Gym), mental and physical health services, and San Diego County resources, please visit http://www.miracosta.edu/care for details. We have resources available for you!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This syllabus is subject to change at any time at the discretion of the instructor; notice will be given to the students through an announcement in class, by email, or with an announcement on the class Canvas site.