SYLLABUS -- UNIVERSITY 101 -- FALL 2007
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00-9:15 a.m.
Instructor: Dr. C. Leslie (Les) Carpenter
Office: 206C
Office Hours: Usually, I am available following each class meeting from 9:15-10:00 a.m.; also by appointment
Work Phone: (803)938-3888, or (803)775-USCS, ext. 3888 (secretaries and voice mail for messages)
Home Phone: (803)469-4693 (answering machine for messages)
Internet e-mail: lesc@uscsumter.edu
Homepage: http://www.uscsumter.edu/dean/les'_personal_homepage_menu.html
Required Text: Making the Most of College, Second Edition, by Spencer A. Rathus & Lois Fichner-Rathus
Supplemental Text (not required): Transitions 2007-2008: Building a New
Community
Course Goal
University 101 is designed to assist new students in understanding and handling academic, social, personal, and career decisions which must be confronted during college, but especially the first year of college. Additionally, the course seeks to engage students in the study of the purposes of higher education and the potential roles of individual students within the University and other learning environments. Ultimately, the course seeks to help students understand how and why individuals need to take responsibility for their life choices, and how doing so will help them to be more successful in college and in life.
Course Objectives
- Clarify why you are enrolled in college, increase your understanding of the purpose of higher education, and more clearly define your values, goals, strengths, weaknesses, and interests.
- Provide information on how
the
- Provide information on careers and the skills required to be successful in particular careers.
- Improve your study skills and time management skills.
- Explore academic programs, regulations, and procedures.
- Provide you with a new support group during your first year experience, and enhance group and interpersonal awareness.
- Learn more about how to develop your critical thinking skills and put those enhanced skills into action.
- Learn the meaning of being a Liberally Educated person and the value of a Liberal Arts education.
- Learn the fundamentals of using a university library for research.
- Develop and/or enhance your computer literacy skills with e-mail, the World Wide Web, and word processing.
General Information
- Absences should be kept to a minimum. Your regular presence and active participation is critical to YOUR success in this course. I reserve the right to distinguish between excused and unexcused absences, and your communication with me in advance of your absence from class is very important to you and me in this determination. In any case, I need to hear from you about any absence. All of my phones have voice mail or answering machines for your convenience, and I also have e-mail. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
- Tardiness should be the exception, not the rule. Again, communication with me in advance is very important if you know you are going to be late.
- If you miss or are late to a class, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for all information discussed, distributed, or shown in class, as well as any assignments due or any tests given.
- Late assignments are strongly discouraged and generally result in 10 points being deducted for each calendar day late. Again, communication with me in advance is very important if you know you are going to be late with an assignment.
- Food and drink are permitted in class as long as you clean up after yourself; absolutely NO SMOKING; since each class meeting is scheduled for only 1 1/4 hours, please note that there will be no breaks during class meetings.
- Gentlemen generally do not wear hats inside of buildings. Do not wear them in this class.
- Thoughtful and considerate persons do not let their cell phones and pagers go off during class. Turn them off while you are in this class.
- YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for other deadlines for stuff like grade changes, drops and adds, and refunds. Look them up. Plan ahead. Be prepared. Don't make excuses.
Evaluation (and % of your final grade)
- Regular on-time attendance in class.(+/- points in the final grade average)
- Active participation in class.(+/- points in the final grade average)
- Two regularly scheduled "mid term" tests.(09/25 & 11/01)(20% each)
- One paper measuring your Library Use and Research Documentation Skills.(Due 10/09)(20%)
- Additional assignments (total 20%):
- Periodic reviews of your maintenance of your daily scheduling calendar.(6.6%)
- Periodic reviews of your journal of textbook reading assignments.(6.6%)
- Active involvement as an unpaid volunteer with a campus or community organization. (You must provide me with written confirmation of your ACTIVE participation.)(6.8%)
6. Final Examination.(12/10, Monday, 12 noon-3 p.m.)(20%)
7. Extra credit may be earned for attendance at the following events: the Opening Convocation (08/27 @ 12:00 noon); The Ultimate Road Trip: Campus2Career program (08/29 @ 12 noon); the Art Exhibit Opening Talk (09/14 @ 6 p.m.); the Constitution Day Lectures (9/17 @ 12 noon); Make A Difference (MAD) Friday Community Service Project (09/21 @ 12 noon); the Storyteller-in-Residence Performance (10/03 @ 12 noon); Make A Difference (MAD) Friday Community Service Project (10/19 @ 12 noon); the Fall Writer Talk (11/07 @ 12 noon); Make A Difference (MAD) Friday Community Service Project (11/16 @ 12 noon); Make A Difference (MAD) Friday Community Service Project (12/07 @ 12 noon); and other campus or community events. Other than the above listed events, these must be negotiated in advance, either as a class or on an individual basis, and attendance must be verified, usually through use of a Student Development Transcript roster. (+ points in the final grade average)
Grading Scale
|
A = 93-100 |
C = 77-80 |
|
B+ = 89-92 |
D+ = 73-76 |
|
B = 85-88 |
D = 70-72 |
|
C+ = 81-84 |
F = 69 and below |
Course Nickname
Responsibility 101
Words of Wisdom
"Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him."
-- Booker T. Washington (American educator and author; 1856-1915)
"Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility
for all your actions." -- Instructions for Life
"I've learned that our background and our circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become." -- Justus Van Houter
“It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities. -- Sir Josiah Charles Stamp (British economist and Baron of Shortlands; 1880-1941)
“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Also Dietrich Bonhoffer; German Protestant theologian and anti-Nazi activist; executed by Nazis; 1906-1945)
“Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the high road to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.” -- Brian Tracy (Canadian-born American author, speaker, and businessman; 1944-)
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & FINAL GRADE CALCULATION
University 101 -- Fall 2007 -- Dr. Carpenter
Name____________________________________________
Test #1 (100 points) ________
Test #2 (100 points) ________
Library Paper (100 points) ________
Final Exam (100 points) ________
Additional Assignments:
- Scheduling Calendar (33 points) ________
- Reading Assignments Journal (33 points) ________
- Participation in a Campus/Community Organization (34 points) ________
Additional Assignments Subtotal (100 points) ________
TOTAL POINTS EARNED OF POSSIBLE 500 ________
DIVIDED BY 5 = AVERAGE ________
MINUS ABSENCE & TARDINESS POINTS ________
PLUS EXTRA CREDIT, PRESENT & ON TIME, & PARTICIPATION POINTS ________
FINAL
GRADE ________
CLASS DISCUSSIONS, ASSIGNMENTS, AND DUE DATES
UNIVERSITY 101 -- FALL 2007 -- Dr. C. Leslie (Les) Carpenter
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00-9:15 a.m.
(Dates and topics subject to change)
Specifically assigned textbook readings below are from Making the Most of College. In your journal, for all textbook reading assignments, write the chapter number, the questions, and your answers. Do this BEFORE you come to class on the date for which the assignment is listed. Other readings, from Transitions 2007-2008: Building a New Community, may be assigned during the semester as needed and deemed appropriate.
BEGINNINGS
|
Class |
Date |
Topic |
|
1 |
08/23 |
Introductions and meeting your classmates; review syllabus, discussion outline, class assignments, and due dates; discuss purpose of University 101; read Carolinian Creed; e-mail addresses; voter registration; Opportunity Scholars Program. Guest Presenter Ms. Lisa Rosdail. No textbook reading assignments. |
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
|
2 |
08/28 |
|
|
3 |
08/30 |
Group Building and Values Clarification; review Carolinian Creed. Read Chapter 6 -- Explain: (1) Reasons and strategies for taking notes (why); (2) The process for taking notes (how); (3) PQ4R method of studying; (4) Characteristics of an effective place to study; (5) How to use self-rewards. |
ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
|
4 |
09/04 |
Note Taking Skills; Listening Skills. Read Chapter 5 -- Explain: (1) The value of attending classes; (2) Strategies for increasing attention during classes; (3) How to preview a chapter; (4) How to mark a textbook for effective learning. |
|
5 |
09/06 |
Study Skills; Test Taking Skills. Read Chapter 8 -- Explain: (1) Strategies for handling multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, short-answer questions, sentence-completion questions, matching questions, and essay questions; (2) Origins of test anxiety. |
|
6 |
09/11 |
Time Management and Writing Skills. Read Chapter 3 -- Explain: (1) How to set up a schedule; (2) Pitfalls in scheduling; (3) How to handle distractions; (4) Ways of getting to work when you are stuck. Read Chapter 7 -- Explain: (1) The value of developing skills in writing; (2) The roles of the freshman composition course and critical thinking in writing; (3) Guidelines for writing papers; (4) Strategies for revising and proofreading papers. |
|
7 |
09/13 |
Getting Involved on Campus. Talk with the Director of Student Life and representatives of student clubs and organizations about getting involved. Guest Presenters Ms Shannon Mewborn and Mr. Frank Marsh. No textbook reading assignment. |
|
8 |
09/18 |
Goal Setting. Read Chapter 1 -- Explain: (1) Ways in which college differs from high school; (2) How you can take charge of your college career; (3) Define critical thinking; (4) The value of a core curriculum. |
|
9 |
09/20 |
Paradigms and Critical Thinking. Review all textbook reading assignments and handouts since the beginning of this course. |
|
10 |
09/25 |
Test #1. Review all textbook reading assignments, notes, and handouts since the beginning of this course. |
|
|
|
|
LIBRARY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCES
|
11 |
09/27 |
(Class meets in the Anderson Library 122) How to use a university library; locating and documenting sources for a research paper. Guest Presenter Ms. Sharon Chapman. No textbook reading assignment. |
|
12 |
10/02 |
(Class meets in the Anderson Library Main Computer Lab 205) How to use a university library; locating and documenting sources for a research paper. Guest Presenter Ms. Connie Pender. No textbook reading assignment. |
CAMPUS SERVICES
|
13 |
10/04 |
Registration and Records Office Services (Changing campuses, housing, degree applications, transcripts, calculating a grade point average, suspension system, academic deadlines). Guest Presenter Ms. Jennifer Baker. Read Chapter 2 -- Explain: (1) How you can make use of campus resources; (2) How you can make use of community resources. |
ARTISTIC AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
|
14 |
10/09 |
Paper assessing Library Skills and Experiences is due; Tour of campus art galleries. No textbook reading assignment. |
|
15 |
10/11 |
No class meeting (Fall Break). No textbook reading assignment. |
CAMPUS SERVICES
|
16 |
10/16 |
Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Veterans Affairs Office Services; Guest Presenter Ms. Jean Failmezger. Read Chapter 4 -- Explain: (1) Describe the various costs of public and private colleges; (2) How students generally meet their expenses; (3) Money management issues related to checking accounts, credit cards, telephones, cars, health insurance, renters insurance. Distribute Myers-Briggs forms. |
THE PURPOSE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND YOUR ROLE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY
AND OTHER LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
|
17 |
10/18 |
The purpose of higher education. (What is a liberal arts education? Discussion of a university education and the idea of a liberally educated and well rounded person.) Review Chapter 1, pages 16-18, again. |
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
10/23 |
Matching and understanding teaching styles and learning styles. (What type of learner are you? What methods help you retain information longer? What are the different styles of teaching and which one is the best match for your style of learning?) No textbook reading assignment. |
|
19 |
10/25 |
Myers-Briggs forms (completed) due; Understanding and relating to college professors. (Faculty: Their focus, training, and myths. How can you enhance the teaching effectiveness of professors? What do faculty members like and dislike about student behaviors?) Guest Presenter Dr. Tom Powers. Review Chapter 1, pages 13-15, again. |
HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES
|
20 |
10/30 |
Alcohol use and misuse and other "legal" drugs (What do you really know about it?) Read Chapter 11 -- Explain: (1) Relationship between nutrition and health; (2) Obesity, anorexia, and bulimia; (3) Benefits and hazards of exercise; (4) How to handle insomnia; (5) Why students don't seek or adhere to medical advice. Read Chapter 13, pp. 344-354. |
|
21 |
11/01 |
Test #2. Review all textbook reading assignments, notes, and handouts since Test #1. |
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES
|
22 |
11/06 |
Class Service Project. Voter registration for USC Sumter students. (Election Day – GET OUT AND VOTE!!). No textbook reading assignment. |
HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES
|
23 |
11/08 |
Illegal drugs and their effects on the user and the user's children. Read Chapter 13 -- Explain: (1) Substance abuse and dependence; (2) Ways in which students become involved with drugs; (3) The effects on your health caused by alcohol, tobacco, steroids, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, tranquilizers, and LSD. Distribute Strong Interest Explorer booklets. |
|
24 |
11/13 |
Sexually transmitted diseases; Life map. Read Chapter 12 -- Explain: (1) Changes in sexual behavior over the past several decades; (2) Patterns of sexual behavior; (3) Incidence of rape on campuses and ways of averting it; (4) Prevention of STD's; (5) Advantages and disadvantages of various methods of birth control; (6) How to make responsible sexual decisions. |
|
25 |
11/15 |
Strong Interest Explorer booklets (completed) due; Stress and Diet; General Health Issues. Read Chapter 9 -- Explain: (1) The kinds of stressors college students encounter; (2) Physical and emotional impact of stress; (3) Some of the negative responses to stress; (4) Methods for dealing with stress. Review Chapter 11, again. Review Chapter 11, again. |
|
26 |
11/20 |
Acquaintance and Date Rape. (Could it happen to you?) Review Chapter 12, again. |
CAREER PLANNING
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
11/22 |
No class meeting (Thanksgiving Holiday). No textbook reading assignment. |
|
28 |
11/27 |
Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator (Learn more about your preferences and how they relate to academic, social, career, and other areas of your life). Guest Presenter Dr. David Hunter. No textbook reading assignment. |
|
29 |
11/29 |
Strong Interest Explorer and Career Planning; DISCOVER and Career Planning. Guest Presenter Dr. David Hunter. Read Chapter 14 -- Explain: (1) Strategies for making career decisions; (2) Ways of finding jobs; (3) How to prepare a resume; (4) Ways of handling a job interview. |
ARTISTIC AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
|
30 |
12/04 |
Tour of campus art galleries. No textbook reading assignment. |
ENDINGS
|
31 |
12/06 |
Course wrap-up; last regular class meeting. Review all textbook reading assignments, notes, and handouts since Test #2. Review materials on personal values and critical thinking. |
|
32 |
12/08 (Sat.) |
No class meeting (Reading Day). Review all textbook reading assignments, notes, and handouts since Test #2. Review materials on personal values and critical thinking. |
|
33 |
12/10(Mon 12:00 Noon-3pm) |
Final Examination. Review all textbook reading assignments, notes, and handouts since Test #2. Review materials on personal values and critical thinking. |
If you wish to send Les e-mail, you may do so by simply clicking this
link: 
Lesc@uscsumter.edu
Last
modified 08/20/2007 by Les Carpenter.
URL
<http://www.uscsumter.edu/dean/les'_university_101_syllabus.html>