General Class Policies Spring 2012 Media Literacy | Lab | Communication Writing | Feature Writing | Law & Ethics

University of Arkansas at Monticello Media Studies / Communication School of Arts & Humanities Quick Links Comm-Stop | The Budget Blackboard | e-Media | Sacred Cows

Ronald W. Sitton, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Journalism Email: sitton@uamont.edu Office: 110 Wells Hall | (870) 460-1138 358 University Drive | POB 3460 | 71656 Hours: M-F, 8-9 a.m., by appt; online: 1-2 p.m.

"Your responsibility includes everything here and in the course syllabus. Read both, sign the contract, then return it by the third class meeting if you intend to attend. If you have questions, consult the syllabus then consult me. Ignorance will not save you points." - Dr. Sitton

General Class Policies Index:  ACCOMMODATIONS || ELECTRONIC DEVICES || CONDUCT || SOURCING || ATTENDANCE || DEADLINES || FEEDBACK || eMAIL || BLACKBOARD || TECH SUPPORT **Changes enacted for 2012 and beyond noted by asterisks.

   Welcome to my living document, which details rules and regulations formed after multiple encounters with students just like you. I plan to help those who help themselves and so I detailed my Academic Honesty Policy, Attendance Policy and Missed Assignments Policy to help you know what to expect. You will sign a course contract to indicate you understand that you will be held accountable for the following information.

Index:  ACCOMMODATIONS || ELECTRONIC DEVICES || CONDUCT || SOURCING || ATTENDANCE (unexcused) || DEADLINES || FEEDBACK || eMAIL || BLACKBOARD || TECH SUPPORT

ACCOMMODATIONS

   The University of Arkansas at Monticello accommodates individuals with disabilities pursuant to federal law and the University’s commitment to equal educational opportunities. Students must inform an instructor of any necessary accommodations at the beginning of the course, i.e. the responsibility lies with the student, not the instructor. If you require accommodations, please contact the Office of Special Student Services located in Harris Hall Room 121; phone: (870) 460-1026; TDD: (870) 460-1626; Fax: (870) 460-1926; email: whitingm@uamont.edu.. They provide a card detailing the information necessary for each professor.

   In short, help may be provided more easily with the proper preparation.

Ron Sitton | Yahoo!

Life — A Little Rock wall aptly describes your situation. If you have the knowledge, you're in a powerful position. Don't ruin a perfectly good semester by not understanding something in this document that might negatively affect you. If you don't know, don't understand, don't get it ... just ask!

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

   In writing courses, work often requires use of Microsoft Word. While some instruction on the computer will be provided, if you need help go to The Writing Center.

  In today's world, many of you have cellular phones, iPods, PDAs, Blackberries, pagers, etc. Anyone's distraction due to use of any electronic device in class may result in a pop quiz for everyone. I reserve the right to determine what's distracting in my class. Everyone paid for this class; each person's financial commitment deserves your respect.

   Repeat: Every time I hear an electronic device or you're distracted by using it (e.g. texting), I give the class a pop quiz, which may cover anything we've previously discussed in the course. Conversely, you receive 10 points extra credit if my electronic device rings.

    Pop quiz grades will be added/subtracted via extra credit, i.e. it will be theoretically possible to have a "negative" extra-credit score at semester's end. Regardless of total, the extra credit score will be added to the course score at semester's end.  If "caught" engaging in the same behavior a second time in the same class period, you will leave (or receive an escort out), receive an unexcused absence and will not be allowed to return to class until an in-person meeting between you, me and the dean of Arts and Humanities.

• You may not listen to electronic devices in class, nor use them - especially ones that can both record and play - while taking a test. If caught during an exam, you will fail the exam and still receive the unexcused absence. NOTE: You may listen to electronic devices with your own headphones during work periods in a lab setting.
  Please turn your cell phone to silent or vibrate before entering class. If it's important enough for you to answer, leave the room immediately so you don't bother everyone else. You may not talk on your cell phone or text message during class; it's rude.
• Time in the computer lab should be spent on class, especially when class resides in a computer lab. When caught viewing material unrelated to class, checking email or conducting live chat, I consider you distracted and the previous consequences apply.

Index:  ACCOMMODATIONS || ELECTRONIC DEVICES || CONDUCT || SOURCING || ATTENDANCE (unexcused) || DEADLINES || FEEDBACK || eMAIL || BLACKBOARD || TECH SUPPORT

STUDENT CONDUCT: CIVILITY, HONESTY, ETHICS

"There are two little words in our language which I always admire - Try and Trust." — Samuel Smiles

   The university supports an environment of ethnic, religious and cultural diversity. It neither endorses nor tolerates statements, behavior, tokens or insignias that deride or disparage an individual or group because of race, ethnicity, creed or personal lifestyle. Disruptive conduct interfering with the goals and objectives of the course will not be tolerated.

STUDENT CONDUCT STATEMENT

   The University of Arkansas at Monticello expects students to conduct themselves appropriately, remembering they are subject to community laws and societal standards. The student must not conduct him/herself in a manner that disrupts the academic community or breaches other students' freedom to progress academically. The Student Handbook's Student Conduct Code defines disorderly conduct as "any behavior which disrupts the regular or normal functions of the University community, including behavior which breaches the peace or violates the rights of others." Once a problem begins, University sanctions begin, i.e. for every action, a consequence.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

1. Cheating: Students shall not give, receive, offer or solicit information on examinations, quizzes, etc. This includes but is not limited to the following classes of dishonesty:
   • Copying from another student’s paper;
   • Use during the examination of prepared materials, notes, or texts other than those specifically permitted by the instructor;
   • Collaboration with another student during the examination;
   • Buying, selling, stealing, soliciting, or transmitting an examination or any material purported to be the unreleased contents of coming examinations or the use of any such material;
   • Substituting for another person during an examination or allowing such substitutions for oneself.
2. Collusion: Collusion is defined as obtaining from another party, without specific approval in advance by the instructor, assistance in the production of work offered for credit to the extent that the work reflects the ideas of the party consulted rather than those of the person whose name in on the work submitted. In short, sharing results of your individual research efforts OR having a friend or classmate doing your work for you.
3. Duplicity: Duplicity is defined as offering for credit identical or substantially unchanged work in two or more courses, without specific, advanced approval of the instructors involved.
4. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as adopting and reproducing as one’s own, to appropriate to one’s use, and to incorporate in one’s own work without acknowledgement the ideas or thoughts or passages from the writings or works of others, without acknowledging the source(s), or, when applicable, identifying direct quotations. In other words, plagiarism means:
   • Borrowing sentences or paragraphs from other people's work and representing them as your own writing;
   • Copying Internet material and submitting it as your own (BTW, real communicators use people rather than Internet sources);
   • Not supplying attribution for material used in article.

   A communicator's credibility depends on truthfully communicating with people each and every day. People in a democratic society can only make sound decisions with good information. No matter what field of communication you plan to enter, you must be credible to keep your job. So do your own work.

   No matter the form, academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade or disciplinary action, or both. I take this issue very seriously and have not failed to confront students in the past. The chart below indicates exactly what will happen if a student is caught plagiarizing or conducting academic dishonesty.**

   I realize it's easy to work together on take-home assignments. I also realize the Internet provides convenient information, but it should be properly cited. I've taught long enough to know when people cheat; I periodically verify sources and use the latest technology to catch cheaters, e.g. Grammarly.com plainly marks plagiarism. "If they have plagiarized anything, grammarly will light up the paper as red as the devil’s eyes," according to Mark Spencer, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities.

Classification	Offense	Consequence
First-year Sophomore	First	Deduct 41 percent prior to grading assignment
Upperclassmen	First	Failing grade for course
Everyone	Second	Further sanctions, possible expulsion

   I hate the extremely unpleasant experience of taking an accusation of plagiarism or academic dishonesty to the administration. The Student Handbook provides the University's stance on the issue, but I will impose the harshest penalties possible.

    Accepting this syllabus indicates you understand and will abide by the Academic Honesty Policy.

Index:  ACCOMMODATIONS || ELECTRONIC DEVICES || CONDUCT || SOURCING || ATTENDANCE (unexcused) || DEADLINES || FEEDBACK || eMAIL || BLACKBOARD || TECH SUPPORT

SOURCING

   To help you abide by the Academic Honesty Policy, you will use appropriate SOURCING for ALL submissions. Any work not containing source info immediately loses 5 percent of the total.**

• Reports and papers -- use a Modern Languages Association bibliographic and endnote style at the end of your work:
  • Physical sources require a photocopy/picture of both the cover and the page where the material appears.
  • Material originating on the Web requires the exact url to the material as well as an indication of the last update, e.g.
    
  Ha, Louisa. "Firing of Group Members and Defection." TCOM 103 Syllabus - Bowling Green State University. Fall 2004. Web. 15 Aug. 2004 http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/faculty/ha/tcom103syl.htm.
  
• Any communication for publication will adhere to Associated Press style within the work as it's appropriate in nearly any mediated communication. Sourcing for publication includes:
  • Material originating on the Web requires the exact url to the material as well as an indication of the last update.
  • Physical sources require a photocopy/picture of both the cover and the page where the material appears.
  • An audio file of human source along with notes, email and phone number; picture for publication
  • If email with human, attach transcript of conversation along with an explanation why not interviewed in person; email and phone number.

Index:  ACCOMMODATIONS || ELECTRONIC DEVICES || CONDUCT || SOURCING || ATTENDANCE (unexcused) || DEADLINES || FEEDBACK || eMAIL || BLACKBOARD || TECH SUPPORT

ATTENDANCE

"Showing up is 80 percent of life." - Woody Allen

   Communication professionals must be reliable. When you're not in class, you miss quizzes, lectures and other elements of the educational experience. I check attendance daily to let Financial Aid know when people quit coming to class, hopefully preventing fraudulent activity and saving us money. People commit fraud when they take financial aid but do not attend class, which costs taxpayers like you and me. For more information on the university's attendance policy, consult your Student Handbook.

   I only accept notification of absence from the individual who missed class; i.e. I won't listen to your classmate, roommate, friend, fraternity brother, sorority sister, teacher, boss, parent or minister of your personal faith. However, I may excuse an absence if you inform me prior to class by phone or email.

   So what might be excused? Those things I can verify, which communicators must do to hold everyone accountable since they will be held accountable for any published information.

• If ill, please stop by Student Health Services to make sure you're not contagious. If contagious, please stay away from my class, but contact me to let me know why. While at SHS, sign a release allowing me to call for verification. Verification means more than a note saying "student visited the health center today" or something along those lines. If you visit a family physician, any doctor's excuse MUST contain a telephone number for me to call the doctor's office and verify you were actually there.
  
• If a death occurs, I need a copy of the obituary and a tribute to them, i.e. a summary of the things that made this person important to you. Writing places death in perspective, especially for those who have limited experience with the phenomenon.
  
• I encourage you to participate in university-sponsored events. According to the Student Handbook, an activity sponsor must provide a memo that includes a list of campus participants, name of the university event, and event dates and times causing you to miss one or more class meetings. You must bring me the memo and a phone number where I can reach your sponsor. You and I will discuss the work and the class(es) to be missed at least one week prior to the anticipated absence. I hold you responsible for everything covered and any class activities missed during the absence.
  
• In case of inclement weather and emergency situations, I hold class if the University is open. Inclement weather provides a great opportunity for communication (as well as great photos and articles)! That being said, use a little common sense. If you're likely to break your neck trying to reach class, contact me instead and I'll excuse it.

• Electronic Devices or Sleeping in class. You may be here in body, but not in mind; I don't teach the body.
  
• Excessive tardiness. You should always be punctual, i.e. on time as well as in class. Just so you know, you're tardy if more than five minutes late, regardless of the reason. I treat two tardies the same as one absence. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, you will be marked absent.
  
• Routine medical appointments, job or class obligations, computer problems, missed rides, preregistration meetings and scheduled interviews (for jobs or classes). You know when you need to be here, so don't schedule something during class time.

   Grading and recording assignments poses a sizable record-keeping task; therefore, no late work will be accepted for full credit without prior arrangements. While you won't be fired for missing the deadline, you will face consequences for missing a deadline.

Quizzes — Quizzes cover University knowledge, assigned readings, lectures, class discussions and current events. Spelling counts. Some classes will also take AP style and grammar quizzes, which may be "open book." Current event quizzes will include information from articles appearing on the class Web page. Prepare yourself by keeping track of state, national and international news. Test yourself by taking the Who's Who and What's What quiz during the week. You may drop your two lowest grades of the 12 quizzes taken; keep up via Blackboard. Quizzes may not be made up (for information about pop quizzes, see electronic devices).

Pop Quizzes — If you must take a pop quiz, any grade less than 90 percent will be deducted from your extra credit score, e.g. if you make 7/10, you'll lose three points from your bonus. If you make 90-95 percent, you'll receive +2 bonus; if you ace the pop quiz, you'll receive +5 bonus.

   A Special Note on Exams —  When you take an exam, realize it will take me as long to grade it as it took you to take it, multiplied by the number of people in the course. Therefore, don't expect me to discuss the exam until the next class at the earliest. For larger courses, this may take even more time.

Missed Assignments Policy

   Missing assignments without excuse results in failing the course. Missed assignments with excuse MUST be submitted by the next class or seven days after the original due date - whichever comes first - although I reserve the discretion for a one-week extension. If you have a late assignment, submit it prior to the next class meeting — it's better to receive a zero than fail the class.

A Lack of Planning on Your Part Does Not Constitute an Emergency on My Part

    Don't wait until the last minute — take care of your business as soon as you get your assignment; you will not do your best work at the last minute. I know; I tried and failed many times before I understood.  Plan ahead because you will encounter problems, e.g. if you're interviewing people, they must schedule around their job.

   Remember: Your grade depends on you completing the opportunities presented in this class in an acceptable fashion. Be responsible for keeping up with your materials. To be sure your assignments aren't lost along with your USB key, send a copy to yourself via email to an off-campus account (e.g. hotmail, gmail, yahoo) or file-hosting site (e.g. DropBox, MediaFire).

   Accepting this syllabus indicates you understand and will abide by the Missed Assignments Policy.

Index:  ACCOMMODATIONS || ELECTRONIC DEVICES || CONDUCT || SOURCING || ATTENDANCE (unexcused) || DEADLINES || FEEDBACK || eMAIL || BLACKBOARD || TECH SUPPORT

FEEDBACK AND PARTICIPATION

"Patience and tenacity of purpose are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness." - Thomas Huxley

   Remember, more than anything, I want you to succeed. You can provide commentary on the course through individual meetings, email or through Blackboard surveys. Comments may be used to modify the course. I typically turn around email within 24 hours as it provides an opportunity to help you though not physically present. Blackboard surveys at midterm let you give anonymous input to indicate questions and problems with the course.

   Yes, I am on facebook, Myspace and other social networking sites. No, I will not "friend" you on these sites until you have either graduated from college or quit going to school. If you want to message me there, feel free but realize I will only count materials received through campus email or Blackboard.**

   We'll schedule mandatory individual meetings for each class at midterm (NOTE: publications lab exempted). Failure to attend the individual meeting at the scheduled time will result in a 10 percent deduction from your overall grade at the end of the semester. You cannot make up a missed individual meeting. We will review your progress to date and discuss strategies for improvement. If you're taking a writing course, I'll also conduct a portfolio check to ensure A) you're learning from your mistakes and B) you're not setting yourself up to be swamped during finals.

Japanese Wisdom There is really nothing you must be and there is nothing you must do. There is really nothing you must have and there is nothing you must know. However, it helps to understand fire burns and when it rains, the earth gets wet. Whatever, there are consequences. Nobody is exempt.

   Class participation plays an important part if your grade is on the "borderline" at semester's end. Each one of you is unique, providing a contribution that no one else can make. The only bad question is one that's not asked. If you refuse to talk or ask questions, you will not hold any communication job for long. In short, I consider class participation the same as showing professionalism, which indicates:

• Attention to common courtesies.
• An open attitude to learning.
• Good listening and discussion skills.
• Making deadlines.
• Submitting word-processed assignments, saved in rich text format (i.e. RTF) and checked via Grammarly Handbook or Grammarly Answers PRIOR to submission.
• A willingness to take and give constructive criticism.
• An ability to discuss all reading assignments by the due date.
• Reporting Web links that do not work. If I'm alerted in a timely manner, I can solve the problems.
• Keeping up with current events and discussing the media's presentation — educated communicators know what's happening in the world.

   You must use campus email not only to receive class updates, but also to receive information about jobs, internships, etc. Use your FREE campus email account (not your roommates' or siblings'), available upon enrolling at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (including the Crossett and McGehee campuses). If you don't, you won't be able to access WeevilNet, and then you cannot get your grades. Go to the campus homepage to find your email address and password. Put your password in a safe place so that you will never lose it.

   Most often, I will respond to email within 24 hours Monday through Friday. No emails will be answered after 5 p.m. on Friday until the following Monday. At the very least, I suggest checking your email at least three times a week if not more. If you're worried about an overloaded mailbox, ask someone in Information Technology to explain filtering systems to you.

Index:  ACCOMMODATIONS || ELECTRONIC DEVICES || CONDUCT || SOURCING || ATTENDANCE (unexcused) || DEADLINES || FEEDBACK || eMAIL || BLACKBOARD || TECH SUPPORT

   Blackboard allows you to keep up with class and track your grades over the course of a semester. It tracks your usage of the system, allowing professors to know how often and at what time you access information or complete assignments. If you're concerned about taking a course using Blackboard, sign up now for the CIS course dedicated to getting the most out of Blackboard.

   Since 1998, I've used Blackboard or WebCT to post course schedules, quizzes and your grades, as well as occasionally passing along class information and posting information helpful to the class. Set up your Blackboard email to alert your campus email when information appears there.

• Sending course communications through Blackboard ensures you have a record to remind me it was discussed.
• Submitting assignments via Blackboard ensures you don't lose anything.
• Tracking your grades through Blackboard ensures you know where you stand in the course.

   Typically, your course will have folders for assignments; otherwise, send assignments in RTF via Blackboard's email. The opportunity to check your grades via  Blackboard should be helpful as UAM will no longer post grades until finals are over.  You may access your grades after finals through WeevilNet    To have your grades mailed to you, complete the grade request form available in Monticello's Registrar’s Office or Crossett and McGehee's Student Services' offices.

   Complete the First-day Survey in your Blackboard journal by the first meeting of the second week of classes. If you have problems, contact me.

Index:  ACCOMMODATIONS || ELECTRONIC DEVICES || CONDUCT || SOURCING || ATTENDANCE (unexcused) || DEADLINES || FEEDBACK || eMAIL || BLACKBOARD || TECH SUPPORT

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

   Communicators stay prepared for unexpected problems and emergencies, i.e. deadlines don't change just because your machine quits working. When the deadline arrives, the publication MUST "go to print" regardless of the product's quality. Problems and glitches happen as often (or more often) in online learning as a in a typical learning environment, e.g. your computer crashes or Internet service is interrupted. Again, you NEED a back-up plan: Ensure your assignments aren't lost by sending a copy to yourself via email to an off-campus account (e.g. hotmail, gmail, yahoo) or file-hosting site (e.g. DropBox, MediaFire).

   Yet as communicators, we must take it a step further, i.e. don't rely on the machine. Get in the habit of saving to your 2GB storage device every five minutes. Why? You never know when you're going to write a great idea just prior to the dog unplugging your computer, or coffee spilling all over the keyboard ... or worse. Communicators perform great in crisis situations because they've thought of the worst possible scenarios in advance.

   If you own a Mac, get a Mac Bible and dig into it at every leisurely moment. If you own a PC, find a Dummies book or some other manual. True, you didn't take a Communication course to become a "tekkie" ... but are you willing to bet your next paycheck that the technician on the other end of the phone knows what's valuable enough to save? Granted, sometimes you just need to go to a source with technical knowledge. UAM's best work in IT and can be reached below:

Issues with Blackboard: Call Office of Academic Computing at 870-460-1036 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. You can also reach the Help Desk at blackboard@uamont.edu or phone 870-460-1286.

Taylor Library's computer section opens during regular Library hours. Find the Student Handbook for Distance Education here.

MINIMUM TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS: visit here. Example: Access to a working computer with Internet capability. Operating System: Windows 2000, XP, Vista or Macintosh OS X Hardware: 256 MB of RAM, 1GB free hard disk space Microsoft Office 2007 recommended Broadband Internet connection (e.g. RoadRunner, Satellite Internet or DSL) recommended for assessments.

If you don't understand something in this Web note, please email Dr. Sitton.