First Year College
USC 101 – Introduction to University Education I
Prerequisite: None/Corequisite:
None
A student
cannot receive credit for both USC 101 and USC 103
This course meets
the US Diversity Co-requisite requirement of the GEP
In their first year at NC
State University, all FYC students must take two one-hour, letter-graded courses:
USC 101 – Introduction to University Education I (fall semester) and USC 102 –
Introduction to University Education II (spring semester). Your instructor for this course is your
academic advisor, which gives you weekly contact with him or her. You will also
meet individually at least twice each
semester with your advisor.
FYC advisors and
instructors are committed to being prepared for class, to grading fairly, and
to being available to help students with their questions and concerns about the
course and about advising issues. You should be committed to putting your best
effort into your work for this class, including your out-of-class assignments,
class discussions and activities, and co-curricular activities.
US
Diversity Co-requisite
The study of diversity
in the United States provides students the opportunity to consider questions of
difference and culture, identity and community, privilege and oppression, and
power and responsibility in our nation, and to gain an understanding of how
these issues affect both individuals and communities.
As a member of the First Year College
community, you have a unique opportunity to spend the academic year learning
about yourself, exploring majors and careers, and then making an informed
decision about a major. Doing so will
require you to examine your life in ways you may not have previously
considered. Where have your ideas and
beliefs originated? How do those ideas
and beliefs influence the kinds of choices you make? How are you different from your roommate,
your neighbors, your classmates, your instructors, your family, your friends,
and even those you do not know at all?
How are you alike? As a global
citizen, how does the way you live affect people in other parts of the world? With the guidance of your instructor and
advisor, you will explore these questions and others this year as you go
through the process of making your decision on a major.
Students are required to
comply with the university policy on academic integrity in the Code of Student
Conduct found at http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01
Your name on any
assignment you submit to your USC 101 instructor means that you neither gave
nor received unauthorized aid when you completed the assignment.
All academic integrity violations will be sent to
Student Conduct. A violation on any Forum
report (see section on Co-curricular Events) will, at a minimum, result in the
loss of all 30 Forum points. For
violations on other assignments and activities, at a minimum, you will earn
zero points for the assignment; other sanctions are possible, including failing
the course. Chapter 10 of your textbook
contains more information about academic integrity.
NC
State University provides equality of opportunity in education and employment
for all students and employees. Accordingly, NC State affirms its commitment to
maintain a work environment for all employees and an academic environment for
all students that is free from all forms of discrimination. Discrimination
based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability,
veteran status, or sexual orientation is a violation of state and federal law
and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated. Harassment of any
person (either in the form of quid pro quo or creation of a hostile
environment) based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age,
disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation also is a violation of state
and federal law and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated.
Retaliation against any person who complains about discrimination is also
prohibited. NC State's policies and regulations covering discrimination,
harassment, and retaliation may be accessed at http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-04-25-5 Any person who feels
that he or she has been the subject of prohibited discrimination, harassment,
or retaliation should contact the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity
at 919-515-3148.
Reasonable accommodations
will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take
advantage of available accommodations, students must register with the
Disability Services Office at the Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. For more information on NC State's policy on
working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Regulation (REG02.20.01)
Upon completion of this course, students will
(1) Identify the resources available to them within the
University community and explore opportunities for connecting with the
University community
(2) Understand and articulate how diversity impacts their
experience at NC State
(3) Identify factors that affect academic success
(4) Understand and apply University policies and procedures
(5) Be knowledgeable about University majors, minors, and other
academic programs
(6) Be able to name the three main components of the FYC
career decision making model, categorize class activities/topics based on these
components, explain why the model is depicted as a cycle, and explain where
they currently fit into the process
(7) Be able to apply the information gained from personal
assessments to the process of choosing a major
You will earn a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F with
plus/minus grading) in USC 101, a one-hour course. Grading will be based on a point system
(maximum points = 300). Neither USC 101 nor USC 102 may be taken
for credit only (S/U); you must take the course for a letter grade. The course cannot be audited.
Regular
class attendance in any college course is essential for success, and USC 101 is
no exception. The
basic attendance policy for USC 101 follows the University regulation for
attendance. Attendance expectations for this course are as follows:
If a student misses more
than two unexcused classes, the final course grade will be lowered one letter
grade for each additional absence. For example, if you have an “A” in the course
but have three absences, then your semester letter grade will be reduced to a
“B;” for four absences, the final grade will become a “C;” for five absences a
“D,” etc. If you miss a class session,
it is your responsibility to obtain
information on any class assignments.
The NCSU policy on excused absences, including
those for religious observances, is described at the following URL: http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-03
Please note that it is up to you to let your instructor
know about these absences – in advance when possible – and to arrange to
make up any missed work.
Textbook
The textbook for both USC 101 and USC 102 is THE
(Transition to Higher Education) Workbook (The 2012-2013 edition is only
available at the University Bookstore).
The price of the book – $54.70 – includes $31.00 to cover the cost of
testing and personalized reports for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®
instrument, the Strong Interest Inventory® assessment, and the
combined Strong and MBTI® Career Report. (If you have financial difficulties and
cannot afford a textbook, speak with your advisor right away.)
You are encouraged to put your textbook pages, your assignments, and your
notes for this course into a binder.
Note: many of the assignments you complete this year will be used when
you prepare your final writing assignment in USC 102 that is due at the end of Spring, 2013.
Your instructor will
provide you a detailed list of assignments with their due dates and point
values. Some of your assignments are in
the Workbook, but your instructor will give others to you. Due to the high cost of photocopying, your
instructor may not always give you paper copies of your assignments. Your instructor will explain how you can
locate your assignments and will provide them in enough time to complete
them. As with any class, you have the
responsibility to know how to find your assignments and to talk with your
instructor about any concerns or questions regarding an assignment. Always keep a copy of the work you turn in for this
or for any class, and always save returned work.
Late
assignments: your instructor will inform you of his or her
policy regarding late work. Late work policies vary by instructor.
Learning within the University is not limited to
attending class and completing assignments.
Endless opportunities for learning and discovery occur outside of class. This extended learning
is called "co-curricular" learning. You are required to attend the
following co-curricular events:
A.
Convocation
Festival – Rye Barcott
All
FYC students were required to attend the Convocation Festival at the RBC Center
featuring Rye Barcott, the author of It Happened on the Way to War. If you
did not attend this event, you will need to attend a designated makeup event –
please speak with your instructor about possible makeup events. (15 points)
B.
FYC
Majors Fair
All FYC students are required to attend the FYC Majors Fair
on September 25, in the Talley Student
Center (2:00-6:00 pm). The Majors
Fair gives you the opportunity to speak personally with representatives from
all NC State colleges and to obtain materials, curricula sheets, transfer
information, and career-related information (25 points). Note: You will not be attending the entire time.
Students
in USC 101 are required to attend three Forum events: one from the diversity/global
knowledge category, one from the educational enrichment category, and one event
from any of the four categories (the "student choice" event). You
must attend at least one event in each time block (see the list of time blocks
below). Events are posted at: www.ncsu.edu/fyc/forum/
To receive credit for attending a Forum event, you must submit a
Forum report via the Forum web page within one week of attending the
event. A Forum report must
be a thoughtful reflection on the event that answers all the questions asked
about the event. If you are attending
events for the University Scholars program, you may count these events for your
Forum Series requirement; be sure to submit reports on the events you attend. Please ask your instructor if you have any
questions. If you have to buy a ticket for an event, you are responsible for
that cost. (10 points for each event; 30 points total) Important: If you wish to
attend an event that is not on the Forum Series calendar, you must get approval
from your instructor in advance.
Diversity/Global Knowledge Events
Events
in this category will introduce you to areas of diversity and global
knowledge, helping you understand the world and your place in it. You
will also consider differences in culture, identity, and community at
NC State.
Educational Enrichment Events
These
events give you the opportunity to expand your academic skills and educational
horizons. Typical events are academic skills workshops, selected campus club or
organizational meetings (check with your instructor to see which ones qualify),
faculty lectures, talks given by outside speakers, etc.
The Arts
Events in this category
will help you explore campus and community arts events such as concerts, plays,
museum exhibitions, arts shows, and so on.
Keep in mind that some of these events require you to purchase a ticket
in advance. (These events are considered
“student choice.”)
This
category includes experiences designed to educate you and enable your wellness
in the physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational dimensions. These events
include hands-on service to the community (e.g., Service NC State day, Habitat
for Humanity, etc.). (These events are
considered “student choice.”)
FYC
Student Council option (30
points)
The First Year College
Student Council is the representative body for all FYC students. It develops
events that create unity for FYC, as well as those promoting FYC across
campus. You can actively participate in
Student Council for your Forum credits in either the fall or spring semester. (While
Forum credit is available only for one semester, you may participate in both
semesters). For information, about what
you need to do to complete this option, talk with your USC 101 instructor.
Superforum Events (15 points)
During the semester FYC
may designate a "Superforum Event" that focuses on an issue that is
significant to the NC State community or to the larger community outside the
University. In the past, Superforum
Events included a panel and discussion on the causes and consequences of the 9/11
attacks and an interactive workshop on diversity. A Superforum Event can fulfill one of your
three required Forum events. Because the
topics are so significant, you can earn additional credit (15 points instead of
10 points) for attending the event and submitting a thoughtful report. Although you receive additional points, a Superforum only counts for one event; you still must attend
two other Forum events during the semester.
If you are not
fulfilling the Student Council option for your Forum requirement, you must
follow the Forum time block schedule below and complete at least one Forum
event in each time block. (You may
complete all of your Forum requirements earlier than listed below.)
Time Block 1 is: August
16 – September 23
Time Block 2 is: September
24 – October 28
Time Block 3 is: October 29 – December 2
|
COURSE
GRADE FOR USC 101 |
||
|
Assignments and Activities |
Maximum
Points Each
|
Total
Points Possible |
|
Assignments
and class activities |
variable |
200 |
|
Co-curricular
Events Rye Barcott’s
Convocation Address Forum requirement – 3 events [or Student
Council option] ·
Diversity/Global Knowledge Forum Event ·
Educational Enrichment Forum Event ·
Student Choice Forum Event FYC Majors Fair |
15
10
10
10
25 |
70 |
|
Final Exam |
30 |
30 |
|
TOTAL POINTS: 300 |
||
|
USC 101 COURSE GRADE |
|
A Ranges |
B Ranges |
C Ranges |
D Ranges |
F |
|
A+ = 291 - 300 |
B+ = 261 -
269 |
C+ = 231 - 239 |
D+ = 200 - 209 |
F = 0 - 179 |
|
A = 279 - 290 |
B = 249 - 260 |
C = 219 - 230 |
D = 189 - 199 |
|
|
A- = 270 - 278 |
B- = 240 - 248 |
C- = 210 - 218 |
D- = 180 - 188 |
|
The co-curricular events
and final exam have a set point value for all sections of USC 101. For other
assignments and activities for the course, your instructor will determine the
point value. You may find that you
do not do exactly the same assignments as students in another section of USC
101, and similar assignments may have different point values in different
sections of the course. However, all
assignments and activities are designed to help you make a smooth transition
from high school to college, learn how to succeed academically, learn about
yourself, and explore majors and careers.
Incomplete grades
If an extended deadline is not authorized by
the instructor or department, an unfinished incomplete grade will automatically
change to an F after either (a) the end of the next regular semester in which
the student is enrolled (not including summer sessions), or (b) the end of 12
months if the student is not enrolled, whichever is shorter. Incompletes that
change to F will count as an attempted course on transcripts. The burden of
fulfilling an incomplete grade is the responsibility of the student. The university
policy on incomplete grades is located at http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-50-03