First Year College
USC 102: Introduction to University Education II
In their first year at NC State University, all FYC students must take two one-hour, letter-graded courses: Introduction to University Education I (USC 101 in the fall semester) and Introduction to University Education II (USC 102 in the spring semester). Your instructor for this course is your academic adviser, which gives you weekly contact with him or her. You will also meet individually with your adviser at least twice each semester.
FYC advisers 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.
Upon completion of this course, students will
(1) Be able to analyze various components of the academic major and career decision process, drawing on both their personal experience and research; apply these findings to what they currently know about themselves and majors/careers; compare their options; and outline their next steps of action
(2) Know how to conduct a career informational interview
(3) Know how to use the University Plan of Work tool
(4) Understand the University Progress Toward Degree policy
(5) Be more aware of their own attitudes and experiences with respect to diversity
Students are required to comply with the university policy on academic integrity found in the Code of Student Conduct found at
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_discipline/POL11.35.1.php
Your name on any assignment you submit means that you neither gave nor received unauthorized aid when you completed the assignment.
All academic integrity violations will be sent to Student Conduct. Violations on any forum report will 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.
See the website referenced above for a detailed explanation of academic honesty.
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://www.ncsu.edu/policies/campus_environ/
or
Any person who feels that he or she has been the subject of prohibited discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 515-3148.
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, student must register with the Disability Services Office
DSO is located at 1900 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 at
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.1.php
You will earn a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F with plus/minus grading) in USC 102, 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.
Regular class attendance in any college course is essential for success, and USC 102 is no exception. The basic attendance policy for USC 102 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.
Please note that it is up to you to let your instructor know about these absences and to arrange to make up any missed work. For more information on excused absences, go to:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.3.php
Textbook
The textbook for both USC 101 and USC 102 is THE (Transition to Higher Education) Workbook (2008-2009 edition, $51.50, available at the University Bookstore). The price of the book includes $28 to cover the cost of testing and personalized reports for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instrument, the Strong Interest Inventory® assessment, and the DISCOVER® career exploration website. If you did not purchase this textbook in the fall, speak to your instructor immediately.
Put your assignments and notes for this course into the course binder, because many of the assignments will be used to create your portfolio.
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 most of them to you. However, due to the high cost of photocopying, your instructor may not 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, students have the responsibility to know how to find their assignments and to ask their 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.
Your instructor will give you the URL of his or her course website.
This assignment will familiarize you with a particular career and help you see how this career is connected to the majors you are considering. It will also give you a good model for informational interviews and allow you to practice networking and interviewing skills. The assignment is in chapter 13 in the Workbook. Your instructor may give you additional guidelines. (40 points)
NC State requires all undergraduate students to show appropriate progress toward completing a degree program and to have a Plan of Work on file with the University. Equally as important, the Plan of Work helps you to focus and organize your major and career search, make decisions (co-op, study abroad, minor, etc), and look ahead to post-secondary education (graduate and professional school). You will complete an online Plan of Work this semester as a part of the course. Your instructor will give you the details, including the point value for this assignment.
The portfolio gives you an opportunity to bring together your work for both USC 101 and USC 102 and to reflect on your decision-making about majors and careers. You will also be able to discuss other issues concerning your first year at NCSU. Your instructor will give you directions, including the point value for this assignment.
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:
Your instructor will give you further details. (15 points)
This event takes you from the “big picture” of the Majors Fair to a more in-depth look at the particular college(s) you are considering for a major. You will attend two sessions, each of which addresses key questions about majors and opportunities in the college via a panel of current students, recent grads, and faculty/administrators from the college. (40 points)
You must select one of two options for the FYC Forum Requirement as described below.
1. Individualized Proposal (30 points)
In order to provide a more in-depth experience, students are encouraged to submit their own individualized plan of involvement for the spring semester. Examples include:
· Joining and becoming an active member in a student club
· Volunteering weekly for the Molly Hays Glander Rape & Sexual Assault Response Line
· Becoming a voting member of the NCSU Student Council or other campus governing body
· Contributing Saturdays throughout the semester to Habitat for Humanity (including the end of semester trip--either nationally or internationally)
· Attending films that are a part of the Diversity Film Series
Your proposal should explain clearly how your plan covers each of the categories of experience (educational or vocational, cultural, wellness). Your instructor will give you the URL for specific directions and a contract form for your proposal. If you choose this option, you must submit it for approval to your instructor. Your instructor must approve your proposal; just turning in the contract form is not enough. The deadline for submitting a forum contract to your instructor is February 8.
2. Event attendance (30 points)
Your other option is to attend three forum events (10 points for each event; 30 points total):
· one cultural,
· one educational or vocational,
· one event from any category (the "student choice" event).
You must attend at least one event in each time block (see chart below for time blocks).
Choose the events from the calendar at:
http://www.ncsu.edu/fyc/forum/
If you wish to attend an event that is not on the calendar, you must get approval from your instructor in advance. To receive full credit for attending a Forum Event, 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 and answer all the questions asked about the event. If you attend events for University Scholars, you may count them for your Forum Series requirement; be sure to submit reports on the events you attend. Please ask your instructor if you have any questions.
Events in this category will help you explore campus and community arts and multicultural events, such as concerts, plays, gallery walks, international festivals, and so on. Some of these events require you to purchase a ticket in advance; it is your responsibility to do so.
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.
These events assist in a student's major or career decision-making process (e.g., College open houses, job fairs, individual appointment with University Career Center Counselor, etc.).
This category includes experiences designed to educate and enable student wellness in the physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational dimensions; includes hands-on service to the community (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, Health Center presentations on alcohol and drug use or on healthy eating, etc.).
*Superforum Events* (15 points)
Each semester FYC may sponsor one (or more) "Superforum Event" that focuses on an issue that is significant to the NC State community, or to the larger community outside the University. In past years, some Superforum Events have been a panel and discussion on the causes and consequences of 9-11, 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.
You must complete at least one forum in each time block.
Time Block 1 is: Jan. 7 – Feb. 15
Time Block 2 is: Feb. 16 – March 22
Time Block 3 is: March 23 – April 26
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COURSE GRADE FOR USC 102
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Assignments and Activities |
Maximum Points Each |
Total Points Possible |
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Writing and Class Assignments Plan of Work Letter of Intent Portfolio Other assignments and activities |
Your instructor will give you details on these assignments and their point values |
175 |
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Co-curricular Activities Academic Networking Career Information Interview Convocation
Forum contract for total points or individual forum events Cultural Enrichment Forum Event Educational or Vocational Forum Event Student’s Choice Forum Event |
40 40 15
10 10 10 |
125 |
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TOTAL POINTS: 300 |
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USC 102 COURSE GRADE |
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A Ranges |
B Ranges |
C Ranges |
D Ranges |
F |
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A+ = 291 - 300 |
B+ = 269 - 261 |
C+ = 239 - 231 |
D+ = 209 - 200 |
F = < 180 |
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A = 290 - 279 |
B = 260 - 249 |
C = 230 - 219 |
D = 199 - 189 |
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A- = 278 - 270 |
B- = 248 - 240 |
C- = 218 - 210 |
D- = 188 - 180 |
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The University’s regulations about incomplete grades may be found at:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/grades_undergrad/REG02.50.3.php
Your instructor will talk with you about a grade of incomplete if your situation warrants it.