Course Syllabus FYS 1100: Freshman Year Seminar (FYS) M 11:00-11:50 Atwood I 101 Fall 2011 Academic Affairs

Dr. Micah Mattix Assistant Professor in Literature

COURSE DESCRIPTION FYS is designed to assist the first semester freshman student transition successfully to Houston Baptist University. This course uses a very interactive approach to achieve success at HBU in a number of areas, such as personal strengths, academic, spiritual, social, and emotional development. Questionnaires, inventories, discussions, presentations, and daily opportunities for student interaction are used as tools for academic growth and self-discovery. COURSE SEQUENCE IN CURRICULUM AND PREREQUISITE INFORMATION This course is a graduation credit for all incoming freshmen students or transfer students with less than 15 hours. FYS 1100 is a one-hour course that counts toward the overall hours necessary to graduate from the University. INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION Name: Dr. Micah Mattix E-mail: mmattix@hbu.edu Office Phone: 281-649-3615 Office Location: UAC 121 Office Hours: 1:00-3:00 MWF, 9:00-11:00 TR LEARNING RESOURCES Course Text(s):

Monvee Pack Basic Christianity, John Stott Fabric of This World, Lee Hardy

RELATION TO THE PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY In accordance with the university purpose, mission, and Ten Pillars Vision Statement (including its commitment to academic excellence, the Christian faith, personal growth, respect for all persons, a sense of community, and career preparation), this course endeavors to: 1. Provide a supportive atmosphere for students from all backgrounds that foster intellectual and social interaction in the teaching-learning processes.

2.

Encourage academic excellence, and promote the development of critical and creative thinking, responsibility, and continuing interest in learning. RELATION TO COLLEGE GOALS AND PURPOSES The Freshman Year Seminar has been constructed in accordance with the following goals for students as determined by Academic Affairs: 1. To comfortably transition to college and become actively engaged in all aspects of university life (academically, socially, and spiritually). 2. To understand the expectations as a HBU student and accept the responsibilities of being a member of our Christian community. 3. To learn the basic skills needed and the resources available to be academically successful as well as a good steward of your time, talents, and treasures. RELATION TO DEPARTMENTAL GOALS AND PURPOSES Not applicable. See College goals listed above. COURSE OBJECTIVES Overview/ purpose of the course The Freshman Year Seminar is a unique and practical course taken during a students first semester at HBU. The class meets once a week in small discussion groups. These discussion groups will be led by a qualified faculty member. Students will focus on their individual strengths and talents, and how they can use the college experience to discover, develop, and apply their strengths and abilities. Personal qualities, individual strengths and skills that students bring to college are examined and enhanced. Purpose for the course: To develop behavior and thinking that will produce success for students in higher education. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Identify and explain John Stotts arguments for the existence of God and for Christs claim to be the Son of God. 2. Identify and explain John Stotts discussion of Christian theology and its implications for the way we view God, ourselves, and our lives. 3. Explain the various options available to earn Community Life and Worship credits and why it is HBU offers this program. 4. Identify their likely obstacles to and strengths in spiritual development (from Monvee). 5. Describe what is meant by the liberal arts tradition and explain its relevance to contemporary higher education. 6. Explain the concepts of work and calling as understood in the Christian tradition and explain the relationship between them. 7. Recognize what constitutes plagiarism and identify strategies they can apply that

would help them avoid representing the work of others as their own.

TOPICAL OUTLINE Date: Aug. 22 Aug. 29 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Nov. 28 Topic: Introduction/Get Acquainted Transition to College: Study Skills, Plagiarism, and CLW Labor Day Monvee Assessment Spiritual Development Why study the Liberal Arts? The Liberal Arts and My Discipline Basic Christianity Basic Christianity Basic Christianity MAPP Test Calling and Career Calling and Career Calling and Career Calling and Career Writing Exercise Significance of the Liberal Arts Assignment(s): none none no class meeting Complete Monvee assessment

various Read BC, Part I Read BC, Parts II and III Read BC, Part IV none The Fabric of This World, chapter 1 The Fabric of This World, chapter 2 The Fabric of This World, chapter 3 The Fabric of This World, chapter 4 none

NOTE: The contents of this outline and the reading schedule are subject to change at the discretion of the professor.
TEACHING STRATEGIES

Learning strategies may include lectures, class discussions, videos, interactions online, demonstrations, auxiliary print materials, group exercises, role-playing, off campus trips, observations, and other approaches as deemed appropriate by your professor. ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING Course requirements 1. Regular class attendance and class participation. a. Students are expected to participate in role-plays, classroom exercises, discussions, etc. 2. Each student is expected to have the required course materials (binder, book and student handbook). 3. Each student is expected to complete all assignments as outlined in this syllabus and listed in the grading appraisal below. Grading standards 450+ points = A 300-449 points = P 299 or less points = F and course must be retaken Student appraisal 1. Attendance = 150 pts a. Perfect Attendance = 150 pts b. Each unexcused absence = -10 pts per occurrence 2. Participation in significant convocations: Opening Convocation, Spiritual Emphasis Week, and Founders Day Convocation = 30 pts 3. Timely completion of Monvee assessment (submit results to professor) = 50 pts 4. Active participation in each class discussion = 120 pts 5. One-on-One Meeting with professor = 50 pts 6. Final Writing Exercise= 100 pts CLASS POLICIES Absence and Tardy Policies Regular attendance in class is important for student success, and it is university policy that students must attend class. Absences are recorded beginning from the first class session after the student has enrolled in the course. Professors are not obligated to allow students to make up work they miss due to unexcused absences. Any student who does not attend at least 75% of the scheduled class sessions will receive a grade of F for the course, regardless of his performance on other assessments such as tests, quizzes, papers, or projects. Professors may apply additional attendance policies as appropriate to individual courses. Likewise, the college or school may also apply additional attendance requirements as necessary. Please see the catalog currently in use for the universitys policy on classroom absences caused in the course of student representation of the university, such as athletics, chorale, and mock trial activities. Academic Honesty

Please refer to the current catalog for the university's policy and procedures regarding academic honesty. Note that the university utilizes "Turn-It-In" and other programs to investigate possible plagiarism activities. All major papers for this course will be submitted to the plagiarism prevention software, Turnitin.com on or before a papers due date. No paper will be graded without meeting this requirement beforehand. A separate handout will be provided to give detailed instructions on this process which must include the class identification number and class password. In accordance with FERPA, and to best protect the students privacy, no personal identification (e.g., name, social security number, H number) should be uploaded with the text of student papers. However, Turnitin will ask for the students name and e-mail address when setting up a personal account. This identifying information will be used by the professor to evaluate the students paper and cannot be viewed by other faculty or students. To further increase confidentiality, the student may choose to use a pseudonym (false name) when setting up his or her personal Turnitin account. If a pseudonym is used for Turnitin, the student must provide this identifier next to his/her typed name on the paper copy which is submitted to the professor. Five (5) points will be deducted if the professor is unable to easily match the paper copy to the Turnitin submission of the students paper. Children in Classroom In almost all instances, children are not allowed in the classroom nor are they allowed to be on campus unattended. Class sessions are for enrolled students only unless other arrangements are approved by the instructor in advance. Classroom Behavior Expectations The classroom environment is to be conducive to learning and is under the authority of the instructor. In order to assure that all students have the opportunity to gain from the time spent in class, students are expected to demonstrate civil behavior in the classroom and show appropriate respect for the instructor and other students. Inappropriate behavior toward the instructor, in or out of the classroom, may result in a directive to the offending student to leave the classroom or the course entirely. Classroom behaviors that disturb the teaching-learning experiences include the following behaviors: activated cellular phone or other device, demands for special treatment, frequent episodes of leaving and then returning to the class, excessive tardiness, leaving class early, making offensive remarks or disrespectful comments or gestures to the instructor or other students, missing deadlines, prolonged chattering, sleeping, arriving late to class, dominating discussions, shuffling backpacks or notebooks, disruption of group work, and overt inattentiveness. It is at the discretion of the instructor as to whether laptops will be allowed for use in the classroom. Early Alert As an instructor, I am committed to your success, not only in this class, but in all aspects of HBU life. To ensure that every student takes full advantage of the educational and learning opportunities, HBU has implemented an Academic Early Alert Referral System (EARS). If I think you would benefit from some of these special

programs or services available to you, I will make the appropriate referral. You, in turn, will be expected to take advantage of the help offered to you. Email Policy All university and class email communication will be sent to your HBU email account. You are responsible for checking this frequently. If you choose, you may reroute your HBU email to another email address. Your emails should be in a professional format with correct spelling, capitalization, and grammar. Grievance Procedures The Academic Grievance Policy may be found in the catalog currently in use, in the Academic section of the HBU Forms section of the HBU Portal, and on the Registrars page on the HBU Website. Incomplete Grades Only the dean of the college or school may grant incompletes and only to students who have a major documented emergency in the last few days of a semester. Students with excessive absences, which will result in failing the course, will not be allowed to take the final exam nor be eligible to receive an incomplete. Late Work As per professors instructions. Learning Disabilities/Academic Accommodations Houston Baptist University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities. Any student who needs learning accommodations should inform the professor immediately at the beginning of the semester that he/she will be requesting accommodations. In order to request and establish academic accommodations, the student should contact the Coordinator for Learning Disability Services at 504@hbu.edu to schedule an appointment to discuss and request academic accommodation services. Academic Accommodations must be applied for and written each semester. If academic accommodations are approved, a Letter of Accommodations will then be sent to the professor(s). Please refer to the website, www.hbu.edu/504 for all accommodation policies and procedures. Missed Tests As per professors instructions.

PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING SYLLABUS Robert D. Stacey, Ph.D.

_____________________________________ Instructors Signature

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