Texas Government Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

GOVT-2306-003 Texas Government

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills

Course Description

Origin and development of the Texas Constitution, structure and powers of state and local government, federalism and inter-governmental relations, political participation, the election process, public policy and the political culture of Texas.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Choices: Custom Resources for Political Science by Brian Farmer 

ISBN 10: 1-256-62023-8

ISBN 13: 978-1-256-62023-5

Supplies

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Student Performance

No performance information available

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Students are required to attend class and be on time. Roll will be taken each class period. Attendance not only will be taken into consideration for your final grade, it is required for students to learn and comprehend the course material. Class participation will be documented and will be used as extra credit on the student’s grade as the instructor sees fit. 

Cheating is not tolerated. If it appears a student is cheating on a quiz, exam, or homework, the assignment will not be accepted and a grade of zero will be given. If the cheating occurs during a quiz or exam, the assignment will be taken away from the student, there will be no option to complete or makeup the assignment, and a grade of zero will be given.

Below is the school’s policy on cheating:

Amarillo College expects a high standard of conduct from its students. Students are expected to comply with the law, respect proper constitutional authority, and obey College policies, rules and regulations. Unacceptable conduct is defined as an action or behavior that is contrary to the best interest of a fellow student or students, the faculty or staff, the College, or the teaching/learning process. Students failing to perform according to established standards may be subject to disciplinary action. Policies, standards, rules and regulations apply to students attending College activities whether the activity takes place on or off campus.

Each student shall be responsible for becoming knowledgeable of the contents and provisions of College policies, rules, and regulations concerning student conduct. In some cases, individual programs may have approved policies for student conduct which also apply to student conduct in those programs.

All students shall obey the law, show respect for properly constituted authority, and observe correct standards of conduct. In addition to activities prohibited by law, the following types of behavior are prohibited:

1. 1. Scholastic dishonesty, punishable as prescribed by Board policies, shall include, but not be limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.

“Cheating on a test” shall include:

1. Copying from another student’s test paper.
2. Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test.
3. Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test without permission from the test administrator.
4. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of a pending test.
5. The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the pending test.
6. Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one’s self, to take a test.
7. Bribing another person to obtain a pending test or information about a pending test.

“Plagiarism” shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work.

“Collusion” shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.

2. Violations of the penal Statutes of Texas, or of the United States, occurring on College property or in connection with College-sponsored activities may also constitute violations of the College’s rules and regulations when such violations affect the educational process and goals of the College.
    
3. Obstruction or disruption of any authorized College operation or activity. Disorderly conduct shall include any verbal or physical abuse, intimidation, or the subjection of another person to inappropriate, abusive, threatening, or demeaning actions.
    
4. Use of alcoholic or intoxicating beverages and use of drugs not prescribed by a physician.
    
5. The illegal use, possession, transmissions, and/or sale of drugs or narcotics, as those terms are defined by the Texas Controlled Substances Act.
    
6. Gambling in any form.
    
7. Hazing with or without the consent of a student; a violation of that prohibition renders both the person inflicting the hazing and the person submitting to the hazing subject to appropriate discipline. Initiations by organizations may include no feature that is dangerous, harmful, or degrading to the student; a violation of this prohibition renders the organization subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
    
8. Failure to comply with a directive from a College administrator, faculty member, or Police Officer.
    
9. Falsification of admission forms or alteration of student records.
    
10. Unauthorized solicitation.
     
11. Smoking or other use of tobacco products (including, but not limited to, cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, pipes, cigars, snuff, or chewing tobacco) is prohibited in any College building. In addition, smoking is not allowed within 20 feet of any building entrance.
     
12. Possession of firearms or any type of weapon unless special authorization has been approved by the administration.
     
13. Holding rallies, demonstrations, or any other form of public gathering without prior approval of the Dean of Enrollment Management, or conducting an activity that causes College officials to interrupt their scheduled duties to intervene, supervise, or observe activities in the interest of maintaining order.
     
14. Exhibiting behavior that gives reasonable cause to question, in the opinion of the College, whether the student is able to satisfactorily function in institutional programs or institutional activities in which the student is engaged.
     
15. Interference with teaching, research, administration, or the College’s subsidiary responsibilities through “disorderly conduct or disruptive behavior.”
     
16. Failure to pay a debt to the College or writing an “insufficient funds” check to the College.
     
17. Disorderly conduct which shall include any verbal or physical abuse, intimidation or the subjection of another person to inappropriate, abusive, threatening or demeaning actions on property owned or controlled by the College or at College-sponsored functions. Students who behave in a disorderly fashion may be required to leave the premises, withdraw from a club or organization, or withdraw from the College.
     
18. Dressing in a manner which does not observe health and safety regulations and appropriateness to a learning environment. Students shall be informed of special dress requirements for any particular course or program. Students failing to comply with such requirements may be subject to disciplinary action. In cases where a student’s dress or hygiene interferes with learning, the appropriate College official shall conduct initial counseling with the student.
     
19. Damaging or destroying College property.
     
20. Sexual assault or harassment which includes any unwanted sexual advances or contact. Violation of such may result in disciplinary action as well as prosecution under state, federal, or local laws.
     
21. Unauthorized access, reconfiguration, modification, copying or misuse of College or other students’ computer files, including inappropriate use of e-mail, data or software. Violation may lead to disciplinary action.

Student Conduct/Disciplinary Procedures

Any student violating the student conduct policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension, in accordance with College policy. The principles of due process apply in all student conduct disciplinary cases at Amarillo College. These procedures have been instituted to protect the rights of the students and the rights of the College.

Alleged Violations 
A student may be summoned to appear in connection with an alleged violation of any disciplinary or traffic-related regulation.
A student may be placed on disciplinary probation without a hearing for failure to comply without good cause to a letter or summons. The College may also elect to proceed with a formal hearing. Alleged student violations of College policies, rules, or regulations may be reported by students, College personnel, or any other person who witnesses or has knowledge of such alleged violations. Where possible, the accused student will be informed of the alleged violation and its disciplinary consequences by the College official responsible for maintenance of the appropriate policy, rule, or regulation.

Preliminary Hearing
The Vice President of Student Affairs shall be notified in writing of the alleged violation, and will conduct a preliminary hearing with the student to review the allegations along with the relative facts and evidence. In some cases the preliminary hearing may be extended for continued review to interview witnesses and to gather additional information. Based upon the findings of the preliminary hearing, the Vice President will either dismiss the allegations or present the student with formal charges. If formal charges are warranted, the student has the right to waive a formal hearing in writing, and accept an administrative disposition of the case by the Vice President.

Emergency Suspension or Withdrawal
The Vice President of Student Affairs, Vice President of Academic Affairs, or the College President may take immediate disciplinary action, including suspension, pending a hearing against a student for policy violations if the continuing presence of the student poses a danger to persons or property or poses an ongoing threat of disrupting the academic process.

Formal Hearing
In cases in which the accused student disputes the facts and formal charges are filed against the student, the Vice President of Student Affairs will conduct a formal hearing within five class days. The student will be notified in writing at least three days prior to the hearing. The student may review the charges and evidence against him or her prior to the hearing. Legal counsel may be present at a hearing only with the prior consent of the College. If counsel is present, the counsel may not participate in the hearing or present the student’s case, but only advise the student of his or her rights.

During the formal hearing, the student may admit guilt or deny the formal charges. In the formal hearing, the student is entitled to present his or her case, to present witnesses who may provide substantiating evidence, and be confronted by witnesses against him or her.

Hearing Panel
A panel composed of at least one student appointed by the Student Government Association President, one faculty member appointed by the President of the Faculty Senate, and one administrator appointed by the President of the Administrators Association shall hear the facts and testimony, and see any evidence presented in the hearing. The panel will recommend to the Vice President of Student Affairs an opinion as to whether the accused student has violated the code of conduct and recommend penalties, if appropriate.

Decision in Hearing
Based upon the findings of the formal hearing and recommendations from the hearing panel, the Vice President of Student Affairs will determine the student’s guilt or innocence and any penalties assessed. The student will be notified in writing of the outcome of the hearing within three days of the hearing.

Penalties 
If the student is found guilty, penalties that may be imposed include:

1. Reprimand.
    
2. Curtailment of privileges.
    
3. Requirement to participate in training.
    
4. Requirement to participate in community service.
    
5. Disciplinary probation.
    
6. Exclusion from class with an assignment of a grade of F.
    
7. Termination of student employment.
    
8. Temporary disciplinary suspension.
    
9. Restitution.
    
10. Prosecution under federal law, state law, or city ordinances.
     
11. Permanent suspension from the institution for repeated violations of the code of conduct.

Suspended Students 
No students who have been suspended for disciplinary reasons from the College shall be permitted on any campus or other facilities of the College during the period of suspension without the prior written approval of the Vice President of Student Affairs.

Appeals 
Students who wish to appeal a decision must submit a written letter of appeal to the Vice President of Student Affairs within seven calendar days. Appeals will be reviewed based upon the following criteria:

1. The severity of the penalty.

2. Adherence to disciplinary policies and procedures of the College.

The Vice President will conduct a review and render a decision in writing within seven days.

Appeal to President
Any student disciplined pursuant to this policy may, within 15 days of receiving notice of the decision from the Vice President of Student Affairs, petition in writing the College President to review the decision. The student’s petition will state with particularity why the decision is believed to be incorrect or unfair. The College President may choose to allow oral argument on the petition, in which case the parties will be provided notice of the date, time, and place of the review within seven days of the receipt of the appeal request. The College President will notify the student, in writing, of the results of the review within seven days.

Disciplinary Record 
Amarillo College will maintain an official disciplinary record for any Amarillo College student who has been assessed a disciplinary penalty. This record will reflect the nature and disposition of the charge, the penalty assessed, and other pertinent information. The disciplinary record shall be separate from the student’s academic record and shall be treated as confidential. The contents shall be available to College officials who have a need to know, but shall not be revealed except upon request of the student or in accordance with applicable state or federal laws.

Interrogations and Searches
College officials have a limited right to search students or their property when such search would be in the interest of the overall welfare of other students, or when necessary to preserve the good order and discipline of the College. Even if no search warrant is obtained, any prohibited item within “plain view” is subject to seizure.

Areas such as lockers and desks which are owned and controlled by the College may be searched by College officials when they have reasonable cause to believe that stolen items or items prohibited by law or by Board policy are contained in the area to be searched. Indiscriminate searches in the nature of “fishing expeditions” shall be prohibited.

Stolen items and items which are forbidden by Board policy or law may be impounded and may be used as evidence in internal College disciplinary proceedings against the student.

The above policies shall not apply in the event that law enforcement authorities are involved in a search. College searches conducted with assistance from law enforcement authorities are governed by the Fourth Amendment standards that are applicable in the criminal law context.

Grading Criteria

There are no makeup exams or assignments. 

 

Grade:             Percentage:

 

A                      90-100

B                      80-89

C                      70-79

D                     60-69

F                      below 60

Grades will be awarded on the following percentages: 

Exam Average: 50%

Discussion Average: 20%

Final Project Presentation: 20%

Attendance: 10%

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory and is counted towards your final grade. 

Calendar

Additional Information

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