Honors Seminar Syllabus for 2016-2017
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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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Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

• consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
• consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
• consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
• consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
  • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

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Course

HONR-1011-PSH Honors Seminar

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200; Enrollment limited to Honors Program students

Course Description

Examination of the practices and skills of leadership from reading and group projects.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(0 sem hrs; 1 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

There is no required text for this class. 

 

Supplies

Students will need a USB drive for storing electronic files and should always bring note-taking materials to class.

Student Performance

After completing this course, the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the instructor:

1. identify personal learning strengths and weaknesses
2. analyze various leadership contexts
3. apply leadership and team building principles and theory in practical projects
4. participate in class and group processes
5. demonstrate courtesy and respect for classmates

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 expected to behave in the classroom in a manner that is supportive of the learning environment. Behaviors that are not supportive include, but are not limited to: tardiness/leaving early; electronic device noises; talking during lectures; abusive, offensive or disrespectful behavior/language. 
• Emails sent to your instructor must be addressed and signed. Emails, like all academic work, should be proofread, should not include slang or abbreviations, and should not resemble text messages. 
• Turn off cell phones or put them on silent during class.
• Any student caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive a failing grade.  According to the Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct, plagiarism is the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the acknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work.

Grading Criteria

Your course grade will be determined by the following percentages:

15% Class Attendance/Participation
20% Scholar Project
  -- Project Planning Sheet
  -- Project Execution
  -- Project Report (notebook)
10% Out-of-class Events
30% Research Project
--Research abstract
--Research paper
--Research presentation or poster
10% Educational Planning 
  --Educational Plan Worksheet
  --Specialist Log         
5% End-of-Semester Evaluation Worksheet
10% Honors Update Newsletter Article
 

All Scholars will be graded on a pass/fail basis and must earn a minimum of grade of 70%.

ASSIGNMENTS

Class Attendance/Participation 
Because your success in this class depends on your ability to collaborate during class time, regular attendance is essential for satisfactory achievement. Your participation will directly affect your grade. Daily attendance will be recorded. Points will be deducted from your participation/attendance grade for more than two absences -- regardless of the reason for the absence. Leaving class prior to dismissal time or arriving late will be counted as an absence. Should you need to miss class due to illness or other conflict, please notify your project team.

Scholar Project 
Each First Year student will be assigned a Project Group and will work with team members to fulfill group responsibilities.  The entire Scholars Seminar class will provide the ‘manpower’ for events and activities; however, each Project Group will coordinate planning and execution for that group’s particular responsibilities.

Project Groups will prepare a final report on the group’s work.

Grades will be based on the overall success of the project including planning, organization, teamwork, leadership and creativity and the individual contribution to the group as documented in the Project Planning Sheet, Project Report  and the Project Personal Evaluation Worksheet.

Group 1	Group 2	Group 3
High School Recruiting (visits to provide high school students with tips for college success along with background on AC Honors and Presidential Scholars) Assist with Creative Mind Lecture Series Assist with Spring into Honors Recruiting event Planning and execution of one fun event for Scholars	Community Service (a service project designed and carried out by the Project Group with participation from the entire class) Community Presentations: (coordination of and visits to community groups to present about AC Honors, Presidential Scholars and Honors travel) Planning and execution of one fun event for Scholars	Organize and lead an on-campus travel presentation about Japan trip Badgerama booth:  Plan booth and coordinate activities for Badgerama Plan and carry out Scholars end-of-year-banquet Planning and execution of one fun event for Scholars

Group 1

This group will coordinate high school recruiting visits and will assist with other recruiting events

Responsibilities will include:

• Contacting high school  AP teachers to request classroom visits
• Coordinating sign-ups for Scholars to present at high school visits
• Determining location, facilities needed and format of Spring-into-Honors Event
• Reserving facilities for Spring-into-Honors
• Arranging for AV equipment (if needed), tables (if needed), refreshments, and decorations (if desired) at Spring-into-Honors
• Creating a schedule for Scholars to assist at Spring-into-Scholars Event and coordinating sign-ups
• Creating and distributing promotional materials for Spring-into-Honors
• Coordinating Spring-into-Honors set-up and clean-up
• Coordinate assistance at Creative Mind events
• One fun event to be carried out in April
• Other duties as assigned or as determined necessary by the group

Group 2

This group will create and execute a community service project and will coordinate community presentations about the AC Honors Program and Honors Travel experiences.

Responsibilities will include:

• Designing a community outreach project that can be carried out during Spring semester
• Coordinating arrangements with community organization
• Creating a schedule for Scholars to participate in the service project and coordinating sign-ups
• Executing project
• Contacting community group to arrange presentations for this semester and/or next fall semester
• Coordinating sign-ups for Scholars to present at community events during Spring semester (Rotary, Lions Club etc.)
• One fun event to be carried out in February
• Other duties as assigned or as determined necessary by the group

Group 3

This group will organize and lead an on-campus travel presentation about trip, coordinate set up and staffing of Badgerama Booth and plan and carry out the Scholars End-of-the-Year banquet

Responsibilities will include:

• Organize and lead an on-campus travel presentation about  trip—including reserving location and AV equipment, choosing speakers, creating slideshow, publicizing event.
• Planning theme and activities for Badgerama booth and scheduling staffing.
• Planning and carrying out end-of-the year Scholars Banquet (arranging location, food, decorations, schedule, invitations, set up and clean up, etc. as well as coordinating presentations and creating a strategy for showcasing student research and highlighting travel experiences.)
• One fun event to be carried out in March
• Other duties as assigned or as determined necessary by the group

Each group will also be responsible for planning and carrying out one "fun" event for the Scholars.  This can be as simple as bringing in lunch to eat during our regular class time or arranging a meal out, movie night or painting event at Burn Studio.  The only requirement is that the events do not require the program to cover the cost of events/food/activities.

Out-of-Class Events 
Numerous activities outside of seminar class time will be offered, some of which will be optional and others will be mandatory.  Scholars are expected to participate in a minimum of three out-of-class events.  Events that take place during normal seminar class time will not count toward this total.  Attendance and participation will be documented.

Research Project 
Scholars will carry out research based on the proposals submitted during Fall semester.  Students will complete abstracts, research papers and presentations/posters following the guidelines for the West Texas A&M University Student Research Conference.  Guidelines and grading rubrics can be found at http://www.wtamu.edu/academics/student-research-conference.aspx

Educational Planning 
Students must update their educational planning documents—the Educational Plan and the Specialist Log.  The Educational Plan is a worksheet that students complete and then finalize with the assistance of their advisors to use as a personal instruction sheet for completing college.  Students can update the Education Plan they began last semester. Blank editable PDF Educational Plan forms can be found at http://www.actx.edu/pagesmith/1 (click on Educational Plan).  The Specialist Log is a sheet that documents that the student has met with at least two educational planning specialists during the semester.  One of the two must be your AC academic advisor.  The other can be a representative of the Career Center or the Money Management Center or an advisor from your anticipated transfer university.  Students who anticipating transferring Fall semester of 2017 should meet with an advisor from the transfer university as early as possible. Remember, to complete the Scholars program, you must successfully complete four sections designated as Honors.

Final Evaluation
Students must complete a final evaluation worksheet that responds to questions regarding the Presidential Scholars Program.  Students will be given the evaluation prompt  approximately one week prior to the due date.

Honors Update Newsletter Article
Students will write a 400-600 word article for the Program’s digital newsletter, The Honors Update.  Due dates will vary according to which project group the student is in.  Scholars may choose from the following topics:

• A personal reflection on and description of his/her experiences in AC’s Presidential Scholars program or recent Scholars overseas travel.
• A profile of a current Presidential Scholar or a Presidential Scholar graduate (faculty can provide contact information if needed)
• A profile of an Honors or Presidential Scholars instructor
• A glimpse inside an Honors or Presidential Scholars class
• Reflections on the research project experience
• A summary of experiences at AC in light of upcoming graduation
• Another topic related to Honors or Presidential Scholars pending instructor approval

Article submission does not guarantee publication.  Scholars are encouraged to seek assistance from The Writer’s Corner prior to handing in this assignment.

Attendance

Class Attendance/Participation

Because your success in this class depends on your ability to collaborate during class time, regular attendance is essential for satisfactory achievement. Your participation will directly affect your grade. Daily attendance will be recorded. Points will be deducted from your participation/attendance grade for more than two absences -- regardless of the reason for the absence. Leaving class prior to dismissal time or arriving late will be counted as an absence. Should you need to miss class due to illness or other conflict, please notify your project team. If you have a class conflict, please work closely with your instructors and group members to ensure work is completed.

Former Scholars are always welcome in class.

Calendar

Additional Information

Grades will be available through Blackboard.