Specialties in Respiratory Care Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

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 course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are 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. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

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

RSPT-2147-001 Specialties in Respiratory Care

Prerequisites

Course Description

Emerging and specialty practices in respiratory care.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(1 sem hr; 1 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

ACLS Study Guide, 2022, 6th Edition, by Barbara Aehlert, Elsevier Publishers

Supplies

Students must have a laptop computer with reliable internet access and class notes.

Student Performance

End-of-Course Outcomes: Delineate the respiratory therapist's role in emerging and specialty practices, and earn ACLS card. 

Students 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

1. Students are required to adhere to Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct as outlined in the publication Student Rights and Responsibilities. Students failing to perform according to established standards may be subject to disciplinary action.
2. Students are expected to log into class via Blackboard several times per week.
3. Satisfactory performance for this course requires the completion of all online activities, quizzes, reading assignments and one in-class activity.

Grievance Procedure: If a student is having a problem with course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try and resolve any such problems through the instructor.  If the problem is not resolved, the student may proceed to Respiratory Care Program Director (Becky Byrd), and then the Dean of Health Professions (Kim Boyd).

Grading Criteria

The final grade for this course is based on the following:

1. Seven (7) assignments 
2. One (1) attendance/participation grade 
3. Three (3) exams 
4. One (1) comprehensive final exam
5. Completion of the 5 content specific specialty practice exams

Class attendance and participation grades are required.  There will be one day to tour the NWTH Lifestar Hangar that the student must attend in order to receive the points.  This day can not be made up and will be recorded as a zero if the student is not in attendance.

All lessons will be posted as a PowerPoint. Each lesson will have an assignment. Lectures and assignments will begin on Tuesday during class and close the following Sunday night at 2359. You must get your assignments taken care of on time. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Exams will be administered using Respondus Lockdown Browser with Respondus Monitor to ensure exam integrity and must be taken on the assigned days. If an exam is missed, the student will receive a zero (0) in the grade book. Exams are open for one week. Do not wait until the last minute in case there are technical difficulties. 

The number of points earned by a student will be divided by the maximum possible points for this course. The result will be expressed as a percent and converted to a final letter grade. The grading scale for this course is as follows:

             A = 89.5 - 100% 
             B = 79.5 - 89.4% 
             C = 75.0 - 79.4% 
             F = 0 - 74.9% 

Students must score at least 75.0% in order to pass this course.

The overall grade is based on 70% of exam grades and 30% of assignments.

Keep in mind that grades are not given.  Grades are EARNED based on student performance.  Often the instructor plays no role in the grading process other than recording.  Please be careful to note the requirements for earning the grade you desire and act accordingly throughout the semester.

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Every member of the Amarillo College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted for credit is expected to be the student’s own work. Amarillo College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student or program applicant accused of scholastic dishonesty. While specific examples are listed below, this is not an exhaustive list, and scholastic dishonesty may encompass other conduct, including any misconduct through electronic or computerized means. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, one (1) or more of the following acts:

1. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, intentionally or unintentionally having access to and/or using unauthorized materials identified by the faculty member, including, but not limited to, material generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs and content generators, or electronic, digital media, telecommunication, and/or wearable devices (e.g., laptops, phones, smartwatches, Fitbits, Bluetooth devices, tablets) to complete a quiz, examination, or class assignment; receiving information in an unauthorized manner during a quiz or examination or to complete an assignment; using, buying, selling, soliciting, stealing, or otherwise obtaining course assignments and/or examination questions in advance; using information about exams posted on the internet or in any electronic medium; violating a faculty member’s and/or the Testing Center’s testing policies and procedures; leaving a test site without permission; failing to secure test materials; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site; using someone else’s work for an assignment in whole or in part as if it were one’s own (e.g., turning in a copy of someone else’s work as one’s own work, or incorporating text generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs or content generators as one’s own writing); submitting academic work in whole or in part for more than one (1) assignment, class, or institution without the faculty member’s permission (i.e., recycling an assignment or self-plagiarism); using annotated texts or teacher’s editions; making false statements or omissions related to applications for enrollment, credit or classwork, research, or the award of a degree; falsifying academic records or documents; and attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course through any other dishonest means.
    
2. Collusion includes, but is not limited to, intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty; failing to secure academic work; providing an inappropriate level of assistance; collaborating with or communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or course assignment without the faculty member’s permission; and allowing a classmate to copy answers.
    
3. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, intentionally or unintentionally failing to quote and cite words, information, and/or ideas taken from a source(s) in accordance with a citation style approved by the faculty member and/or inadequately paraphrasing.

Remediation Policy

Students who do not pass exams will meet with a tutor for mandatory remediation. The student will complete tutoring by the due date in Watermark and will not be able to take the next exam if tutoring is not completed. 

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY
I want you to be successful and your attendance is critical to your success.  In order to be fair, there is no distinction between an excused absence and an unexcused absence.  Attendance is taken with Watermark and it is the student's responsibility to ensure their attendance is correct. Each student with a tardy/attendance problem will be addressed on an individual basis with the instructor. 

In order for the student to obtain maximum benefit from the course, they must attend class regularly. When a student attends >90% of the available class days, they tend to do well. In the event that a student must miss a class it is his/her responsibility to obtain the content that was discussed in their absence.  In the event a student must miss a major exam, it is their responsibility to contact the instructor. A different exam with similar content may be given.  *Two tardies (more than 10 minutes late) count as one absence.  Two instances of leaving class early (more than 10 minutes) counts as one absence.

If you are visibly ill and or running a fever, please do not attend class. Your classmates don't need your illness anymore than your patients at the hospital. 

If a student is absent for 2 or less lecture classes and has an EXAM average of 90% or above, the student will have the option of being exempt from the final exam.

Calendar

Additional Information

Tutoring Policy:

The instructor will meet with students who perform poorly on exams at the student's request.  Both parties will develop a plan to gain a better understanding of the information covered on the exam.  Remediation will be completed before the student can take the next scheduled exam in the course and will be scheduled outside of regular class time. The plan will include, but will not be limited to:
     1.  Students earning less than 75% on an exam will be required to see a tutor in the West Campus Tutoring Center or the Respiratory Care Peer Tutor before the next section exam can be taken.  A tutoring notification (task) will be sent through Watermark to the student, tutoring center and the peer tutor concerning the content to be covered before the next section exam. When tutoring is complete, the tutor will notify the instructor and the instructor of the course will mark the tutoring notification complete in Watermark.
     2.  If a student does not understand the concepts or topics after the tutorial session, please email the instructor to schedule a discussion of topics with the instructor.
     3.  If a student fails a second test during the semester, steps 1 and 2 above will need to be followed and the student must turn in hand-written chapter objectives and defined key terms from the chapter(s) before the next major exam.

The last day to withdraw from this course is April 23, 2026.