Research 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-2243-001 Research in Respiratory Care

Prerequisites

Course Description

Analysis of current respiratory care research material and determination of scientific validity. May include active clinical research.

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

(2 sem hrs; 2 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Introduction to Research and Medical Literature for Health Professionals, current edition, Jones & Bartlett.

Supplies

Students must have a laptop computer or tablet with reliable Internet acces and ability to use Google Docs.

Student Performance

Course Description

This course provides an overview of the basic principles of research, research design and statistical analysis as it relates to healthcare professionals, with the goal of encouraging involvement in research after graduation. Students will develop a hypothesis, write a problem statement, review the literature, and evaluate the literature.

End-of-Course Outcomes: 

Upon Completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Describe the purpose of conducting research in healthcare.
2. Identify and describe important considerations in study design such as ethical implications and vulnerable populations while ensuring rigor in research.
3. Outline the components of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method study designs.
4. Develop health research questions with specific research objectives and select study designs and research processes that are suitable for providing answers.
5. Find relevant abstracts and access full-text articles using online resources.
6. Review and critically evaluate a published study or literature review using a recognized critical appraisal instrument.
7. Compose an abstract, introduction, and list of references in preparation for the Cardiopulmonary Diseases research project for the fall semester.
8. Demonstrate professional writing.
9. Conduct a peer review of a classmate’s research proposal.
10. Develop professional communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.

Disclaimer: This course is a hybrid course that requires the student to engage in independent, self-study outside of the once weekly, on campus lecture time. Students are responsible for reading multiple chapters weekly, accessing online library resources, conducting quality research, and utilizing quality evidence to build a research project. This course is not a blow off course!

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

Expected Student Behavior

1. Please make every effort to be on time and to stay in your seat for the entire class period.  Late arrivals, leaving class and returning are very disruptive to the class and to a proper leaning environment.
2. The student should read assignments prior to class and be prepared to discuss topics covered in class.  Students will be called on to share their understanding of topics.
3. Assigned discussions, homework and reading assignments are to be completed before class.  Homework cannot be completed in class unless the instructor gives permission.
4. Exams and daily quizzes will start at the beginning of class.  In the case of major exams, students may begin the exam when they arrive, but will have the same deadline as everyone else in the class.  In the case of daily quizzes, if the student arrives late, he/she will not be allowed to take the quiz and will receive a grade of 0.  Please note that for major exams the students will need to bring their own laptop computers.
5. CELL PHONES AND SMART WATCHES MUST BE TURNED OFF OR IN VIBRATE MODE AT ALL TIMES DURING CLASS. CELL PHONES AND EARBUDS MUST BE PUT AWAY INSIDE A PURSE, BACKPACK, OR IN THE CELL PHONE POUCH ON THE WALL AND NOT LAYING ON THE TABLE OR IN THE STUDENT'S LAP.
6. Other behavior deemed as being disruptive or disrespectful by the instructor may lead to the student(s) being asked to leave the classroom.  If this happens, the student(s) will not be allowed to return until after a counseling session with the Program Director.
7. The use of AI or plagiarism on any assignment or discussion will result in a grade of zero (0) and will severely jeopardize successful completion of this course (see AC RC Student Handbook).

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), the to the Dean of Health Professions (Kim Boyd).

Grading Criteria

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

1. Three Exams (150 points)
2. Discussion/Response Posts (x2, 50 points each)
3. Written Assignment (x2, 50 points each)
4. Final Written Assignment (100 points)
5. Final Exam (50 points)

Weekly written assignments and discussions are to be turned in by the due date. Any written assignment and/or discussion not completed on time will be scored as zero without exception.  Assignments are allowed two attempts at submission for purposes of student submission error only.  No assignment will be regraded for a higher grade.

All written assignments and discussion posts MUST be formatted according to APA 7th Edition formatting guidelines.

Use of AI in Professional Writing

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has no place in professional writing. For this reason, I will be utilizing a program tool for evaluating the use of AI in all writing submissions for this course. If a submission is found to contain the use of AI writing, the student will receive a zero (0) for the assignment and will be subject to disciplinary action the same as cheating as outlined in the RC Student Handbook.  However, you may use AI as a resource and/or tool for your development as a student.

Plagiarism in Professional Writing

Another form of academic dishonesty is plagiarism. This is the act of taking another author's ideas, thoughts, or works of writing and presenting it as your own without giving the original author credit. The original author may be a published researcher, a former or current graduate of this RC Program, or a classmate. Assignments submitted through SafeAssign must have a 15% or less risk score on the submission originality report to be considered an acceptable submission. Students who plan to be successful in this area must become masters in paraphrasing!

Testing Procedures

Exams will be administered using Respondus Lockdown Browser with Respondus Monitor to ensure exam integrity.

All exams will be open book, open note to eliminate a student to feel the need to cheat on any exam. Please keep in mind that this type of exam does not mean that the exam will be easier. Knowledge of the material is a requirement to be successful! No scratch paper will be allowed for the exams.

Exams will be made available to review post-test with an exam wrapper during lecture as time allows.  If the student desires to know specific content areas to study based on exam performance, an appointment must be made with the instructor to discuss this information. Pictures and/or recordings of exam questions are not allowed. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in a grade of 0 for the exam and will severely jeopardize successful completion of the course (see AC RC Student Handbook).

Make-up Policy

The opportunity to make-up missed tests and turn in assignments will be decided on an individual basis by the instructor.  The exam must be taken within 1 week and the maximum grade that can be earned is 75%.  Make-up exams may be different from the exam given on the scheduled day.  There will be no make-up offered for the final exam or quizzes.

Discussions

Discussions are a mechanism for students to exchange ideas, learn from each other and the course instructor. Students will respond to prompts from the course instructor - given the instructions with adherence to requirements for citing and word counts. Below are requirements for each discussion type. Learners should pay very close attention to these as this will be the criteria for how you are graded:

• Initial Discussion Posts - Initial discussion posts should be substantive, based upon material from the textbook and/or weekly reading (but DO NOT merely excessively quote or paraphrase the book). A minimum of 350 words is required to adequately answer the prompts.  Discussions should be grammatically correct and well-written in a brief essay.  Active participation is essential in hybrid learning education.  Initial discussion posts should be posted on or before 11:59 pm on their due date. All initial posts should be appropriately cited with a reference entry in APA 7th edition, including the textbook when used. See resources on APA for more information.
• Response Posts - A minimum of two (2) response posts are due each discussion week. While there are no word minimums these should be substantive and more than "I agree, or I disagree." Generally, response posts should be between 3 to 5 sentences (a paragraph). You are encouraged to apply your own experience and opinions to response posts and as such they do not need to be supported by reference material unless you choose to utilize research for your responses. Due dates will be posted on each individual post and will be due by 11:59 pm on the set date.

Homework Assignments
Homework assignments are intended to enhance learning course material and to prepare for exams.  Homework assignments will be due on a specified date and will not be accepted late. 
 

Grading

1. Each examination/discussion/assignment will have a specific number of points awarded for correct answers. If the student wishes to calculate his/her earned percentage on an exam/quiz/assignment, the number of points earned is divided by the maximum possible points for the exam/quiz/assignment x 100.
2. The only extra credit offered in this course will be bonus questions on the major exams.
3. Nothing in this course will be curved, however, rounding of scores will take place as follows:  0.5 will round up to the next highest whole number, ex. 74.5 = 75.0.  74.4 will NOT round up.
4. At least 10% of the questions on major exams will come from reading assignments.
5. Students must pass all exams to pass this course. The overall grade in the gradebook will reflect the exam average. If a student obtains a passing exam average, all other graded items will be added to the overall grade at the end of the course.
6. The final course grade is weighted, 50% for exams, 20% for discussion/response posts, and 30% for written assignments. The result will be expressed as a percent and converted to a letter grade.
7. Grades will be posted in Blackboard.
8. The grading schema for this course is:

             A = 90 - 100
             B = 80 - 89
             C = 75 - 79
             F = 0 - 74

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

The instructor will meet with students who do not pass exams for mandatory remediation.  Both parties will develop a plan to gain better understanding of the information covered on the test.  The plan may include, but not be limited to:

1. research of exam topics
2. written discussion of topics
3. oral discussion of topics
4. mandatory tutoring in the AC Success Center and/or with the SSS Program tutor.

Mandatory remediation of an exam will be a group event at a date/time set by the instructor. Failure to arrive on time and complete a remediation meeting at the set date/time will result in negative points (-10 points) for that exam.

Attendance

Attendance

Any time a class is missed, it is the student's responsibility to obtain notes and assignment details from classmates. The instructor will be happy to discuss any information from the class, but the instructor's lecture notes are not available for copying.

A student who plans to succeed in this course should also plan to regularly attend all lecture sessions.  Cases of excessive tardiness and absence will be handled on an individual basis and will require a counseling session.  Following this session, a departmental counseling form will be placed in your file.  The purpose of this form is to document that the student has been made aware that excessive absences are jeopardizing successful completion of this course.

Calendar

Additional Information

Tutoring Policy:

To meet course requirements, students who do not achieve the minimum passing score of 75% on any Section Exam are required to:

• Meet with the course instructor to receive a prescription for tutoring at the West Campus Tutoring Center.
• Attend a prescribed tutoring session with a Tutor at the West Campus Tutoring Center prior to the course’s next exam.
• Return the completed prescription, verified by the tutor’s signature, to the ordering faculty member.

Required tutoring will be prescribed each time a student does not achieve the minimum passing score of 75% on an Exam.

Students who do not complete the required tutoring will not be allowed to take the course’s next exam.

Students who do not complete the required tutoring and are not allowed to take the next exam will earn a grade of zero for that exam and is subject to the Make-Up Policy as above.