Interpersonal Communication 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

SPCH-1318-002 Interpersonal Communication

Prerequisites

Course Description

Application of communication theory to interpersonal relationship development, maintenance and termination in relationship contexts including friendships, romantic partners, families and relationships with co-workers and supervisors.

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

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Interpersonal Communication, 2024 Release, Kory Floyd, Copyright 2024 Publisher McGraw Hill

We are using the Connect version of this textbook, which is a digital version from McGraw Hill that will be used for assignments and tests in Blackboad Ultra. Please read below for instructions on how to purchase and access our textbook.

How to Register for Connect through Blackboard Ultra:

Video link: https://www.mheducation.com/highered/support/connect/first-day-of-class/blackboard-ultra.html

Step 1:  Login into your campus Blackboard Ultra account using your personal login and password.

Step 2:  Then select SPCH-1318.

Step 3:  Select the folder that contains your course assignments.

Step 4:  Select any McGraw-Hill Connect assignment link to start the registration process.

Step 5:  Enter your email address and click Begin. If you receive the message, you have a Connect Account but have forgotten your password, click Forgot Password. 

Step 6:  Create your McGraw-Hill Education account. It is recommended to use your school email address when creating an account. To receive text alerts, enter your mobile number. Agree to the Terms and Conditions and then click Continue.

Step 7:  You’ll see 3 registration options. Choose what works best for you, but at the very least get 14-Day Courtesy Access now - you need it to get started on Week One assignments. By the end of Week Three you'll need to have full access in order to keep up with the midterm and final exams as well as weekly SmartBook Assignments. Due dates will not be extended and that's for your benefit as it's difficult enough to keep up in an eight-week course without having to try to catch up.

• Enter your access code from the bookstore and click Redeem.

• Buy Online to purchase access

• Get 14-day Courtesy Access

Step 8:  Click Confirm. You are now registered.

Supplies

Supplies

• Reliable access to the Internet (all assignments for this course are completed/submitted online)
• Reliable computer/laptop (NOTE: This course requires regular access to a laptop or desktop computer to complete assignments. Please do not attempt to complete this course using your cell phone or tablet.)

Skills*

By attempting this course, you are acknowledge you have a basic understanding of all of the skills listed below or you are willing to learn them to be successful in the course. If needed, you may visit the Underground or one of AC's various tutoring centers for assistance with technology.

• knowledge of basic computer skills including, but not limited to
  • navigation of Blackboard
    • how to write journals
    • how to submit an assignment
    • how to participate in a discussion board
    • how to participate in a group discussion/assignment
  • navigation of Google Drive & associated apps
    • how to convert Google Doc to .pdf
    • creation of Google Slides
  • willingness to continue learning (aka: Growth Mindset)

*If you are struggling with any of these skills, please reach out to me as quickly as possible so I can get you in contact with the correct tutoring center.

If you're on any Amarillo College campus, you may access the college's free WiFi.

WIFI PASSWORD: AmarilloCollege

Student Performance

Through reading the current literature, researching recent communication findings, and participating in group and individual oral assignments, the student will:

1. Exhibit understanding of interpersonal theories and principles.
2. Demonstrate ability to analyze and critique verbal and nonverbal interactions in mediated and face-to-face contexts.
3. Identify perceptual processes as they relate to self and others.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking ability by effectively researching, evaluating, and applying communication theories in oral and/or written assignments.
5. Demonstrate understanding of the relevance of cross-cultural, co-cultural, gender and age influences on human communication.
6. Demonstrate ability to identify, evaluate, and apply conflict styles and conflict management techniques in dyads and/or groups.
7. Identify types of and barriers to effective listening.

Online Courses and Technology

Online courses offer flexibility and convenience, but they also require a strong level of comfort with technology and independent problem-solving. These courses move quickly, and success depends on students coming in with the ability to manage their devices, software, and online platforms confidently.

Student Technology Skills Expectations

While I am excited to engage with you this term, and support your learning in interpersonal communication, I am not able to coach students on basic computer or technology skills. For that reason, technology readiness is an expectation, not a learning outcome, of this course format.

If you are still developing confidence with your computer, or online platforms, that is just fine. It simply means that a fully online course may not be the best fit for you right now, or that you may need to seek outside help from the Tutoring Center (located in the WARE).

Reliable technology

• You must have access to a laptop or desktop computer. Phones and tablets  may not always be sufficient.

Course Technology Platforms

McGraw-Hill Connect

• Connect houses your eBook, quizzes, exams, and assignments.
• Students who do not purchase Connect access cannot pass the course.
• Students are expected to reach out to McGraw-Hill Technical Support as soon as they encounter an issue. Students may use the telephone, email or live chat feature to resolve the issue. Please do not wait on the faculty member to resolve the issue. If, after speaking with Technical Support, you still have an issue, share your case number from McGraw-Hill Technical Support share that number with your faculty member.

Plan so that technology does not become an emergency.

• Complete/upload assignments at least one hour before the deadline. Two hours is safer.
• Never start an upload right before 11:59 p.m.
• Use a strong, stable internet connection.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi, mobile hotspots, and crowded networks.
• Close streaming, gaming, and other bandwidth-heavy apps.

Technology hiccups happen. Planning prevents them from costing you a grade.

Here are some key resources to help you with your course:

• Online Tutoring

• The Underground

Withdrawals: It is your responsibility to make decisions about your academics. If you choose to withdraw, let me know. To do this, please email me at laingham@actx.edu with the Academic Withdrawal form (found in Self Service from the Connect Portal,) and I will sign it and get it back to you as soon as possible.  

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

Confidentiality
Many communication courses ask students to engage in a level of self-disclosure not usually characteristic of other courses. Different people will feel comfortable with varying levels of self-disclosure. While I would like you to draw from your personal experience, you may choose to talk about yourself or someone you know. If it is the latter, in the interest of confidentially they should remain nameless. 

Grading Criteria

Grading Percentages:

SMARTbook Assignments: 30%

Papers: 20%

Projects: 20%

Journals: 20%

Professionalism & Work Ethic: 10%

Use of AI Tools in This Course

You may use AI to:

• Brainstorm ideas
• Check clarity or grammar
• Ask questions about course concepts

You may not use AI to do the thinking, writing, analysis, or speech content for you.

Misuse of AI

If I determine that AI has been used to complete the majority of the work on any assignment:

• The assignment will receive a zero.
• I will document the concern in your student record as suspected AI misuse.
• You will be required to complete tutoring specific to that assignment.
• After tutoring is verified, you may submit a replacement version of that assignment.

This is a one-time opportunity for the entire course.
If AI misuse happens again, the zero will stand and no re-submission will be allowed.

Special Rule for Essay

Your essay must reflect your original thinking and communication skills.

If an essay is reasonably determined to have been generated primarily by AI:

• The essay will receive a zero.
• The zero is final.
• There is no opportunity to rewrite.

Late Work Policy:

I do not accept late work, except in extreme circumstances.  It is your responsibility to manage your time and meet the deadlines. 

Attendance

Since this is an online course, please remember that the way you correspond via written communication is very important (and part of your professionalism and work ethic grade!)

Email and Messaging Etiquette: Be Specific and Clear

Effective communication is crucial to your success in this course and a component of what our course teaches. To ensure that I can quickly understand and respond to your inquiries, please follow these guidelines when emailing or messaging me:

1. Subject Line: Clearly state the purpose of your message.

   • Example: "Question about Interpersonal Communication Assignment 2"

2. Include Context: Be specific about what assignment, class, or project you are referring to. Include the following:

   • Course Name and Section (e.g., "Interpersonal Communication, Section 01")
   • Assignment Name or Number (e.g., "Assignment 3: Conflict Resolution Essay")
   • Relevant dates or deadlines if applicable.

3. Ask Clear Questions: If you are seeking clarification, ask specific questions rather than general ones.

   • Vague: "I don't understand this assignment."
   • Specific: "For Assignment 2 on Nonverbal Communication, could you clarify what is meant by 'contextual analysis'?"

4. Provide Necessary Details: If your question is about a grade or feedback, include relevant information such as the assignment's name, the grade received, and your concerns.

   • Example: "I received an 85 on Assignment 2. Can you explain how I can improve my analysis in the final section?"

5. Be Patient with Grading Inquiries: Understand that manually graded assignments take time to evaluate thoroughly.

   • Example: "I understand Assignment 2 is manually graded. Can you provide an update on when we might receive feedback?"

6. Review Before Sending: Take a moment to review your email for completeness, clarity, and tone. Be courteous and professional.

Following these guidelines will help ensure that your questions are answered promptly and efficiently. I am happy to have these discussions with you, but I will need help understanding your point of view. Remember, perspective is everything!

Students who send vague or non-specific messages will be referred to this portion of the syllabus.

Calendar

Additional Information